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[Images Taken With Sony T-10 & V-3 Digital Cameras] |
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Original Kodachrome Transparency Taken by W.P. Armstrong, April 1983 [35 mm Camera: Nikon FM-2 with 55 mm Micro-Nikkor Macro Lens] |
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Following The Massive San Diego County 200,000 Acre Cedar Fire Of October 2007 [Nikon D40-X Digital Camera with Nikkor 18-200 mm Lens & Polarizing Filter] |
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Taken Through Front Windshield Of Car In Gridlock Traffic Jam On I-15 [Nikon D40-X Digital Camera with Nikkor 18-200 mm Lens & Polarizing Filter] |
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Original Kodachrome Transparency Taken by W.P. Armstrong, October 1980 [35 mm Camera: Nikon FM-2 with 55 mm Micro-Nikkor Macro Lens] |
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| Boiling hot springs in Yellowstone National Park are colored by colonies of thermophilic cyanobacteria, eubacteria and archaebacteria. Orange-colored cyanobacteria generally occur in water that has cooled below 73o C (163o F). The green chlorophylls in these photosynthetic bacteria are masked by orange carotenoid pigments. Like the bright red halobacteria of salt lakes, carotenoids protect the delicate cells from intense solar radiation, especially during the summer months. Warmer, whitish areas of the ponds contain stringy masses of nonphotosynthetic eubacteria. Thermus aquaticus survives in temperatures too high for photosynthetic bacteria, up to 80o C (176o F). Thermus aquaticus is heterotrophic and survives on minute amounts of organic matter in the water. Amplification of DNA in order to obtain a sufficient amount for sequencing requires heat that destroys most enzymes. In order to carry out this amazing chemical process called polymerase chain reaction (PCR), a heat resistant DNA polymerase enzyme is necessary. Unlike most protein enzymes that are destroyed at temperatures above 40o C (104o F), DNA polymerase from Thermus aquaticus can survive the 72o C of the reaction. The DNA polymerase called "TAQ polymerase" used in the amplification of DNA (PCR) was originally isolated from a colony of T. aquaticus collected in a hot spring at Yellowstone National Park. In fact, TAQ stands for Thermus aquaticus. This was truly one of the most significant biological discoveries of the 20th century. |
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| A boiling hot spring in Yellowstone National Park. The orange-red coloration is caused by dense colonies of photosynthetic cyanobacteria. |
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| Archaebacteria thrive in boiling water at Yellowstone National Park, at temperatures of 92o C (198o F). These bacteria also thrive near steam vents at the bottom of the ocean at temperatures exceeding 115o C (239o F). Scientists from throughout the world are studying the amazing bacteria flora at Yellowstone National Park. This is one of the best places on earth to study these organisms in their natural protected habitats. In other parts of the world, similar hot springs have been destoyed for the production of geothermal energy. |
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Original Kodachrome Transparency Taken by W.P. Armstrong, October 1976 [35 mm Camera: Nikon FM-2 with 55 mm Micro-Nikkor Macro Lens] |
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Original Kodachrome Transparency Taken by W.P. Armstrong, January 1976 [35 mm Camera: Nikon FM-2 with 55 mm Micro-Nikkor Macro Lens] |
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Rainbow Resembling A Multicolored Tornado! |
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