The History of Christmas

As people put up Christmas trees and decorate their homes, it’s easy to believe these traditions have been around since year one, but Christmas and the holidays surrounding December 25th have taken many forms.

The origin of Christmas comes from three sources: it is the date of the winter solstice on the Roman calendar, it is about nine months from the vernal equinox (March 25th) and it is the date set for the birth of Christ.

Before Christendom the Roman Empire celebrated Saturnalia, a holiday honoring the Roman god, Saturn, the farther of Jupiter. During Saturnalia social customs were flipped upside down. Slaves ate at their master’s tables, women flirted with men and gambling became legal. Saturnalia also involved public banquets and gift giving, which may have influenced later Christian traditions. There were even reports of naked caroling!

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The Christmas tree has its origins in 16th century Germany. While writing a sermon at night in a starry evergreen forest, the Protestant Christian reformer, Martin Luther, is said to have added lighted candles to a tree and put it into his house. Other Protestant Germans followed suit and the tradition spread. By the second half of the 19th century, the tradition had moved beyond Germany, first among the upper classes and eventually into lower areas of society.

While you are making your shopping rounds this holiday season, attending religious services or making time to be with family, reflect on the long history behind the season.

Be sure to check out our great holiday gifts below and click the links above to see more historical images of the origins of Christmas. From all of us from Science Source, we’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season!

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The Importance of Protein Folding

The human body uses protein in innumerable ways. They are the building blocks of your body, and it's many functions. Your cells are continually manufacturing proteins; while you sleep, walk or even now as you read this blog.

Proteins make up cellular channels, are structural, act as enzymes, and are part of your immune system. These proteins are formed as strings and can be very long. Folding proteins - just as folding laundry - give them organization, condenses their size, but unlike you laundry it also provides function.

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The human body is made up of cells, and inside these cells are millions of tiny machines made up of folded proteins. These are found in every single living thing.

These proteins are folded into a specific shape to allow them to function.

If you unfold one, you'll find a string of amino acids - like beads on a necklace. These long strings of amino acids only function once they have folded into a specific shape. If the shape is slightly off, the protein will not function.

Once scientists understand how proteins fold, they will be able to develop methods to cure and prevent innumerable diseases.

Types of Vaccines: Whole Pathogen, Subunit, and Nucleic Acid (mRNA & DNA)

This past year of the pandemic has brought with it much suffering, but it has also brought an amazing advancement in medical science. It will be the first vaccine that uses a form of nucleic acid, in this case, mRNA (messenger RNA).

Not only will this vaccine bring the world out of the shadow of COVID-19, but it will also open the door to a myriad of other healthcare developments.

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First, an overview of how vaccines work. Your body is naturally good at defending itself against intruders such as bacterias and viruses. In fact, you are exposed to thousands each day. If any make it through your first line of defense, your immune systme takes action.

A virus is called an antigen. It alerts your immune system to create antibodies, which kill the virus or render it ineffective. Depending on the virus, these antibodies, once triggered, stay effective for months, years, and often a lifetime.

A vaccine works by tricking the body into creating these protective antibodies, without the body needing to get sick.

Traditional or classic vaccines use a method referred to as Whole Pathogen. They use the entire virus, either inactivated (dead) or attenuated (weakened) form.

Another type of vaccine is called Subunit. It uses only part of the virus.

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The newest form of vaccine, and the type used for COVID-19 is a Nucleic Acid vaccine, which uses either DNA or mRNA (messenger RNA). This genetic material tells the cells to manufacture the virus or a portion of it. The COVID-19 vaccine uses mRNA that creates just the spike protein that is found on the coronavirus. Our immune system will create antibodies that then attack the coronavirus since it is covered in these spike proteins.

It is the first nucleic acid vaccine ever approved and in use. It is certainly laying the groundwork for many other vaccines to help rid humanity of other diseases.

