Seed Gallery

Cosmic microwave background

Cosmic microwave background. Spherical projection of the cosmic microwave background, using all-sky data from the WMAP (Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe). Since it is a spherical projection, it only shows half the sky. The microwave background is radiation from the beginning of the universe (actually 380, 000 years after its creation) that has been stretched (cooled to around 3 Kelvin) by the expansion of the universe. The colours show the variation in the temperature (then equivalent to density) of the early universe. Denser regions (red, yellow) formed the seeds of galaxies and other structures. Data obtained in 2003

© NASA/WMAP SCIENCE TEAM/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

STAR ANISE - close-up of seeds

PPG-1434
STAR ANISE - close-up of seeds
China
Illicium verum
This spice is the source of Shikimic acid from which the drug Tamiflu is made, at the moment it is the only defence there currently is again Birdflu. It is also aromatic and used for seasoning food
Pascal Goetgheluck
Please note that prints are for personal display purposes only and may not be reproduced in any way

© Pascal Goetgheluck/ardea.com

Date palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera

Date palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera, Dattier. Handcoloured steel engraving by Oudet after a botanical illustration by Edouard Maubert from Pierre Oscar Reveil, A. Dupuis, Fr. Gerard and Francois Herincq's La Regne Vegetal: Planets Agricoles et Forestieres, L. Guerin, Paris, 1864-1871. Date palm tree, Phoenix dactylifera, Dattier. Handcoloured steel engraving by Oudet after a botanical illustration by Edouard Maubert from Pierre Oscar Reveil, A. Dupuis, Fr. Gerard and Francois Herincq's La Regne Vegetal: Planets Agricoles et Forestieres, L. Guerin, Paris, 1864-1871. Date:

© Florilegius/Mary Evans