What does an extracellular vesicle have in common with a pineapple?
Both are the subject of winning entries in the 2026 AIBN Image Contest!
At the AIBN, we know some of the most spectacular sights in science aren't immediately visible to the naked eye.
That's why our researchers mark National Science Week with a competition to find the best image taken using our fantastic array of imaging equipment and microscopes.
Now, the winners of this year’s AIBN Image Contest have been unveiled.
Winning both first place and the People's Choice prize is a kaleidoscopic pineapple image created by Harry Huntress.
The image contains a geometric collage of colourised ultra-high-resolution T2W and proton density-weighted MRI slices of a pineapple in various planes created as part of MRI sequence. This image was created as part of a broader research science communication project designed for education, public engagement and the communication of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance principles.
The second-place image was submitted by Jackie Zhang, who works in the labs of Associate Professor Joy Wolfram.
Jackie's image shows fluorescently labelled extracellular vesicles - aka the body’s text messages - forming a bright coating on cardiopulmonary bypass tubing. This image is part of research aimed at improving how these blood-contacting surfaces interact with the body.
Congratulations to this year's winners - and thank you to all our entrants.
You can have a closer look at the top 12 finalists over on our LinkedIn
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