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Stories

  • In pictures

Faces from the archives

Meet some of the lesser-known but no less extraordinary figures in the history of medicine, through a series of original portraits.

  • Article

When skin bleaching goes wrong

Warnings about permanent health damage don’t deter those using skin-bleaching products for years on end. Read the story of one woman who suffered from liver failure after years of striving to be paler.

  • Article

Fashion for an unruly body

One weekend, just before an operation to correct her scoliosis, Rosalind Jana stopped trying to hide her body. Read how those two days helped her step into the future.

  • Article

Bubbles of history

Since the 1960s, scientists have been able to study the air from past centuries by analysing particles in Arctic ice samples. But as the polar ice melts, the future of this research is changing.

All stories (68)

Images

  • The Belvedere Torso. Black chalk drawing with white highlights by J.J. Masquerier.
  • A standing male nude seen from behind. Black chalk drawing with white highlights by J.J. Masquerier.
  • A seated male nude looking over his right shoulder and holding a staff. Black and red chalk drawing with white highlights.
  • The tomb of Maximilian I, archduke of Austria, German king, and Holy Roman Emperor (1493-1519) at the Hofkirche in Innsbruck, Austria. Chalk lithograph with white highlights.
  • Nepal; Sherpa children of the Khumbu, 1986. Two smiling children share an amusing moment in the village of Phakding (altitude 3000 metres). Their clothing highlights the poverty of some of the Sherpa families.
  • The buildings of Frankfurt, some with red highlights with the statement: "The city has AIDS"; advertising the work of the AIDS-Hilfe Frankfurt for those with HIV and AIDS. Colour lithograph by Typo Wenz Artwork GmbH.
  • Neurons derived from human neural stem cells. The green staining highlights the typical appearance of differentiated nerve cells. Cells such as these could form the basis of future treatments for degenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
  • A face drawn in black lines with yellow highlights against a striped grey square background with upside down text at the top bearing the message in French: "It is easy to die" and the right way up at the bottom: "It may be difficult to live"; an advertisement for AIDS prevention by L'Alexandra. Colour lithograph by Gilbert Theillin.
  • Neuronal migration is an artwork depicting many very young neurons that have been produced in the neuroepithelium migrating to their appropriate destinations in the brain. This image highlights the future of neuroscience showing different classes of cells colour coded. There is no available technique to do this now, but it is not far off considering the advances that have been made with brainbow mice. The brainbow technique allows for different cell types to be tagged with fluorescent proteins to track their development and connections with other cells.
  • Condoms and other products available from retailers Condomania, incorporating various typefaces to highlight the varieties. Colour lithograph.
All images (267)

Catalogue

All works (1K)

Events

  • Gallery tour

BSL Tour of Play Well

Information Point
Past

Part of Access Tours and Discussions

  • British Sign Language
  • Gallery tour

BSL Tour of Misbehaving Bodies

Information Point
Past

Part of Access Tours and Discussions

  • British Sign Language
  • Gallery tour

British Sign Language tour of Teeth

Online
Past

Part of Access Tours and Discussions

  • British Sign Language
All events (6)