"Quantum boot" with electrons inside" by Liya Bi

Images of “micro-boots” formed by molecules on silver surfaces and electrons held in such a "boot."

A molecule forms these boot-like patterns collectively on the silver surfaces. It inspires us to modify either the molecule or the surface to achieve desired molecular assemblies on the metal substrates. As an example of directly “visualizing” quantum mechanics, the electrons held in such a “boot” relocate in response to the amount of energy that they gain.

Liya Bi is a graduate student in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering and Shaowei Li's Spectroscopy and Microscopy at Atomic Level Laboratory (SMALL).

"Alveolar Macs are lost during COVID-19 infection" by Marko Buckup

Multiplex immunohistochemistry shows diminution in alveolar macrophages in patients with COVID-19.

We harvested lung tissue from COVID-19 positive autopsies and stained 4-micron thin FFPE samples with multiplex IHC (Multiplex immunohistochemical consecutive staining on a single slide), including immune markers S100A12, CD68, CD14, FABP4, and nuclear stain hematoxylin. In our COVID positive cohort, there is a reduction in alveolar macrophages, depicted by a diminution in CD68 and FABP4.

Marko Buckup is a graduate student in the Department of Bioengineering.

Contributors: Steven Chen and Sasha Tabachnikova

"Us against the world" by Iris Garcia-Pak

Two cells, one wrapped around the other, help protect the brain from the vast unknown.

This is an inverted electron microscopy image of a pericyte wrapped around an endothelial cell in the brain. These two cells maintain and make up the blood-brain barrier, which is the specialized vasculature of the brain. The blood-brain barrier role is to regulate the brain's interaction with the rest of the body and protect it from harm in circulation.

Iris Garcia-Pak is a graduate student in the Department of Neurosciences, Daneman Lab.

"Secret Valentine" by Rhowan Ho

First (ever) glimpse of a genetically novel sea slug, with appendages resembling bouquets of roses.

The researcher discovered this gem while skimming through heaps of gray barnacles. Its radiant hues were unlike any they ever had seen. Lo and behold, it was genetically unique from other known species! This goes to show that nature's beauty shines in unexpected places. With curiosity and a keen eye, these treasures reveal themselves to you.

Rhowan Ho is a graduate student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Hechinger Lab.

"The Beauty in Non-Significance" by Megan Keene

Even the smallest, seemingly insignificant data points can reveal hidden beauty and complexity.

These images were taken while trying to locate the flight muscle gene in drosophila. These were non-significant results that lead us to look in a place beyond the predicted locations. Locating this gene is beneficial for studying human muscle development and disease. Lacking significant data can be discouraging, but it's important to remember that data tells a story too.

Megan Keene is a graduate student in the Department of Biology at San Diego State University, working in the Carrie House Lab and the Engler Lab at UC San Diego.

"Subcellular Kaleidoscope" by Svenja Kling

Fusion proteins marking different organelles in the gut of the developing sea urchin.

Closeup of a developing sea urchin gut with differently marked subcellular organelles, such as the cell membrane (turquoise), the nuclear envelope (orange), and the centrioles (red). We are in the process of making sea urchin lines to track how environmental changes affect these essential components of a cell.

Svenja Kling is a graduate student at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, Hamdoun Lab.

"A Colorful Array of Nanoparticles" by Benjamin Lam

Beyond the colors the eyes perceive, lie hidden structures hard to believe.

Plasmonic nanomaterials absorb, reflect, and scatter light in unique ways depending on their size and shape, creating a dazzling variety of colors. This collection of TEM images highlights the wide range of shapes and colors these particles can take, illuminating how their structure and assembly can alter their behavior with light at the nanoscale.

Benjamin Lam is a graduate student in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering.

"Bioinspired Nanoparticles: Small, But Mighty" by Emily Lam

Too small to spot with just your eye, these therapeutic nanoparticles heal and gratify.

Behind many breakthroughs in medicine, brilliant UC San Diego students and researchers have chased the unknown, fueled their curiosity for knowledge, and inspired the next generation of innovators through their passion and determination to make the world a better place through the use of therapeutic, bioinspired nanoparticles.

Emily Lam is a graduate student in the Aiiso Yufeng Li Family Department of Chemical and Nano Engineering.

"Mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum in-vivo" by Richard Sanchez

A snap shot of the mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum as they move across time.

The mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum along with other organelles are typically illustrated as a siloed organelles with defined morphology. However, the reality is that these organelles have a diverse morphology and are dynamic structures that can form intimate contacts to maintain a functional cell.

Richard Sanchez is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Neurobiology, Pekkurnaz Lab.

"A Living Meshwork" by Cara Schiavon

Cellular membranes fluorescently labelled reveal a complex biological architecture.

Biology is incredibly complex. Within every cell exists an intricate network of interconnected parts, working together to ensure survival of biological life. Pictured is a human cancer cell in which the researcher has fluorescently labeled some of its interior compartments (organelles). The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is colored orange, and the mitochondria are colored blue.

Cara Schiavon is a faculty member in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Manor Lab.

"Destinies in Color: Germ Layers of C. elegans" by Neha Varshney

Tracking germ layer cells in real-time through colors to decode the mysteries of development.

Using engineered strains of C. elegans, we visualize the developing endoderm (green), ectoderm (red) and mesoderm (yellow) to track cell fate specification in real-time. A segmented nuclear distribution (end-on view) highlights the organization of cells across germ layers at comma-stage of development (left). A mandala-inspired art reflects its complex arrangement (right).

Neha Varshney is a faculty member in the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology.

Contributor: Rebecca Green

"Fires of Collective Intelligence" by Yuanhang Zhang

Discover how networks of heat-powered neurons unlock new possibilities for brain-inspired computing.

This piece draws inspiration from the intricate dynamics of thermal neuristor networks, where arrays of spiking oscillators emulate the collective behavior of the human brain. The artwork visualizes the vibrant and interconnected activity within a grid of thermal neuristors, which communicate through heat rather than electricity, forming waves of synchronized spikes.

Yuanhang Zhang is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Physics, Massimiliano Di Ventra Lab, Schuller Nanoscience Group.