On June 6, 1881, in Willet’s Point, NY it came to the attention of General Henry L. Abbot — head of the Engineer School of Application — that a “worthless mule” was to be destroyed and it struck him that this would be an excellent opportunity to demonstrate to a military class the sensitivity of photo-geletine plates. To this end the unfortunate beast was positioned in front of the camera with a a bag containing 6 ounces of dynamite strapped to its forehead. Both the fuse and the camera shutter were connected to the same circuit and, at the press of a button, the mule’s head was separated from its body in a spectacular and gruesome fashion. The resulting photo was published in the September 24th edition of Scientific American that same year, complete with expository “Before” and “After” engravings. Recently, what may have been the original copy of this photograph was found and sold at auction for $2750.00

Rare Important Instantaneous Photograph [Stereoviews] : Thanks, John Brownlee!

Researchers at IBM in Zurich, using non-contact microscopy in an ultrahigh vacuum at 5 degrees Kelvin, produced this first ever high resolution image of a single molecule.

First Complete Image of a Molecule, Atom by Atom [MIT Technology Review] : Popsci

Princeton University has announced the winners of the 2009 Art of Science competition. First place this year was awarded to Celeste M. Nelson for this gorgeous, bright field micrograph of squid embryos.

Art of Science/2009 Gallery [Princeton University]

FFFFOUND! | 1_jerry_mask.jpg [Good Conduct Well-Chastised]

teenage werewolf uploaded by l’elk! [Flickr] : Good Conduct Well-Chastised : = woods =

Archibald was well known in the social circles of his hometown of Dayton, Ohio for his varied and sundry costumes. He was also known for using the same, signature expression in all photos, which he was convinced gave him an air of effortless cool. Even his closest friends did not have the heart to inform him that this was not the case and, indeed, that most people thought he was a dork.

2for1 [vintagephoto]

Having met only four weeks previously — at the third annual Conchologists of America convention in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 1977 — many were sure that the marriage of Irving Simkin and his new bride, Gertrude Simkin, nee Beasley, was doomed. There were whispers among Gertie’s family that Irving was far more interested in her inheritance than anything else. The pistachio heiress and her husband knew better, however, and 5 children and 22 years later continue to prove the naysayers incorrect.