"Mineral Bodies in Eggshell"

"Mineral Bodies in the Eggshell in the Pheasant." This image taken by Hanna Jackowiak shows the microstructures of the lower parts of eggshell wall in the pheasant. The eggshell in birds is composed of a thick layer of mineral column and underlying thin fibrous membrane. Scanning electron microscopy was used to show the space between these layers.

This image was taken during microscopic studies on the spatial structure of the eggshell in the pheasant and was an entry in the 2005 Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge competition, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and the Journal Science. The competition is held each year to recognize outstanding achievements by scientists, engineers, visualization specialists and artists who are innovators in using visual media to promote the understanding of research results and scientific phenomena. To learn more about the competition and view all the winning entries, see the Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge Special Report. (Date of Image: May 30, 2005)