2009 Olympus BioScapes Images
The winners of the 2009 Olympus BioScapes Photo Digital Imaging Competition were just announced yesterday. Here are some of the wonderful winning and honorable mention images:
1st Place Winner:

Water flea Daphnia atkinsoni. This specimen has a "crown of thorns," a defensive trait induced in offspring only when the parents sense chemical cues released by one of their main predators, the tadpole shrimp Triops cancriformis. The water flea´s exoskeleton (exterior structure, green) and subcellular details within the organism (nuclei – tiny blue dots) are both visible – Dr. Jan Michels, Christian Albrecht University of Kiel, Germany.
5th Place Winner:

Unicellular alga Penium, treated with the microtubule poison oryzalin – by David Domozych, Skidmore College.
Ma. Ivy Clemente of Pulilan, Philippines, got an honorable mention in this year’s competition, but I think her entry is the most stunning. Behold, the cancer alphabet:

Spelling out the diagnosis: Glandular structures from fibroadenoma and nodular prostatic hyperplasia cases – by Ma. Ivy Clemente, Pulilan, Philippines

Fetal cat coronal section – by Mike Peres, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York.
Squid embryo – by Rachel Fink, Mount Holyoke College, Massachussetts
Link: Winners Gallery of the 2009 Olympus BioScapes
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Physical Typography: Brilliant Built & Found Fonts

In a way, typography has come full circle – what started as a physical process of setting type in machines has been rediscovered as a physical art by a number of creative photographers and designers. Some of these unusual real-life alphabetic collections were found and photographed in nature while others were acted out, constructed or assembled from bodies and objects but all ten sets of type yield compelling images.
The Furniture Alphabet by Cody Haltom

Photo: Adam Voorhes
Designer Cody Haltom Ad agency The Butler Bros. (Thanks Marty!) created this set of alphabet for a Houston-based home furnishing store High Fashion Home, out of the furnitures in the store. Clever, ain’t it? Link – via Josh Spear
Star Wars Alphabet

Set your kids on the path to Star Wars fandom early by teaching them the ABCs using Star Wars characters! This Flickr set by illustrator Michael Fleming made me smile. Link -Thanks, Bairman!
Alfabet in Huid: Typeface Made From Skin and Clothespins

Photo: Arjan Benning
We’ve seen quite a few creative alphabets, but probably none as weird (and painful) as this set, made with clothespin and skin. It’s called alfabet in huid (typeface in skin) by Thijs Verbeek.
From the Upcoming
ueue, submitted by mrsmojorisin.
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Google Maps Typography
Rhett Dashwood has compiled a fastastical collection of buildings, lakes, fields, roads, forests, and other fun things you can see from space with a fancy pants satellite that form a complete alphabet.
The pic here shows letters from Victoria, Australia but of course one could apply this idea to anyone’s home town/state/ecosystem. Fun!
From the Upcoming
ueue, submitted by Another Jake.
Grand Alphabet Amusant

Bibliodyssey has beautiful scans from the book ‘Grand Alphabet Amusant’ by E Morel, published in France in 1890. Some of the scenes picked to illustrate letters may make you scratch your head! Link -via Everlasting Blort
The Ninth Annual Edwardian Ball

The annual Edwardian Ball in San Francisco pays homage to author Edward Gorey. SF Weekly has photos from the ball held Saturday, with commentary in rhyming alphabet, Gorey-style! Link -Thanks, Janine Kahn!
Alphabet Blocks for Young Mad Scientists

Xylocopa addresses a serious deficiency in mad science education today:
Like many of you, we are concerned about the state of science education in the public school system, especially in the lower grades. Specifically, we have noticed that there is absolutely no training in the K-6 grades that prepares students to become mad scientists. In this competitive 21st-century world, the need for mad scientists will only increase, but the lack of basic education in primary school leaves us concerned that there will be no future students capable of leading in this illustrious field.
Fortunately, we have a solution – a first step, if you will, along the path to mad science proficiency. We are pleased to announce the release of our Young Mad Scientist’s First Alphabet Blocks. These lovely blocks contain many carefully engraved illustrations of the equipment, training, and activities that a budding mad scientist will require, combined with a clever alphabetic introduction to the concept depicted.
T is for Tentacles, O is for Organs, H is for Henchmen.
Link via Popped Culture












