Year’s Best Biological Photos Capture the Artistry of Science

scientific photography wellcome image awards

Hawaiian Bobtail Squid. Image via Macroscopic Solutions.

The recently announced the winners of the 2017 Wellcome Image Awards are a fascinating celebration of the scientific world. For 20 years, the awards have recognized photographers who capture significant aspects of healthcare and biomedical science.

The overall winner will be announced on March 15, 2017 at the Wellcome Trust in London. All winning images will then go on display in science centers and public galleries around the world. Judged by a panel of experts in medical science and science communication, the photographs were assessed on technical excellence and their ability to communicate a story related to science.

Finalists range from 3D renderings of a pig's eye to a composite of the surface of a mouse retina. Surprisingly colorful and artistic, these photographers prove that artistry can be found in the scientific world.

Take a look at our favorite scientific photos from the winners of the 2017 Wellcome Image Awards.

scientific photos wellcome image awards

Misreplication of DNA in human fibroblast. Image via Ezequiel Miron, University of Oxford.

scientific photography wellcome image awards

Iris clip Intra-ocular lens in-situ. Image via Cambridge University Hospitals NHS FT.

scientific photos wellcome image awards

Artificial microRNA scaffold. Image via João Conde, Nuria Oliva and Natalie Artzi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

scientific photography wellcome image awards

Astrocytes and blood vessels of a mouse's retina. Image via Gabriel Luna, Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara.

scientific photos wellcome image awards

Immune system regulation of placental development of a mouse. Image via Suchita Nadkarni.

scientific photos wellcome image awards

Cat skin showing hairs, a whisker, and the blood supply. Image via David Linstead.

scientific photos wellcome image awards

Brain Organoid. Image via Collin Edington and Iris Lee, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

scientific photos wellcome image awards

Microvasculature of pigeon head. Image via Scott Echols.

scientific photography wellcome image awards

Mouse embryonic posterior neuropore. Image via Gabriel Galea, UCL.

scientific photography wellcome image awards

Microvasculature of the African Grey Parr. Image via Scott Birch.

scientific photography wellcome image awards

Synthetic DNA channel transporting cargo. Image via Michael Northrop.

scientific photography wellcome image awards

Graphical visualization of Tweets using the hashtag #breastcancer. Image via Eric Clarke, Richard Arnett, and Jane Burns.

scientific photography wellcome image awards

3D print of vessels of a healthy minipig. Image via Dr. Peter M Maloca.

Wellcome Image Awards: Website | Facebook
h/t: [Gizmodo]

Jessica Stewart

Jessica Stewart is a Contributing Writer and Digital Media Specialist for My Modern Met, as well as a curator and art historian. Since 2020, she is also one of the co-hosts of the My Modern Met Top Artist Podcast. She earned her MA in Renaissance Studies from University College London and now lives in Rome, Italy. She cultivated expertise in street art which led to the purchase of her photographic archive by the Treccani Italian Encyclopedia in 2014. When she’s not spending time with her three dogs, she also manages the studio of a successful street artist. In 2013, she authored the book 'Street Art Stories Roma' and most recently contributed to 'Crossroads: A Glimpse Into the Life of Alice Pasquini'. You can follow her adventures online at @romephotoblog.
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