Without this worldwide health crisis bringing focus and a global collaborative effort, it may have taken many years or even decades for Medicine to have advanced to this point.

History of Prosthetics: From Ancient Egypt to Today

Prosthetics originated in the Near East around 3000 BC, with the earliest evidence appearing in ancient Egypt and Iran. The first known example was a big toe on the foot of a mummy found in 2000 in the Egyptian necropolis near ancient Thebes.

In the 1st century AD, Pliny the Elder recorded the story of Roman general, Marcus Sergius, who lost his right hand in the Second Punic War and got an iron replacement so he could hold his shield in battle.

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Improvements in amputation surgery and prosthetic design came in France during the 1500’s from Ambroise Paré. Among his inventions was a kneeling peg leg, which had an adjustable harness, a fixed foot position, and a locking function.

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Through the years Prosthetic devices have been an asset to people in the armed forces. Countless field workers who have lost limbs in battle have had their lives transformed by the benefits of prosthetic technology. The Iraq war led to rapid advancement and development in prosthetic technology and now over 1,000 Iraq war veterans use prosthetic limbs.

Today, prosthetics can be made by hand or with the help of computer programs that create designs and analyze the items using 2-D and 3-D graphics. Advancements in robotics continue to improve prosthetic items and in the future, it is not inconceivable that replacement limbs will be as effective as organic ones.

For stock images of prosthetic technology follow the link above and for science products check out our storefront below.

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Down Syndrome Awareness

Last month was Down Syndrome Awareness Month. According to The National Down Syndrome Society, the month is an opportunity to spread awareness about people with Down Syndrome by celebrating their abilities and accomplishments, rather than their disability.

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Over the years, The National Down Syndrome Society has devoted itself to the specific health and education needs of people with Down Syndrome. The NDSS raises money through direct donations and fundraisers such as the Buddywalk each election year. They also advocate for legal protections for people with down syndrome and fight to preserve government assistance programs.

Down Syndrome is one of the most common chromosomal diseases, affecting about 6,000 newborns each year. While there is no cure for Down Syndrome, organizations such as the NDSS continue to provide people with the condition with the help and opportunities they need to live happy and fulfilling lives. As their website mentions, people with Down Syndrome drive cars, go to college, get jobs, date, and get married every day! Find out how you can help them fulfill their dreams by visiting the NDSS website below.

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At Science Source, we proudly celebrate people from different backgrounds and experiences. We are excited to celebrate Down Syndrome Awareness Month by offering a broad and inclusive selection of stock images and videos.

The National Down Syndrome Society

Public Health: Then and Now

James Lind’s discovery of the cause of scurvy was published in an article in 1754. In it, he argued the disease could be mitigated with the introduction of fruit on lengthy voyages at sea.  In the following years, efforts were made to propagate health standards in the British navy and among the broader public. Modern public health was born.

While doctors treat people's illnesses, public health workers attempt to prevent illnesses and injuries from ever occurring. A broad-ranging effort, public health involves many different institutions and disciplines, including epidemiology, biostatistics, social sciences, and health service management.

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Public health developed rapidly in 19th century when advances in science led to a greater understanding of the cause and spread of diseases. New strategies developed, requiring community-wide participation and interactions between different organizations and agencies

Doctor and public health worker Sara Josephine Baker, M.D. established some of the first public health agencies in the US. Centered in New York City, her nursing homes helped mothers learn to dress, feed, and bathe newborns to prevent diseases. Lillian Wald, another health organizer, founded the Henry Street Settlement house in New York, which brought healthcare services to poor urban people.

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In 1948, the World Health Organization (WHO) was formed, as an agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Its broad mandate is to advocate for universal healthcare, monitor public health risks, coordinate responses to health emergencies, and promote human health and well being.

Today, as we battle the Corona virus, public health workers are on the front lines, delivering the latest news about the virus to help prevent infection. Due to their efforts, the pandemic will hopefully be short lived, returning civilization to normal and saving the lives of millions.

