Stream of Consciousness

Stream of Consciousness

Collections: Now On Display, Image Award Winners

Award Winner

Giovanni de Nola, Abigail Lytton-Jean

Koch Institute at MIT

Life is a constant flow of energy, defined by movement at every scale, which makes it difficult to observe without interference. Here, high-pressure freezing techniques overcome this challenge in neurons,  instantly freezing cells while preserving their natural structure and allowing scientists to capture a clear snapshot of their inner architecture. This electron microscopy image reveals the interior of a neuron, where membranes, organelles, and structural filaments remain intact and become part of a flowing river illuminating the basis of life.

A coastal river of water running across the a sandy shore