A Monkey's Revenge - My Blog

Nov 11, 2024

A chilly adventure...

As I crossed the Severn Bridge into Wales, the crisp early March air hinted at the cold and flu season still in full swing. My destination: Cardiff University, where groundbreaking research on these common ailments was in progress. Upon arrival at the School of Medicine, I was greeted by a bustling scene of students participating in the university's cold and flu research project. The atmosphere was a mix of scientific curiosity and sniffles.

Inside the lab was a large cutaway model of the inside of a human nose, complete with detailed nasal passages and sinuses. It illustrated the intricate battleground where viruses and our immune system clash. As I photographed Professor Ron Eccles with the model, a steady stream of volunteers arrived, each sporting the telltale signs of a cold – red noses, watery eyes, and the occasional cough.

Trying not to get too close to the suffering students something caught my eye – a detailed model of a rhinovirus, one of the primary culprits behind the common cold. Its strange shape and protruding proteins gave it an almost otherworldly appearance. Inspiration struck, and I couldn't resist the urge to get creative. I decided to photo-montage the rhinovirus model in the foreground of my shot, with medical student Jed Emsen looking at it as he blew his nose. With a bit of lighting and a low perspective, I managed to capture an image that looked like a scene from Star Wars – the Death Star of the microscopic world looming over one of its victims.

I packed up all my gear and bid farewell to the dedicated researchers and brave volunteers, I couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and trepidation. The work being done at Cardiff University was truly impressive, potentially paving the way for more effective treatments and new flu vaccines. However I found myself hoping that my close encounter with so many cold viruses wouldn't leave me with a souvenir I didn't want. Thankfully, whether due to luck or a robust immune system, I made it through the next week cold-free.

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