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Neurogenetics

Neurogenetics is the study of the nervous system as it pertains to genetics. Using phenotypes, or observable characteristics and traits, neurogenetics attempts to reach conclusions about individuals of one or more species based on hereditary.

Seymour Benzer considered the father of neurogenetics, made his first discovery in the field of neurogenetics when he pinpointed a link between the circadian rhythm and genes. He found that animals go through cycles of sleeping and waking naturally and not by anything learned or developed. This led him to further investigations into the traits and behaviors of individuals as they relate to genetics. Benzer made groundbreaking discoveries in neurodegeneration when he discovered similarities between fruit flies and human genes. This helped him isolate neurological diseases in humans.

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Advances in molecular biology and the species-wide genome project have made it possible to map an individual's entire genome. While this information is key to understanding neurobiology, a comprehensive picture of an individual’s traits and behaviors can only be achieved by taking into account additional factors.

The classic debate of nature vs. nurture clarifies that one’s genes are not the only determinant of a given biological outcome. Science reveals that traits and behaviors are due to a confluence of many genes, as well as regulatory factors like neurotransmitter levels and one’s environmental influences.

New developments in genetic engineering are being used to alter genetic material to potentially negate or suppress the effects of genetically linked diseases. Innovations in technologies, such as CRISPR, allow genetic material to be added, removed, or altered at particular locations in the genome.

 It it possible that one day genetic editing could be used to cure neurogenic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's. Research on this front, however, is still ongoing.

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Flower Micrographs: RF & RM Images

Have you ever wondered how photographers capture the minute details of nature – such as the fiddleheads of a fern or the bacteria on a leaf? Over the years professionals have used a number of techniques.

The term photo-macrograph was first introduced in 1899 by W. H. Walmsley for images with less than 10 diameters of magnification to distinguish them from true photo-micrographs.

One of the earliest macro-photographers was Percy Smith, born in 1880. He was a British nature documentary filmmaker, famous for close-up films and photographs. One of his best-known pieces is called “The Birth of a Flower” a 2:13 minute film featuring a blooming flower.

Gallery of Plant and Flower SEMS Stock Photography

Photographers have also used the scanning electron microscope (or SEM). Invented in 1937 by Manfred von Ardenne, the SEM uses electrons to record the surface topography of objects.

Diatoms Eating a Maple Leaf Tote Bag

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SEMs (scanning electron micrographs) as a rule are produced in black and white. But photographers often colorize them by hand using a technology called cathodoluminescence, which analyzes the light spectrum emitted by images and creates a semi-accurate color representation.

Macro photography and SEMs are essential visual resources for the scientific community, helping with our understand of everything from plant species to diseases. To see more plant macro shots and SEMs visit our gallery and for macro prints and products head to the storefront above.

Taking a Closer Look at Microscopy for Medical and Scientific Use

Read any scientific or medical news story and you can see that microscopy has come a long way since your high school biology class microscope.

It isn't just higher magnification, but crisp details, a greater depth of field, viewing internal features, and colorful 3D-like visuals that fascinate us. There have been many advancements to light microscopes and a multitude of new kinds that can see so much more than we could have ever expected.  

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Let's take a closer look!

Four types of Light micrographs: Bright Field, Dark Field, Polarized, Phase Contrast. © Marek Mis/Science Source

The basic microscope we used as a kid is the standard “light microscope”. Simply put, it uses light and a set of lenses. The addition of filters, specialized mirrors, lasers, specific light spectrums, and other features gives us much more detail.

More advanced devices include Scanning Electron Microscopes (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopes (TEM), Atomic Force Microscopes (AFM), and Scanning Tunneling Microscopes (STM).

Commonly used techniques when viewing slides on a light microscope are Bright Field, Dark Field, Fluorescence, Differential Interference Contrast (DIC), Phase Contrast, and Confocal microscopy.

