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November 9, 2015

"Polymer Micro-structure Self-assembly" (Image 1)

"Polymer Micro-structure Self-assembly," by Anna Pyayt and Howard Kaplan, University of South Florida (USF).

This image demonstrates results of a study of microstructure formation in polymers that self-assemble into different shapes ranging from grains to lines, and that are interconnected into complex patterns and meshes. Pictured is the microstructure of a 2-millimeter-long fragment of self-assembled polymers, which USF materials scientist Anna Pyayt is using to build miniature "lab-on-a-chip" devices for biomedical diagnostic applications.

This image won people's choice in the photography category of the 2013 Visualization Challenge, now called the Vizzies, a long-running, annual competition co-sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and Popular Science magazine. [The competition was formerly named the International Science & Engineering Visualization Challenge (SciVis) and was previously co-sponsored with AAAS' journal Science.] The competition aims to recognize some of the most beautiful visualizations from the worlds of science and engineering and awards prizes in five categories: photography, video, illustration, posters & graphics and interactives.

To learn more about the competition and view all the winning entries, past and present, see the NSF Special Report The VIZZIES: Visualization Challenge. (Date image taken: unknown; date originally posted to NSF Multimedia Gallery: Nov. 9, 2015) [See related image Here.]

Credit: Anna Pyayt and Howard Kaplan, University of South Florida


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