ATIVESITE | Pursuing beauty: How basic science helps us understand the world
Stanford scientist Manu Prakash, from whose lab famously comes the Foldscope, delves into the living microscopic world, driven by a deep fascination with its unseen beauty. This exploration highlights his belief in the intrinsic value of aesthetics and curiosity-driven research, where the pursuit of basic science is celebrated for its own sake, without immediate concern for practical applications. The Prakash Lab’s vast array of images vividly captures the intricate details and stunning diversity of microorganisms, showcasing the art hidden in nature. Prakash’s inventive spirit and creative approach to free-form tinkering reveal a celebration of beauty and aesthetic wonder in a world often overlooked by the casual observer.
Produced by Stanford Medicine magazine: https://stanmed.stanford.edu
Read the companion Stanford Medicine magazine article “The worth of ‘worthless’ ideas” here:
https://stanmed.stanford.edu/beauty-cells-scientific-research/
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