Light MIcroscope Bright Field: the light source shines directly from underneath the specimen, creating a light-colored or bright area around it.

Purkinje neurons of the cerebellar cortex stained with four staining methods: hematoxylin eosin (top left), cresyl violet (top right), Cajal's silver nitrate (bottom left) and silver method for Golgi apparatus (bottom right). © Jose Luis Calvo/Science Source

Light Microscope Dark Field: the light source is occulted, so it reaches the specimen at different angles giving us slightly more varied details than if it was lit from directly underneath. The area around the specimen is dark or black.

Fluorescence: This uses light filters and specific wavelengths. Short wavelengths are reflected down to the specimen, which then fluoresces or gives off long wavelengths of light. These are reflected up to a mirror that allows long wavelengths to pass through to the lens.

Phase Contrast: Using a special lens and filters it allows viewing of transparent and colorless specimens. It looks similar to DIC micrography but lacks shadows, making it a bit more two dimensional.

Different illumination techniques of a light microscope: dark field, fluorescence, bright field, phase contrast, DIC (differential interference contrast). Child’s hair strand © Ted Kinsman/Science Source

Differential Interference Contrast Microscopy (DIC): Using a  polarizer, beam splitter, condenser, and filters it allows viewing of transparent and colorless specimens. It has a more three-dimensional appearance than phase-contrast microscopy.

Confocal Microscopy: Also called Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy (CLSM), it uses a laser and a spatial pinhole to create a sharper image.

Let's look at the more advanced types of microscopes:

|Atomic Force Micrograph of plasma membrane proteins.

Scanning Electron Microscope SEM: Uses a particle beam of electrons. It detects reflected electrons off the surface of a specimen, which is placed in a vacuum. creating sharp images. Magnification ranges from 20x to 30,000x, spatial resolution of 50 - 100nm.

Bone marrow cell. This micrograph shows this cell with light (inset) and electron microscope. © Jose Luis Calvo/Science Source

Transmission Electron Microscope TEM: Uses a particle beam of electrons that pass through a thinly sliced specimen. It can show the internal structures of cells with a magnification up to 2,000,000x.

Atomic Force Microscope AFM: AFM uses a laser that bounces off of a stylus on a cantilever lever. This action traces the specimen. Any deviation triggers the sensors creating a raster image. One benefit of this is that it also records the Z-Plane. Another advantage of AFM over electron microscopy is that the specimen need not be in a vacuum.

Scanning Tunneling Microscope STM: Scanning Tunneling Microscope STM: An STM also uses electrons, based on quantum tunneling. The benefits are that it can be used in a vacuum, air, water, or ambient gas environment. It captures surfaces on the atomic level.

What can we look at with all of these scopes? 

Scoop up pond water or ocean water to be astonished by the plethora of living zooplankton and phytoplankton visible within a single drop using a simple light microscope. 

It opens you to the wonder of cyanobacteria,  blue-green algae, ciliates like paramecium, daphnia, amoebas, and euglena. If you were lucky, you might have witnessed them conjugate and divide!

Additionally,  the ocean water drop allows a peek at copepods, immature mollusks, krill, algae, crustaceans, fish in their zooplankton stage; and you may behold the breathtaking beauty of diatoms, the most common type of phytoplankton in our oceans. 

Switch to a higher powered Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to view Water Bears, pollen, blood cells, and insects. An SEM uses a particle beam of electrons to photograph the surface of a vacuum-sealed specimen.

Transmission Electron Microscopes(TEM) allow us to see cross-sections of a specimen like the beautiful interior of the human body, marine life, and animal and plant cells. The TEM's particle beam passes through its vacuum sealed specimen. 

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Of course, there are critical medical applications. 

We can view the cells of the human body with many different microscopes. The light mic, SEM, and TEM show scientists and medical researchers different angles and aspects of the cell and its fine structures and organelles. 

