It looks a bit grubby, but a lot of us safely put this in our mouth.
The annual QUT Science in Focus Competition is shedding a different light on some everyday – and not so everyday – objects used by the university’s researchers in their pursuit of new knowledge.
In this case, the mystery item above is actually an extreme close-up of unwaxed dental floss.
Entrants in the competition have also used macrophotography to show the hidden beauty of objects including rat bones, blood cells, and 3D printed mesh.
This year, videos with an artistic flavour have also been allowed to enter alongside the photographs.
They include a mesmerising look at baby coral growing from its parent’s tissues.
While the competition is only open to QUT staff, everyone can help judge.
Members of the public can view the finalist images and videos online and vote for the People’s Choice Award by midnight, October 18.
The winners will be announced on Friday, October 19, at a finalist exhibition on the big screens of The Cube at the QUT Science and Engineering Centre at the Gardens Point campus.
People interested in attending the event can register here.
The QUT Science in Focus Competition is hosted by QUT’s Institute for Future Environments. You can view all the finalists in the gallery below.
One of the aims is to showcase the university’s research in an intriguing manner.
The researcher behind the dental floss image is Dr Jayanti Mendhi, who has a Bachelor of Dentistry from Bharati Vidyapeeth, a Master of Science in Dental Materials from the University of Sheffield, and is currently completing her PhD at QUT on titanium implants in dentistry.
Her entry was taken with a scanning electron microscope and depicts a strand of unwaxed dental floss made of nylon, magnified 500 times.
“Dental floss is an integral part of the oral hygiene ritual,” she explains.
“Periodontal infection or gum diseases often lead to tooth loss which requires expensive prosthetic procedures.
“Prevention is better than cure! My research focuses on enhancing antibacterial properties in titanium implants and dental floss through polydopamine coatings, thus preventing gum disease.”
QUT Media contacts:
- Mechelle McMahon | media@qut.edu.au
- Rose Trapnell | media@qut.edu.au | 0407 585 901 (including after hours)
