BBC: Fusion of Science and Art

I thought this was an interesting article and video by the BBC about the "beautiful images" that are captured throughout science. I thought the look into microscopy was sort of funky though. To me it's like saying the microvilli in your intestine look beautiful... Sounds sort of weird... But it's purely visual appeal.

This exhibit of images was gathered by the same group that created the Tree of Life Interactive Program (The Wellcome Trust, or something like that).

I am always a bit skeptical when it comes to aesthetic aspects of science. To me it feels like I'm sort of plea bargaining with students to like something they'll never fully understand. My big issue with aesthetic aspects of science education is that if students can retain the little tid-bits that this guy mentioned during a Regents then I'd be more than thrilled. But how often will a student remember something they looked at only momentarily? I suppose it's all in the execution of the lesson(s), or maybe I'm just old fashioned...

In my eyes, the dazzle effect of aesthetic education seems sort of distracting to the conceptual ideas behind the dazzle. But use it as you wish... :)