Submitted by: Tuba Marjan

Category: Microscopy

Creation: I created this image using fluorescent microscopy to capture mesenchymal stem cells growing on a 2D hydrogel scaffold. The cells were stained with phalloidin that binds to actin filaments which form the internal structure and give shape to the cell causing them to glow bright red. The nuclei were stained with Hoechst making them glow blue. The hydrogel allowed cells to adhere and spread out. This process blends scientific observation with a visual appreciation of cellular architecture where function meets form in a dynamic expression of life.

Caption: Imagine a tiny world where cells perform their own kind of dance—flowing, stretching, and creating shapes we could almost call art. This image captures that moment when mesenchymal stem cells adhered and spread out across a hydrogel scaffold forming intricate networks of actin filaments glowing in red. The hydrogel acts like a cushion and the cells sit comfortably on them forming delicate patterns. The blue-stained nuclei sit quietly at the center grounding the composition as the actin filaments twist and weave around them. What you see here isn’t just biology, though. It’s art. This is life happening at the most fundamental level. Cells respond to their surroundings expressing strength and flexibility like us in so many ways. This image shows that even in the tiniest corners of life there’s beauty, creativity, and movement that mirror the patterns of the natural world. Science and art aren’t separate; they’re two sides of the same coin and blend together in a way that is both intricate and expressive.