Juergen Freund / Jo Browne and Kade Mills use a cylinder cone plankton net to sample gelatinous zooplankton for Coral Reef census, Lizard Island, Queensland, Australia, April 2008

Lisa Hoffner / Researcher analyses Cotton-top tamarin fecal sample. Colombia, South America

Peter Cairns / naturepl.com / Researcher marks up blood sample taken from upland Water vole (Arvicola terrestris) as part of Cairngorms Water Vole Conservation Project, Scotland, UK, JulY 2008

Wild Wonders of Europe / Unterthiner / Researcher from the Hellenic Ornithological Society collecting blood sample from an Eleonora's falcon (Falco eleonorae) Andros, Greece, September 2008

Fabio Liverani / Research scientists fixing net across canal to sample fish, Parco Delta del Po, NE Italy 2008

David Shale / Sorting benthic sample catch on research ship Johan Hjort, Barents sea, Northern Europe

Tom Gilks / African scientist collecting water sample from tap, Gambia (Reconstruction) 2007

Tom Gilks / African scientist collecting water sample from tap, Gambia (Reconstruction) 2007

Bruno D'Amicis / Biologist collecting saliva from a Noctule bat (Nyctalus noctula) for a DNA sample. Berlin, Germany

Jeff Rotman / Taking blood sample from Bottlenose dolphin {Tursiops truncatus} Red Sea, Israel Model released.

Juergen Freund / Lifeguard checking water sample for Irukandji and Box Jellyfish after drag-netting stinger-resistant enclosure, Queensland, Australia 2006

Juergen Freund / Lifeguard checking water sample for Irukandji and Box Jellyfish after drag-netting stinger-resistant enclosure, Queensland, Australia, 2006

Juergen Freund / Lifeguard checking water sample for Irukandji and Box Jellyfish after drag-netting stinger-resistant enclosure, Queensland, Australia 2006

Juergen Freund / Lifeguard checking water sample for Irukandji and Box Jellyfish after drag-netting stinger-resistant enclosure, Queensland, Australia 2006

Juergen Freund / Komodo dragon saliva sample for research (Varanus komodoensis) Komodo Island, Indonesia

David Shale / Paper argonaut (Argonauta sp) Gulf of Mexico, deep sea species. Shallow living epipelagic animal, collected in a sample fished in the upper 200m of the tropical NE Atlantic.

Ingo Arndt / Sample of sea ice core 1 millimeter thick with crystals frozen under turbulent water conditions, photographed under polarized light, collected in Weddell Sea, Antarctica

Suzi Eszterhas / Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus) researcher Nick Lunn collects blood sample from an anesthetized adult female, vulnerable, Wapusk National Park, Manitoba, Canada

Juergen Freund / Biologists taking skin sample from humpback whale{Megaptera novaeangliae} Gorgona Island, Colombia. 1993

Suzi Eszterhas / Polar Bear {Ursus maritimus} blood sample being collected from an anaesthetised adult female, Wapusk NP, Manitoba, Canada

Suzi Eszterhas / Polar Bear {Ursus maritimus} biologist collects a sample of a claw shaving from an anesthetized adult female, Wapusk NP, Manitoba, Canada

David Shale / Researchers sorting a benthic deep sea trawl sample, rat tails etc, in laboratory

David Shale / Researchers sorting a benthic deep sea trawl sample, rat tails etc, in laboratory

David Shale / Sorting Holothurians / Sea cucumbers in a benthic sample from the mid-Atlantic ridge

David Shale / Benthic trawl sample from oceanographic research - Rattails etc.

Todd Pusser / Collecting sample from beached Grey whale, San Simeon, California, USA.

Patricio Robles Gil / Sample bottle of Krill {Euphausiacea} Gulf of California, Mexico

Patricio Robles Gil / Researcher with sample of Krill, the main food source for the Rorqual Whales, Gulf of California, Mexico

Flip Nicklin / Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) researchers Lea Gerber and Dr James Darling shoot biopsy darts at whales with dart bouncing off whale unnoticed, carrying a sample of fat and skin in the tip, A...

