9 Incredible Scientific Photos That You Won't Believe Are Real

If you are looking for your daily science photo fix, then look no further than these 9 amazing samplings. These few science photos are but the tip of the iceberg. 

Trust us when we say this list is far from exhaustive and is in no particular order.

Enjoy. 

RELATED: 28 PERFECTLY TIMED PHOTOS THAT WILL MAKE YOU LOOK TWICE

1. This closeup photo of Jupiter is stunning

 

 

 

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@discover.magazine Images of the Year: Citizen scientists processed raw data collected on May 29 by NASA’s Juno spacecraft to create this color-enhanced close-up of Jupiter. Sunlight kisses bright high-altitude clouds around a vortex with an ominously dark center. (Enhanced Image by Gerald Eichstädt and SeÁn Doran (CC BY-NC-SA), based on images provided Courtesy of NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS) #2019 #sciencephotos #imagesoftheyear2019

A post shared by Discover magazine (@discover.magazine) on Dec 17, 2019 at 6:37pm PST

This incredible image was actually created by citizen scientists using raw data collected from the NASA Juno spacecraft. With some color enhancement, the final product is something akin to a work of art. 

Amazing to think that the chaos of Jupiter's atmosphere could be so beautiful. 

2. Check out this microscopic look at a tadpole eye

 

 

 

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A tadpole eye stained to reveal #cannabinoid receptors (red). A single fluorescently labeled cell is shown in green. This was from a study from the lab of Ed Ruthazer at The Neuro that found cannabinoids improve the low-light vision of tadpoles, corroborating anecdotal evidence that such an effect exists in humans. #neuroscience #vision #visualsystem #sciencephotos

A post shared by The Neuro (@theneuro_mni) on Nov 17, 2018 at 6:06pm PST

Here is another unbelievable, yet real, scientific photo. This one is a zoomed-in view of a tadpole's eye structure. 

The green part of the image is a fluorescently stained cell. This photo, as well as the team behind its research, managed to find that cannabinoids help improve the low-light vision of tadpoles. 

3. This photo of a roosterfish's anatomy is beautiful 

 

 

 

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Eerie, beautiful, scientifically accurate — the bones of creatures suspended in a transparent medium glow red under fluorescent light. The roosterfish, python, frog and shrew seen here were all photographed by doctoral student Matthew Girard, using new state-of-the-art imaging techniques developed by a research group based at University of Kansas. Girard is one of the co-authors of a paper published last week describing the advances, led by W. Leo Smith, assoc professor of ecology and evolutionary biology and assoc curator at the KU Biodiversity Institute & Natural History Museum. The first new technique involved finding a non-destructive means of posing specimens that have been stripped of the muscles that would normally hold them in place. After much trial and error, the team found the right ratio of glycerine to gelatin that would allow specimens to “float” in a clear matrix that could be easily washed away after a photo session. The second new technique makes clever use of the dye alizarin, long used to stain bones. Smith (along with an independent team studying zebrafish) discovered that alizarin glows under a specific wavelength of light. "Alizarin red is used to dye a specimen's bones, and it fluoresces like a Grateful Dead poster," Smith said in a press release. "We use lights that have high energy and look for reflections of re-emitted fluorescent wavelength, and the microscope has filters that block all the other light. The skin and everything else disappears because it doesn't fluoresce — it's a fast way to clear out all the extra stuff and is incredibly useful when you're trying to see where bones are connected. It was pure luck to find this." Noting the importance of attracting public interest with engaging scientific visuals, Smith hopes other researchers will employ the new techniques in their own future studies. (Credit: Matthew Girard) . . . #discovermagazine #science #biology #paleontology #imaging #sciencephotos #scienceart #specimens #taxidermy #research #nature #fish #roosterfish #anatomy #anatomicalstructure #vertebrates #skeletons #morphology #microscopy #biodiversity #zoology #sciencenews #alizarin #fluorescent #fluorescentmicroscopy

A post shared by Discover magazine (@discover.magazine) on Sep 5, 2018 at 3:22pm PDT

This incredible image from the University of Kansas is truly stunning. It was taken after developing a new technique to strip specimens of their muscles but allow them to be posed for study. 