Microscopes help scientists study cancer - breast, ovarian, prostate, liver, and skin cancer.  We can develop an improved understanding of skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema. They assist in the fight against nervous, respiratory, and circulatory system diseases. And a cure for muscular conditions such as fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis (MS) and autoimmune conditions.

Infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, and parasites can be examined. It allows us to better understand, diagnose, and work towards cures, vaccines, or prevention. 

And without the microscope, how could we progress in the fight against the seasonal flu, measles, polio, malaria, and HIV/AIDS.

If light, lasers, electrons, and quantum physics are not enough, there is even a microscopy method, similar to SONAR, that uses sound waves; Acoustic Microscopy.

Lastly, without these microscopes, we would not be able to continue our current fight against the Coronavirus, COVID-19.

The Industrial Revolution: Then and Now

The Industrial Revolution was a time of rapid technological development and social and political change.  Starting in 1740 and ending in 1840, the Industrial Revolution saw to the development of mass industry and the beginning of the modern era.

Perhaps the most iconic symbol of the revolution is the locomotive, built in the United Kingdom in 1804 by Richard Trevithick. The locomotive revolutionized transportation, allowing factories to quickly access and transfer resources. It also made long distance travel possible for everyday people, allowing some of them to see their countries for the first time. This helped start the Environmental movement and the Romantic movement.

While the primary effects of the Industrial Revolution were economic, there were cultural and political changes as well. Eli Whitney’s cotton gin provided the first alternative to slave labor in the deep American South, paving the way for the Civil War and emancipation. Textile factories with the newly invented power loom changed the lives of women, who traditionally worked in sewing and could now get factory jobs. 

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The revolution also had negative effects. As industry increased, many factory owners abused vulnerable work forces, including children. In England and Scotland in 1788, two-thirds of the workers in water-powered cotton were children. Human inventions began to have a much greater impact on the environment as well. For the first time, the London sky turned consistently black with a mixture of fog and smoke called smog.

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 It is worth considering how our own technological advancements have had both positive and negative impacts on society. For one, the internet and computers have made us more productive and interconnected but on the other they have made us more distant, limiting person to person interactions and inundating us with digital forms of entertainment. They have also had political effects. The Egyptian Revolution of 2011 was started largely on social media and the current political divide in the U.S is driven largely by mass access to platforms like Twitter and Facebook.

History shows that people eventually adjust to technological changes, preserving their benefits while diminishing their shortfalls. With determination a better future is possible. So, reflecting earnestly on our times, let the revolution go on!

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They're Not All Bad: Good Viruses and Bad Bacteria

These days viruses have gotten a bad rap, and understandably so. Meanwhile, bacteria gets a lot of accolades. There are countless news stories about good bacteria in your gut and yogurt.

But, you might be surprised to learn that certain viruses can be used to cure people, And not in the form of a vaccine.

First, what are some differences between viruses and bacteria?

Bacteria are considered living organisms. Viruses are not.

Viruses can range from 10 - 100 times smaller than bacteria. Thus, viruses could pass through water filters that would stop bacteria.

Gallery of Stock Photos & Illustration of Viruses and Bacteria

Bacteria produce independently, while viruses need a host. Viruses hijack a host's cells by injecting their RNA into their cells. The infected cells become virus factories. Eventually, an overwhelming number of virions are replicated, bursting through the cells' walls and spreading throughout the host’s body.

Unchecked, a virus can disrupt a host for the rest of its' life or even kill it.

Sounds grim until you know about bacteriophage viruses that can kill life-threatening antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other bacterial infections. This treatment is called phage therapy. It's been around for over a hundred years.

The first recorded use was in 1921 by Felix d'Herelle, a microbiologist at the Institut Pasteur in Paris. He administered a single dose of phage therapy to a 12-year-old boy with severe dysentery. In a few days, it had completely cured.

