The beautiful image above is a false-colored scanning electron
micrograph of the crystals of caffeine, the magical thing that makes tea work:
Caffeine is a bitter, crystalline xanthine alkaloid that acts as
a stimulant drug. In plants, caffeine functions as a defence mechanism.
Found in varying quantities in the seeds, leaves and fruit of some plants,
caffeine acts as a natural pesticide that paralyses and kills certain
insects feeding on the plant. The main crystals of caffeine were 400-500
microns long; however, this crystal group formed on the end of the larger
crystal and measures around 40 microns in length.
It's part of the winners' gallery over at Wellcome Image Awards 2012:
here
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