Close-Up Science: Can You Guess What the Image Is?
They say a picture is worth a thousand words — but in science, it can be worth so much more.
The annual Mass General Research Institute Image Awards celebrate the beauty of research at Mass General Brigham and the incredible discoveries happening every day within the walls of our system.
Each year, researchers and their collaborators submit stunning images across diverse fields. From neuroscience to cancer biology, these images don’t just capture science — they tell stories of innovation, discovery and hope.
Every image is a window into a researcher’s world, a story worth telling. But are you able to tell what story they are trying to tell?
Take this quick quiz to find out.
B. Cancer Cells
Like avoiding 'the floor is lava,' cancer cells adapt and manipulate their microenvironment to survive, creating safe zones and pathways for growth within a reactive, often antagonistic space.
(Image submitted by Radhika Koranne, PhD)
B. Liver
Blood flows into the liver (shown in magenta), carrying important nutrients and oxygen. At the same time, the liver produces bile, a special juice that helps digest fats, which travels along its own highway (shown in cyan).
(Image submitted by Patrice Delaney, PhD)
A. Entrance to a low-field MRI scanner
This image depicts a low-field MRI scanner made in-house in the Rosen Lab at the MGH Martinos Center, which is used as a test bed for new approaches to brain imaging and a more comfortable approach to breast imaging.
(Image submitted by Michael Datko, PhD)
C. Breast Glands
Stained with IL-4 Receptor-α (Green) and CD117 (marker for luminal progenitors, Red), a few normal human breast glands exhibit the shape of 'Heart' in the cluster by chance.
(Image submitted by Xutu Zhao, MD)
C. Collagen Fibers
This image captures the intricate, fibrous structure of collagen, a key protein that gives strength and flexibility to our skin, bones, and tissues.
(Image submitted by Maxwell Roth, MD, PhD)