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Stories

  • In pictures

How an animation educated the army

In a 1940s cartoon intended to persuade US troops to take malaria medication, the makers pitted a clodhopping soldier against a wily mosquito. If only Private SNAFU had followed the government’s advice.

  • Article

Illuminated manuscripts, illuminating medicines

From rare bugs to exorbitantly priced plant parts, find out more about the artistic and medical uses of pigments from the past.

  • Article

Our Covid complicity

Athena Stevens thought she had a cold that she tried to ignore, but it turned out to be Covid-19. Here she reflects on how we have all put ourselves and others at risk with the choices we’ve made during this pandemic.

  • Article

Why the scariest monsters look almost human

Something is wrong, but you’re not sure what. Amy Jones explores exactly why your worst nightmare is the monster that’s almost human.

All stories (8)

Images

  • Stink bug
  • Brown marmorated stink bug (Halyomorpha halys)
  • A barbiero bug (Panstrongylus megistus). Coloured drawing by A.J.E. Terzi.
  • A lantern bug (Fulgora laternaria) with eight different beetles surrounding it. Nine coloured engravings.
  • Seven animals from Japan, including two frogs, a snail, a slug, a water-bug and a silver fish. Gouache painting.
  • A large insect with a message indicating that AIDS is not transmitted through bug bites; a poster from the America responds to Aids advertising campaign. Colour lithograph.
  • Bed Bugs: trade card
  • Fruit fly
  • Louse egg capsule attached to single strand of hair
  • Head louse clinging to strand of human hair, SEM
All images (62)

Catalogue

All works (271)

Events

  • Discussion

Bugs and Breath

Reading Room
Past

Part of Packed Lunch

All events (1)