Gallery: Microbes Make Glowing Galaxies & Other Art

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Milky Way Microbes

Artist and former microbiologist Zachary Copfer uses bacteria, given genes that make them fluorescent, to create images, such as this one of the Milky Way Galaxy. These pieces were inspired by Carl Sagan's term "star stuff," which refers to the concept th

(Image credit: Zachary Copfer )

Egg Nebula

For his Star Stuff series, Copfer used images taken by the Hubble Telescope. Above is the bacterial version of the Egg Nebula. He uses radiation to create an image by sterilizing patches of bacteria spread inside a Petri dish, creating what will become th

(Image credit: Zachary Copfer )

For his Star Stuff series, Copfer used images taken by the Hubble Telescope. Above is the bacterial version of the Egg Nebula. He uses radiation to create an image by sterilizing patches of bacteria spread inside a Petri dish, creating what will become the dark spots within the image. He calls this process bacteriography because it is a photographic process.

Cat's Eye Nebula

This image shows the Cat's Eye Nebula. Copfer puts genes that produce a fluorescent protein into the <em>E. coli</em> bacteria. This allows them to emit visible light when exposed to a black, or ultraviolet, light.

(Image credit: Zachary Copfer )

This image shows the Cat's Eye Nebula. Copfer puts genes that produce a fluorescent protein into the E. coli bacteria. This allows them to emit visible light when exposed to a black, or ultraviolet, light.

Darwin in Red Microbes

Using a similar process, Copfer created portraits of scientists and artists who have inspired him, such as Charles Darwin, shown above. To create these he grew the red bacterium <em>Serratia marcescens </em>.

(Image credit: Zachary Copfer )

Using a similar process, Copfer created portraits of scientists and artists who have inspired him, such as Charles Darwin, shown above. To create these he grew the red bacterium Serratia marcescens.

The Artist

Zachary Copfer poses with his version of a famous photo of Albert Einstein. When displaying his portraits, he plays with the relationship between art and science by labeling Einstein and Darwin as his favorite artists, and artists Pablo Picasso and Leonar

(Image credit: Zachary Copfer )

Zachary Copfer poses with his version of a famous photo of Albert Einstein. When displaying his portraits, he plays with the relationship between art and science by labeling Einstein and Darwin as his favorite artists, and artists Pablo Picasso and Leonardo da Vinci as his favorite scientists.

Einstein in a Petri Dish

A smaller version of Copfer's Einstein portrait.

(Image credit: Zachary Copfer )

A smaller version of Copfer's Einstein portrait.

Art and Science

Copfer sees the same thinking behind both art and science. He says: "Picasso and Einstein were working with the same idea, looking at three-dimensional space from different perspectives, Einstein from the Theory of Relativity and Picasso with cubism."

(Image credit: Zachary Copfer )

Copfer sees the same thinking behind both art and science. He says: "Picasso and Einstein were working with the same idea, looking at three-dimensional space from different perspectives, Einstein from the Theory of Relativity and Picasso with cubism."

Wynne Parry
Wynne Parry
Wynne was a reporter at The Stamford Advocate. She has interned at Discover magazine and has freelanced for The New York Times and Scientific American's web site. She has a masters in journalism from Columbia University and a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Utah.