What Happened Before the Big Bang?
Credit: Martin Bojawald, Penn State Spreading through a bounce: A state that initially has small fluctuations (left) bounces and develops larger fluctuations (right). Time proceeds along the horizontal axis, with the volume plotted vertically.
Reconstructing the Biology of Extinct Species: A New Approach
A computer reconstruction of an adult female baboon skull from high-resolution x-ray computed tomography (CT) slices. The skull is rendered transparent to show the position of the three semicircular canals and cochlea of left inner ear filled in red. The enlargement of the canals and cochlea is five times the size of the canals shown in the skull. Each canal is approximately 5 mm in diameter. Credit: Alan Walker lab, Penn State
Caribbean Amphibians Started with a Single, Ancient Voyage on a Raft from South America
Credit: Blair Hedges, Penn State Red frog from mountains of Haiti. Eleutherodactylus audanti, from Massif de la Selle.
How to Rip and Tear a Fluid
Credit: J. Gladden, A. Belmonte (Penn State) Birefringent visualization of the micellar fluid layer around a diagonally oriented square "cutting tool." A white outline is superimposed on the outer edge of the square.
Gamma-Ray Bursts Active Longer than Previously Thought
The X-ray Telescope on NASA's Swift satellite captured the intensity of a bright X-flare from GRB 060714. The elongated blue and gray regions are an artifact of the image processing (left). After the flare, (right) the GRB's X-ray emission faded considerably, revealing a faint afterglow. Click image to enlarge. Credit: NASA / Swift / XRT Science Team.
New Method to Directly Probe the Quantum Collisions of Individual Atoms
Credit: James Collins Kurt Gibble pictured with an atomic clock.
Analysis of Rhesus Monkey Genome Uncovers Differences with Humans, Chimps
Credit: Gopinath Sricandane For image reprints, contact the photographer at: gopi@photoessays.net
Scientists Discover Structure of Gateways to Gene Control
This artist's illustration shows a portion of the genome. A long DNA molecule (red cord) is wrapped up into nucleosome structures with a histone-protein core (white spheres). The gateway to gene transcription spans the control switch (coils) on the left nucleosome to the beginning of the gene (green arrow) on the right nucleosome." Credit: Christina Ullman
Gamma-Ray Birth Cries Suggest Massive Magnetic Engines
The core of a massive star in a distant galaxy collapses, ending its life — though there is little effect visible at the surface. Deep inside, twin beams of matter and energy begin to blast their way outward. (Image Credit: NASA/Swift/Sonoma State University/A. Simonnet)
Discovery Reveals that Distant Quasars Live in Massive Dark-Matter Halos
The illustration shows the distribution of dark matter, massive halos, and luminous quasars in a simulation of the early universe, shown 1.6 billion years after the Big Bang. Credit: Paul Bode and Yue Shen, Princeton University
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