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General => Science => Topic started by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 06:17:07 AM

Title: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 06:17:07 AM
These are false colour scanning electron microscope images. Can you guess what they are?

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg685.imageshack.us%2Fimg685%2F6877%2F78825649.jpg&hash=2c4abaec5a6b8c38accf506b20be8600aa67e4dd)

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg707.imageshack.us%2Fimg707%2F2026%2F93639005.jpg&hash=212a92d5fbf8ee542dd6951ab0d195cc9cbb8f1a)

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg802.imageshack.us%2Fimg802%2F2915%2F93501374.jpg&hash=7987598f185eaf11598ebcb9c4db879a7e5d6a58)

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg542.imageshack.us%2Fimg542%2F8731%2F21847754.jpg&hash=8b3307142bdd30108bec6f628421d410e8ee7795)

Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 07:26:51 AM
They are false colour scanning electron microscope images.

Top is cut hair on a multiblade wet razor
2nd looks like a bacterial culture of some kind
3rd could be a compound eye
4th I would guess are some kind of sensory hairs

How many out of 4?


Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 07:38:30 AM
You got the first right and the second (would you like to guess where it is?) but not the third. I'll give you half marks on the fourth ;)

Edited the OP to add that they are false colour scanning electron microscope images.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 07:55:22 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 07:38:30 AM
You got the first right and the second (would you like to guess where it is?) but not the third. I'll give you half marks on the fourth ;)

Edited the OP to add that they are false colour scanning electron microscope images.

The second is probably somewhere really mundane like your finger. Somewhere you would think would be clean to give a high 'Yuc' factor.

The third was the most difficult as it's a semi-regular structure, they look like eggs but some are shrivelled up, so they are either not yet fully formed or have discharged in some way, or have done their job and are withering away. The outgrowths between the eggs look protective or sensory in nature. I think they might be seed of some type, not necessarily plant seeds. Getting any closer?

4th a hairy mole.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
QuoteThe second is probably somewhere really mundane like your finger. Somewhere you would think would be clean to give a high 'Yuc' factor.

Yep, though not your finger...

A hint: it's where you can really get a sensory 'yuc' feeling...

QuoteThe third was the most difficult as it's a semi-regular structure, they look like eggs but some are shrivelled up, so they are either not yet fully formed or have discharged in some way, or have done their job and are withering away. The outgrowths between the eggs look protective or sensory in nature. I think they might be seed of some type, not necessarily plant seeds. Getting any closer?

Getting closer.

A hint: the colour scheme is actually very close to what it really is.

Quote4th a hairy mole.

Still half marks. Though I think that's really what a hairy mole would look like...
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:13:25 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
QuoteThe second is probably somewhere really mundane like your finger. Somewhere you would think would be clean to give a high 'Yuc' factor.

Yep, though not your finger...

A hint: it's where you can really get a sensory 'yuc' feeling...
Then it'll be your tongue. That thought did cross my mind earlier.

Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
QuoteThe third was the most difficult as it's a semi-regular structure, they look like eggs but some are shrivelled up, so they are either not yet fully formed or have discharged in some way, or have done their job and are withering away. The outgrowths between the eggs look protective or sensory in nature. I think they might be seed of some type, not necessarily plant seeds. Getting any closer?

Getting closer.

A hint: the colour scheme is actually very close to what it really is.
It's a strawberry! And those are the tiny seeds on the outside!

Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
Quote4th a hairy mole.

Still half marks. Though I think that's really what a hairy mole would look like...
Nope got nothing on that one.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:17:17 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:13:25 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
QuoteThe second is probably somewhere really mundane like your finger. Somewhere you would think would be clean to give a high 'Yuc' factor.

Yep, though not your finger...

A hint: it's where you can really get a sensory 'yuc' feeling...
Then it'll be your tongue. That thought did cross my mind earlier.

Yep!

:P

Quote
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
QuoteThe third was the most difficult as it's a semi-regular structure, they look like eggs but some are shrivelled up, so they are either not yet fully formed or have discharged in some way, or have done their job and are withering away. The outgrowths between the eggs look protective or sensory in nature. I think they might be seed of some type, not necessarily plant seeds. Getting any closer?

Getting closer.

A hint: the colour scheme is actually very close to what it really is.
It's a strawberry! And those are the tiny seeds on the outside!

Got it right!

Quote
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
Quote4th a hairy mole.

Still half marks. Though I think that's really what a hairy mole would look like...
Nope got nothing on that one.

Do you want me to tell you?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:21:05 AM

Quote
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
Quote4th a hairy mole.

Still half marks. Though I think that's really what a hairy mole would look like...
Nope got nothing on that one.

Do you want me to tell you?
[/quote]
mmm clue please.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:25:41 AM
Quote
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:21:05 AM

Quote
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
Quote4th a hairy mole.

Still half marks. Though I think that's really what a hairy mole would look like...
Nope got nothing on that one.

