Heb je je ooit afgevraagd hoe cafeïne-kristallen er eigenlijk uitzien? Wetenschappers Annie Cavangh en David McCarthy hebben een sample onder de rasterelektronenmicroscoop gelegd met dit verbluffende resultaat.
This false-coloured scanning electron micrograph shows caffeine crystals. 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.
Fotocredit: Wellcome Image Awards 2012
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