Nerd Alert

When you were younger, your parents probably told you not to play with your food.  Later when in the science lab you were probably told not to play with the test tubes, bunsen burner or skeleton.  Last week the American Society for Microbiology held their first agar art contest.  Agar, a jelly like substance comes from the supporting structure of algae cell walls.  While the substance can be used cooking (think vegetarian substitute for gelatin), microbiologists use it to grow cultures.  Scientists from all the country submitted various pieces of art made from yeast, proteins and bacteria. 

"Starry Night"

By Melanie Sullivan

"Yeast go viral" 

By Paul Rowley