Do you want me to tell you?
mmm clue please.

You have four sets of them.

(I really don't know how to give a clue without giving it away... ::) )
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:28:22 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:25:41 AM
Quote
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:21:05 AM

Quote
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
Quote4th a hairy mole.

Still half marks. Though I think that's really what a hairy mole would look like...
Nope got nothing on that one.

Do you want me to tell you?
mmm clue please.

You have four sets of them.

(I really don't know how to give a clue without giving it away... ::) )

Are they inside or outside the body? I'm thinking nasal hairs?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:30:05 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:28:22 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:25:41 AM
Quote
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:21:05 AM

Quote
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
Quote4th a hairy mole.

Still half marks. Though I think that's really what a hairy mole would look like...
Nope got nothing on that one.

Do you want me to tell you?
mmm clue please.

You have four sets of them.

(I really don't know how to give a clue without giving it away... ::) )

Are they inside or outside the body? I'm thinking nasal hairs?

Outside. Though they do share sort of a common function with nasal hairs.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:32:19 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:30:05 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:28:22 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:25:41 AM
Quote
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:21:05 AM

Quote
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
Quote4th a hairy mole.

Still half marks. Though I think that's really what a hairy mole would look like...
Nope got nothing on that one.

Do you want me to tell you?
mmm clue please.

You have four sets of them.

(I really don't know how to give a clue without giving it away... ::) )

Are they inside or outside the body? I'm thinking nasal hairs?

Outside. Though they do share sort of a common function with nasal hairs.

Eye lashes?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:34:39 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:32:19 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:30:05 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:28:22 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:25:41 AM
Quote
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:21:05 AM

Quote
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:09:08 AM
Quote4th a hairy mole.

Still half marks. Though I think that's really what a hairy mole would look like...
Nope got nothing on that one.

Do you want me to tell you?
mmm clue please.

You have four sets of them.

(I really don't know how to give a clue without giving it away... ::) )

Are they inside or outside the body? I'm thinking nasal hairs?

Outside. Though they do share sort of a common function with nasal hairs.

Eye lashes?

Full marks ;D
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:35:41 AM
Woot!!!!

Now my turn, just the one

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F30.media.tumblr.com%2FRKBSJS2N6ozorowbA6X6Oaofo1_500.gif&hash=f1545595ffe8843d1f2c12f0f48a8c7305ced639)
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:39:43 AM
I'll add this one as well.

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Faskabiologist.asu.edu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fimagecache%2F500px_width%2Fimage_galleries%2Fwb400.jpg&hash=a971346c4c4b56275656a2402a4907f6738737cb)
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:43:06 AM
That's tough...is it some sort of fungus? What's that green background?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:46:09 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:43:06 AM
That's tough...is it some sort of fungus? What's that green background?
It is a combination of living and inanimate matter. Don't be fooled by the false colours.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:47:59 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:39:43 AM
I'll add this one as well.

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Faskabiologist.asu.edu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fimagecache%2F500px_width%2Fimage_galleries%2Fwb400.jpg&hash=a971346c4c4b56275656a2402a4907f6738737cb)

Some sort of plant scales or outer protective cells?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:56:16 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:46:09 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:43:06 AM
That's tough...is it some sort of fungus? What's that green background?
It is a combination of living and inanimate matter. Don't be fooled by the false colours.

I'm stumped ??? Is it anything close to fungal?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:57:35 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:47:59 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:39:43 AM
I'll add this one as well.

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Faskabiologist.asu.edu%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fimagecache%2F500px_width%2Fimage_galleries%2Fwb400.jpg&hash=a971346c4c4b56275656a2402a4907f6738737cb)

Some sort of plant scales or outer protective cells?
They are somewhat protective but mostly decorative to a human point of view.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:58:45 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:56:16 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:46:09 AM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 08:43:06 AM
That's tough...is it some sort of fungus? What's that green background?
It is a combination of living and inanimate matter. Don't be fooled by the false colours.

I'm stumped ??? Is it anything close to fungal?
It is a particular type of animal cell and this is the first time it did this.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Asmodean on May 29, 2011, 10:08:56 AM
1: brain cells on a microcontroller of some kind..?

2: Flower leaves..?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 10:14:47 AM
Quote from: Asmodean on May 29, 2011, 10:08:56 AM
1: brain cells on a microcontroller of some kind..?

2: Flower leaves..?

1) Yes

2) No, they are animal in origin, not vegetable
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Asmodean on May 29, 2011, 10:57:39 AM
Insect wing scales of some kind..? A moth?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: The Magic Pudding on May 29, 2011, 11:34:20 AM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:35:41 AM
Woot!!!!

Now my turn, just the one

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2F30.media.tumblr.com%2FRKBSJS2N6ozorowbA6X6Oaofo1_500.gif&hash=f1545595ffe8843d1f2c12f0f48a8c7305ced639)

You've sneezed on your SD card haven't you?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Cecilie on May 29, 2011, 12:09:11 PM
Quote from: Tank on May 29, 2011, 08:13:25 AM
It's a strawberry! And those are the tiny seeds on the outside!

