Name: Exposing the invisible
Uploaded: 2010-01-05T09:13:00Z
Duration: 13 min 1 s
Description: Nick Veasey shows outsized X-ray images that reveal the otherworldly inner workings of familiar objects -- from the geometry of a wildflower to the anatomy of a Boeing 747. Producing these photos is dangerous and painstaking, but the reward is a superpower: looking at what the human eye can't see.

Nick Veasey shows outsized X-ray images that reveal the otherworldly inner workings of familiar objects -- from the geometry of a wildflower to the anatomy of a Boeing 747. Producing these photos is dangerous and painstaking, but the reward is a superpower: looking at what the human eye can't see.

Exposing the invisible

Peering through objects with X-rays uncovers hidden complexity and unexpected beauty. Using technology originally designed to detect cancer or contraband, even a Boeing 747 can be transformed into a luminous patchwork of over 500 exposures. The process is painstaking and sometimes risky, involving massive machines, protective concrete, and even donated cadavers. These images give a fresh perspective on nature, design, and the ordinary things people overlook.