With the invention of antibiotics, phage therapy fell out of use. But, in the 1980s there were a growing number of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains causing life-threatening infections. Doctors looked to the past for help.

Successful studies have been done on chronic leg ulcers, ear infections, e. coli, and more.

And bacteriophages are readily available in nature. In 2016, at Yale University, an 80-year-old man with a life-threatening bacteria chest infection was helped with bacteriophages from a local pond.

With further research and development, phage therapy might someday be used in place of the side effects of heavy antibiotics.

So the next time you think all viruses are bad, think again!

Watch Science Come Alive Through Chemistry!

Whether you are homeschooling kids for quarantine or not, watching chemistry experiments pop, fizz, and explode is a fun and fascinating distraction. You may also learn something along the way.

Nitrocellulose explosion, high-speed

Some of these experiments can be tried at home, and others are best viewed from the safety of your computer.

Video & Photo Gallery of Science Experiments

Chemistry experiments to try at home: 

• Frying an egg to see the process of denaturation of protein, 


• Mixing an acid such as vinegar with baking soda to watch it fizz, 


• Rubbing a balloon on wool to create static electricity, 


• Dropping food coloring into a cup to learn about convection currents 


• Floating a paperclip on water to see surface tension


• Iron filings showing the patterns created by a magnet. 

  
  
  

Others that are best watched from your computer:

• Aluminum and iodine catching fire


• Potassium smoking when dropped in water


• A nitrogen Triiodide Explosion


• "Barking Dog" gas explosions


• Combustion of iron wool


• Vacuum decompression of marshmallows


• Burning Boric Acid

  

This gallery is a small sample of the many chemical and physics experiments you'll find in our collection. Plus, all our stock science images have detailed and accurate caption information.

Feel free to search our vast and informative library. Let us help you teach your kids while homeschooling or help independent research with the perfect stock royalty free or rights managed video or photo for your next digital or print project. 

Also, contact us for details about our new subscription pricing plan.

And of course, enjoy Science Comes Alive!

Teaching about Convection Currents Using Food Coloring in Water

A Vaccine Rumor... That Was True

In the age of COVID-19 or the coronavirus, there are many false rumors and conspiracy theories, relating to potential vaccinations. But the history of vaccines started with a rumor that turned out to be true.

Jenner, Cowpox and Small pox

In 1796 a medical rumor was flying around that if you were a milkmaid, you wouldn't catch the dreaded and deadly smallpox disease. (Smallpox had a 20% mortality rate). Oddly enough, this rumor turned out to be true and led the medical world to develop life-saving vaccines.

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Cowpox is a disease similar to smallpox, and it transfers from cows to humans. But, in humans, it develops into a similar yet milder illness than smallpox. After suffering from cowpox, people develop antibodies that give them immunity to smallpox.

Based on this theory, Edward Jenner, an English physician, did the first human vaccine test, albeit, without all the modern safety protocols.

He found a milkmaid suffering from cowpox and took a bit of pus from one of her sores. Jenner found a test patient in his gardener's healthy eight-year-old son, James Phipps. Jenner scraped a bit of the pus into the boy's arm. A small blister appeared briefly; otherwise, the boy remained healthy.

Six weeks later, Jenner administered pus from a smallpox victim's sore into the child. The young boy didn't contract smallpox. His body had developed an immunity. Jenner went on to test and report on 23 additional subjects.

What is a vaccine? It is a preparation using a similar, weakened, or dead version of a pathogen to encourage the body to develop antibodies. These antibodies transfer immunity. Currently, vaccines may also use the genetic code or proteins in their formula.

Another noteworthy milestone in the history of vaccines was the Polio Vaccine. First, one by Jonas Salk in 1952. And later, in 1961, another polio vaccine by Albert Sabin came into commercial use.

Other notable vaccines include: Cholera by Jaune Ferran; Typhoid fever by Almroth Edward Wright, Richard Pfeiffer, and Wilhelm Kolle; tuberculosis by Stamen Grigoric, scarlet fever by George F. Dick and Gladys Dick and for influenza (or the flu), Anatol Smorodintsev.