Aww, I knew that one.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 12:24:34 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on May 29, 2011, 10:57:39 AM
Insect wing scales of some kind..? A moth?
A butterfly.

But the really interesting thing is if you look at the scales you will see they have different textures. Some have very obvious grooves some are much smoother. I believe I read somewhere that the scales produce colour by diffraction and the grooves 'set' the colour the scale shows. So the scales have no coloured dye in them at all. They work like oil on water creating a rainbow by diffracting the light. So the electron microscope image shows their true colour; which is none at all!
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 01:29:37 PM
Quote from: Asmodean on May 29, 2011, 10:08:56 AM
1: brain cells on a microcontroller of some kind..?

Derp...now it looks so obvious...

QuoteBut the really interesting thing is if you look at the scales you will see they have different textures. Some have very obvious grooves some are much smoother. I believe I read somewhere that the scales produce colour by diffraction and the grooves 'set' the colour the scale shows. So the scales have no coloured dye in them at all. They work like oil on water creating a rainbow by diffracting the light. So the electron microscope image shows their true colour; which is none at all!

That's so cool. I read somewhere that somewhere in Japan they were able to reproduce that effect in a car's paint, so whenever it moved it changed colour depending on a person position relative to it. 
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 02:56:04 PM
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg3.imageshack.us%2Fimg3%2F1069%2Fsemwh.jpg&hash=3c2d6347f5efee0f851031a3dca9b9ef9adab99f)
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: fester30 on May 29, 2011, 03:20:54 PM
A Play-Doh monster!
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Cecilie on May 29, 2011, 03:31:21 PM
Looks like a really cool painting.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 03:51:13 PM
Quote from: fester30 on May 29, 2011, 03:20:54 PM
A Play-Doh monster!

LOL
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on May 29, 2011, 06:22:32 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 02:56:04 PM
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fimg3.imageshack.us%2Fimg3%2F1069%2Fsemwh.jpg&hash=3c2d6347f5efee0f851031a3dca9b9ef9adab99f)

Fly maggot of some sort I think.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on May 29, 2011, 11:57:36 PM
Damn you're good ;D
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: The Magic Pudding on May 30, 2011, 01:47:26 AM
Looks like a space walrus to me.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: The Black Jester on May 30, 2011, 02:02:57 AM
Quote from: The Magic Pudding on May 30, 2011, 01:47:26 AM
Looks like a space walrus to me.

LOL!
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Twentythree on May 31, 2011, 09:28:13 PM
Is that the Head of the larva of a blue bottle fly?

http://blog.punjabilokvirsa.com/2010/08/creepy-and-awesome-alien-crawlies/

Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on June 02, 2011, 04:45:06 PM
Next one

(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.vcbio.science.ru.nl%2Fimages%2FTechniqueFig3B_Zoom.jpg&hash=3b63fe33ca65b6c8f945719459aa841554bc04d8)
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on June 03, 2011, 10:49:55 AM
There is something fishy going on here nobody has replied yet!
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: The Black Jester on June 03, 2011, 04:11:50 PM
Okay...gills?
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on June 03, 2011, 04:14:21 PM
Quote from: The Black Jester on June 03, 2011, 04:11:50 PM
Okay...gills?
Spot on. From a mudskipper to be precise.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on June 03, 2011, 04:15:58 PM
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ferc.nd.edu%2Fmedia%2Fimage_content%2FSEM2.jpg&hash=b31ddef4336ef83c09f134b785f0a783f4445258)
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Davin on June 03, 2011, 04:33:15 PM
Looks like velcro.
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on June 03, 2011, 05:24:06 PM
Quote from: Davin on June 03, 2011, 04:33:15 PM
Looks like velcro.
That was too easy!
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Davin on June 03, 2011, 06:16:37 PM
(https://www.happyatheistforum.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imm.io%2F691f.png&hash=32daa5d20868a11ebdfec83c3d64372108544581)
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 03, 2011, 06:58:12 PM
Quote from: Tank on June 03, 2011, 10:49:55 AM
There is something fishy going on here nobody has replied yet!

I didn't reply because I traced the picture back to the site you took it from. :P
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: Tank on June 03, 2011, 07:35:46 PM
Quote from: xSilverPhinx on June 03, 2011, 06:58:12 PM
Quote from: Tank on June 03, 2011, 10:49:55 AM
There is something fishy going on here nobody has replied yet!

I didn't reply because I traced the picture back to the site you took it from. :P
10/10 for honesty!
Title: Re: Can You Guess What These Are?
Post by: xSilverPhinx on June 04, 2011, 06:00:48 AM
LOL

Yeah if you notice the pics I added were upload to imageshack, because the first question I ask myself is: what would I do?