Galleries / Sliced: Building a Better Bubbly

You know hydrogen and oxygen, helium and carbon. But the periodic table's frequently forgotten residents, rare elements with funny names, show up in many unexpected places.

The scarlet pimpernel's has a natural hinge. The blueberry glows brightly—in ultraviolet light. The Buddha's hand looks like… You guessed it.

The images from the latest Science as Art competition all show familiar objects, but they're made out of amazing, almost alien materials—and they're insanely small.