Mark Moffett / Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) accepts nectar sample from electronic bee in communication research experiment, Wurzburg, Germany

Mark Moffett / Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) accepts nectar sample from electronic bee in communication research experiment, Wurzburg, Germany

Mark Moffett / Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) accepts nectar sample from electronic bee in communication research experiment, Wurzburg, Germany

John Cancalosi / Researchers sample blood from Mute swan {Cygnus olor} for lead poisoning. UK

Martin H Smith / Children pond dipping at Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire, UK

Gerry Ellis / Chimpanzee (Pan troglodytes) virology team collecting samples from chimpanzee cage during monkey pox disease outbreak in August 2016, Ape Action Africa, Mefou Primate Sanctuary, Cameroon

Jaymi Heimbuch / Santa Catalina Island Fox (Urocyon littoralis catalinae) ear swab sample covered with ear mites, Santa Catalina Island, Channel Islands, California

Jaymi Heimbuch / Predator claws found in scat by scent detection dog with Conservation Canines, northeast Washington

Jaymi Heimbuch / Samples of scents used in training for scent detection dogs with Conservation Canines, northeast Washington

Suzi Eszterhas / Tasmanian Devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) conservationists taking tissue sample, Devils at Cradle, Cradle Mountain-Lake Saint Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia

Suzi Eszterhas / Brown-throated Three-toed Sloth (Bradypus variegatus) biologist, Rebecca Cliffe, pulling hair samples from anesthetized sloth for genetic study, Aviarios Sloth Sanctuary, Costa Rica

Suzi Eszterhas / Coyote (Canis latrans) biologists collecting hair sample from wild pup, Chicago, Illinois

Paul D Stewart / Illustration of 'Prof. Darwin' coloured lithograph by Faustin Betbeder, with original Shakespeare quotes in text below. Front page of the 'Figaro' paper N. 475, London Wednesday February 18th 1874. It...

Pete Oxford / Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) having blood sample being taken by veterinarian Kathy Dreyer before transport to new reserve, Great Fish River Nature Reserve, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Stephen Belcher / Kakapo (Strigops habroptilus) having blood taken by researchers, Codfish Island, New Zealand

Ingo Arndt / Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) tail samples for DNA testing for South Georgia Heritage Trust Rat Eradication Project, King Edward Point, South Georgia Island

Florian Möllers / Chinese PhD student Guo Songtao with hair sample of Golden Snub-nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana qinlingensis) gathered for DNA analysis, Zhouzhi Nature Reserve, Shaanxi, China, October.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2, copper iron sulfide) (Golden variety), a major ore of copper. Sample from China.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Red Quartz (SiO2). Sample from Orange River, South Africa.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead, on Quartz (SiO2), the most common mineral in the Earth's crust. Sample from Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds County, Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Sweetwater Mine, Reynolds County, Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2, copper iron sulfide), a very important economic ore (Golden variety). Sample from Peru.

John Cancalosi / Fluorite (CaF2, calcium fluoride) on Sphalerite (ZnS, zinc sulfide). Fluorite is a source of fluorine-used in the manufacture of milk glass-as a flux for the steel industry and in refining of aluminum...

John Cancalosi / Hematite, the main ore of iron. Sample from Luna County, New Mexico.

John Cancalosi / Fluorite with Calcite, (CaF2-calcium fluoride). Fluorite is one of the most popular minerals among collectors, Mineral class: Halides. Fluorite is a source of fluorine-used in the manufacture of milk...

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the main ore of lead. Sample from Tri State District, Joplin Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead, with Sphalerite. Sample from Gjudurska Mine, Madan district, Southern Rhodope mountains, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Hemimorphite (zinc silicate), an important ore of zinc. Sample from Mina Ojuela, Mapimi, Durango, Mexico.

John Cancalosi / Celestite containing strontium sulfate (SrSO4), an ore of strontium. Sample from Clay Center, Ohio, USA.

John Cancalosi / Hausmannite on Garnet (Andradite), a manganese ore. Sample from South Africa, N'Chwaning Mines, South Africa.

John Cancalosi / Sphalerite, the main ore of zinc. Sample from Joplin, Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Fluorite with Calcite, (CaF2-calcium fluoride). Fluorite is one of the most popular minerals among collectors, Mineral class: Halides. Fluorite is a source of fluorine-used in the manufacture of milk...

John Cancalosi / Muscovite (Mica), one of the most common minerals in the earth's crust, having wide economic importance. Sample from Minas Gerais, Brazil.

John Cancalosi / Orpiment, an ore of arsenic. Sample from Shimen Mine, Hunan, China.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) (Golden variety), the major ore of copper. Sample from Herja, near Baia Mare, Romania.