Among the growing list of diseases that can be prevented by vaccination are measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox.

It is heartening to know that there have been so many successful vaccines in the past. We now wait as the world rapidly works towards another breakthrough: a Coronavirus vaccine.

Medical Micrographs: a View into the Human Body

Medical science has advanced exponentially in the last century. Even just the way the human body and pathology is viewed. We’ve gone from the basic x-ray to be able to see a single cell in the human body. Or even smaller.

One of the most fascinating innovations has been the Scanning Electron Micrograph, often referred to simply as an SEM for short. It has revealed hidden worlds of the human body, medical, and of course the natural world as well.

Gallery of Medical and Anatomical SEMs (micrographs) Stock Photography

The scanning electron microscope was invented in 1937 by Manfred von Ardenne the SEM machine uses electrons to record the surface topography of objects.

SEM of Maple Leaf Tote bag

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SEMs (scanning electron micrographs) as a rule are produced in black and white. But photographers often colorize them by hand using a technology called cathodoluminescence, which analyzes the light spectrum emitted by images and creates a semi-accurate color representation.

SEMs provide unprecedented insight into the human body and are a vital source of images to the scientific community. To see more SEMs visit our Fine Art America gallery.

Earth Day and Nature Conservation

Earth Day, April 22, is an annual celebration devoted to environmental protection. First organized in 1970 by American activist Denis Hayes, the day began on college campuses and secondary schools and eventually spread globally to more than 190 countries.

The most recent accomplishment of Earth Day activists was in 2016 when world leaders signed the pivotal Paris Agreement. The co-signers were the United States, China, and 120 other nations. Their signatures rolled into action new initiatives to reduce environmental destruction and limit carbon emissions to stall the effects of climate change. The treaty was adopted by 195 counties and was presented at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris on Earth Day.

Earth Day & Conservation Photos

The first Earth Day celebrations took place in two thousand colleges and universities, roughly ten thousand primary and secondary schools, and hundreds of communities across the United States in response to the Santa Barbara oil spill of 1969. The day’s purpose was to expose millions of Americans to the sunshine of Spring while involving them in peaceful demonstrations for environmental reform.

Since then, Earth Day activists have been instrumental in numerous environmental initiatives, including education programs, regulating pollutants, and advancing green energy.

Alexander Von Humboldts was the first environmentalist. Get a tote bag of his work here!

According to Denis Hayes, Earth Day is now "the largest secular holiday in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year."

From everyone at Science Source, we would like to wish you a Happy Earth Day. Please do your part by supporting environmental efforts in the link below and check out our storefront for great Earth Day products!

Earth Day Organization

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Bringing to Light, Creatures of Darkness: Cave and Deep Sea Photography of Dante Fenolio

Danté Fenolio, Ph.D., has devoted his life to bringing rarely seen creatures to light through his beautiful and eerie photography.

Danté Fenolio Caving in China

He's brought us images from habitats without light: caves, the bottom of the ocean, and the canopies of the rainforest. Not interested in the typical, he seeks out underappreciated and rarely seen creatures to highlight the need for conservation of the world's biodiversity.

Danté Fenolio’s Photo Gallery

Science Source Images is proud to represent exclusive photographs from his collection. Discover a Fangtooth from the Gulf of Mexico, a colony of Siphonophore, orange and red-colored Jellies, transparent Batfish, and blind albino Salamanders. His creatures are so unusual they may not seem real, but they are all part of the wonder of our planet.

Fenolio is not only a successful author and adventure photographer, he is also a conservator and research developer at the San Antonio Zoo. His many projects to save animals and their habitats span the globe. Along with China, Peru, Japan, and Chile, he works in the United States. His efforts range from the Ozarks to Oklahoma to Georgia.

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