See if you can find the 8 differences in each set of images.
The liquid-crystal abyss
The bright and colorful texture of a liquid-crystal phase mixed within an isotropic polymer solution is shown. The upper left quarter image was taken while viewing the mixed fluid sample through the crossed polarizers of an optical microscope. The variety of bright droplets shown, some with crosses, demonstrate how the liquid-crystal phase changes its anchoring when curved in different shapes.
Catherine Reyes, University of Luxembourg, Luxembourg.
The MXene Nemo
Scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of a two-dimensional Ti2CTx MXene particle showing similarities to the animated Nemo character in Pixar's Finding Nemo, which portrays an illusion of its reflection in the water. Ti2CTx is a promising electrode material for supercapacitors and batteries. Colors were added to the SEM image without manipulation of the original image.
Armin VahidMohammadi, Auburn University, USA.
Answers will be published in the October 2020 issue.
June 2020 answer key
Images on the top were submitted to the Materials Research Society “Science as Art” competition. Images on the bottom were modified in Adobe Photoshop for this “Look Again” activity.