4. You won't believe this image of a glial cell is real

 

 

 

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#Repost @brain_facts_org - Star-shaped glial cells, sensibly named astrocytes, are found throughout the central nervous system. They provide neurons with nutrients, clean up dead cells, and perform other important functions. Astrocytes communicate using ATP, a molecule used in energy metabolism. The researchers who created this image used luminescence to study how mouse astrocytes communicate. Each time the cells sent a message, they would glow, making them all the more star-like. The scientists found the body’s internal clock drove the release of ATP. -- Marpegan, et al. The Journal of Neuroscience, 2011. #neuroscience #thebrain #brain #societyforneuroscience #science #brainscience #brainfacts #funscience #neurology #sciencephotos #neuroscientist #glia #astrocytes - #regrann

A post shared by BSA Glasgow (@bsaglasgow) on Apr 20, 2018 at 7:47am PDT

No this is not an image from outer space, it is actually a zoomed-in picture of a glial cell. These cells, also called astrocytes (for obvious reasons) are very common throughout the nervous system.

They act as dinner-ladies-become-janitors for other cells in the nervous system.

5. Mandatory snowflake close up

 

 

 

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One last glassy little flake ❄

A post shared by Robin Diane ?? (@robin.diane) on Jan 30, 2018 at 5:24pm PST

Since its that time of year, it would be remiss of us to not include a closeup of a snowflake.

It is always amazing to see how completely natural processes can produce a thing of such exquisite beauty. 

6. Can you guess what this one is?

 

 

 

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#lightbulb #science #sciencephotos #technology

A post shared by Taryn Shay Darrow (@tarynshaydarrow) on Jan 23, 2016 at 9:48am PST

Unless you've read the text associated with the image above, you might be surprised to hear that this is a closeup image of a lightbulb. Mesmerizing, we think you'll agree. 

7. Here's another amazing science photo

 

 

 

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Color enhanced scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of bacteria on the surface of human skin. Now you know why I do the face mask in my previous photo ???Image Credit: D. Phillips/Science Photo #bacteria#bacterial#bacteriology#bacterium#medical#medicalscan#microorganisms#microbe#microbes#microbiology#microorganism#scan#scanningelectronmicrograph#scanningelectronmicroscope#sem#skinbacteria#skin#acne#adultacne#science#cool#pimples#zits#sciencephotos

A post shared by @ samantharizzoli on Jun 25, 2015 at 5:31am PDT

Scanned Electron Microscopy (SEM) is one scientific technique that always generates stunning images. This one is no exception.

But what is it? This is an image of bacteria on the surface of some human skin. 

8. The sea squirts are truly stunning

 

 

 

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Sea creatures, like these sea squirts, tend to favor blue and green light since these shorter wavelengths are easier to see underwater. Want to see our photo gallery about bioluminescence? Click the link in our bio. #nature #science #ifls #iflscience #bioluminescence #seacreatures #sea #seasquirts #sciencephotos #underwater #wavelengths

A post shared by World Science Festival (@worldscifest) on Apr 1, 2015 at 10:40am PDT

This closeup image of several sea squirts is something of real beauty. The image hasn't been color enhanced, this is their real bioluminescent appearance. 

This gives them an eerie, yet sublime, appearance. 

9. Check out these nanofibre catch-and-release structures

 

 

 

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Pic of the Day: Catch-and-Release Another major goal of synthetic biology is to engineer unnatural molecules and compounds into systems and tools that mimic those found in biology. For instance, Joanna Aizenberg and her laboratory have pioneered using self-assembling synthetic nanofibers to generate capture-and-release devices that look strikingly like tiny fingers or tentacles. Image: Scanning electron image of nanoscale bristles holding onto a sphere. These bristles are made of epoxy resin and then immersed into a liquid. As the bristles dry, they grab whatever is nearby, such as a drug or small nanoparticles. The bristles store energy and thus, can be made to release the item. Each bristle here is ~1/1000th the width of a human hair. Credit: Cell Picture Show by Joanna Aizenberg, Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences #asm #potd #science #sciencephotos #laboratory #microbiology

A post shared by ASMicrobiology (@asmicrobiology) on Oct 29, 2013 at 8:05am PDT

And finally, here is another amazing science photo you won't believe is real. These are self-assembling synthetic nanofibers that have formed a basic capture-and-release tool that mimics similar structures in nature.