John Cancalosi / Galena (the main ore of lead) and Chalcopyrite (ore of copper). Sample from Giudiurska mine, Zlatograd, Bulgaria, .

John Cancalosi / Purpurite and Pegmatite. Sample from Custer, South Dakota, USA.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite, Calcite, Siderite, Quartz and Dolomite. Sample from Hartenstein near Schneeberg Saxony in Germany.

John Cancalosi / Chrysocolla (hydrated copper silicate), a minor ore of copper. Sample from Arizona, USA.

John Cancalosi / Fluorite and Galena, the primary ore of lead. Sample from Rogerley Mine, County Durham, England, UK.

John Cancalosi / Smithsonite (zinc carbonate, ZnCO3), a mineral ore of zinc, Also known as zinc spar, Discovered by and named for James Smithson whose bequest established the Smithsonian Institute, Colors range from w...

John Cancalosi / Selenite (CaSO4-2H2O) (Hydrous calcium sulfate), a form of gypsum. Sample from Mt. Gunson, Australia. Formed in evaporite deposits.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead; and spalerite (black), an ore of zinc. Sample from Tri State District, Joplin Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Bauxite (the main ore of aluminium) with Red Ocher. Sample from Dixie Mine, Pulaski County, Arkansas, USA.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the primary ore of lead. Sample from Tri State District, Joplin Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite, a major copper ore. Sample from Anticona Mine, Morococha District, Yauli Province, Junin Department, Peru.

John Cancalosi / Galena (PbS, lead sulfide), the main ore of lead. Sample from Tri State District, Joplin Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Pyrite (FeS2, Iron sulfide), popularly known as 'fool's gold'. Formerly used in the production of sulfuric acid. Sample from Buick mine, Missouri, USA.

John Cancalosi / Meteorite, composed primarily Kamacite (about 90%) which is an iron nickel alloy and aso has Taenite, Plessite, Schreibersite, Rhabites, Troilite, Chromite.Sample from Sikhote Alin, Russia, falling on...

John Cancalosi / Fluorite (CaF2) (calcium fluoride) on Sphalerite (ZnS) (zinc sulfide).Fluorite is a source of fluorine-used in the manufacture of milk glass-as a flux for the steel industry and in refining of aluminu...

John Cancalosi / Bauxite, the main ore of aluminium. Sample from Brazil.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite, Galena, Spalerite and Pyrite. Sample from Borieva Mine, Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Chrysocolla (hydrous copper silicate) an ore of copper. Sample from Congo.

John Cancalosi / Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2, copper iron sulfide) (Golden variety), a major ore of copper. Sample from China.

John Cancalosi / Malachite (CuCO3(OH)2), Azurite (Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2, formed by weathering of copper sulfides near the surface of sulfide deposits. Sample from Morenci mine, Arizona, USA.

John Cancalosi / Calcite (CaCO3), one of the most common and variable minerals on earth, used in building, metallugy, fertilizers, chemical industry, rhodochrosite, MnCO3, manganese carbonate, an ore of manganese when...

John Cancalosi / Molybdenite (MoS2), mined for molybdenum bisulfide, (a lubricant) and molybdenum. Sample from Queensland Australia, Wolfram Camp Mine, Dimbulah, Mareeba Shire.

John Cancalosi / Native Copper (Cu). Sample from Ray mine, Pinal County, Arizona, USA. Copper is perhaps the most important economically useful metal.

John Cancalosi / Pyrite on Talc. Pyrite (FeS2, iron sulfide) is popularly known as 'fool's gold', formerly used in the production of sulfuric acid. Talc is easily distinguishable by its extreme softness, used in lubri...

John Cancalosi / Quartz with Chlorite Inclusion (SiO2, silicon dioxide), the most common mineral on Earth with many industrial uses. Sample from Ganesh Mountain, Nepal.

John Cancalosi / Pyrite (FeS2, Iron sulfide), popularly known as 'fool's gold'. Formerly used in the production of sulfuric acid. Sample from Peru.

John Cancalosi / Willemite, an ore of zinc. Sample from Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, New Jersey, USA.

John Cancalosi / Quartz, Chalcopyrite, Galena. Sample from Pcheloiad mine, Madan, Bulgaria.

John Cancalosi / Pyrite (FeS2, Iron sulfide). Sample from Butte Montana. Popularly known as 'fool's gold'. Formerly used in the production of sulfuric acid.