Materials Collection (#30)

Long-tailed Tit (Aegithalos caudatus) adult, with feather in beak, collecting material for lining nest, Suffolk, England, march

Snow Bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) adult female, summer plumage, collecting nesting material, Spitzbergen, Svalbard, july

Jackdaw (Corvus monedula soemmerringii) Nordic race, four adults, collecting nesting material, Tulcea, Danube Delta, Dobrogea, Romania, may

Brown Jay (Psilorhinus morio) adult, collecting nesting material on lowland forest floor, Tikal N. P. Peten, Guatemala
Brown Jay (Psilorhinus morio) adult, collecting nesting material on lowland forest floor, Tikal N.P. Peten, Guatemala

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) adult, in flight, carrying fishing net rope for nesting material, Noss, Shetland Islands, Scotland, may

Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) adults, nesting colony with fishing rubbish in nests, Hermaness, Unst, Shetland Islands, Scotland, june

Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus) adult male, collecting moss and lichen for nesting material, Northern Italy, march

Common Coot (Fulica atra) adult, nest building, arranging nesting material, Yorkshire, England, may

Common Coot (Fulica atra) adult, swimming, carrying nesting material in beak, Titchwell RSPB Reserve, Norfolk, England, march

Artist using a sight vane to draw a seated man on a pane of glass. This woodcut was made by the German artist Albrecht Durer (1471-1528)

Measuring perspective for art. This woodcut was made by the German artist Albrecht Durer (1471- 1528). His skillful use of perspective

Artist drawing a lute. This woodcut was made by the German artist Albrecht Durer (1471-1528). His skillful use of perspective

Artist drawing a nude. This woodcut was made by the German artist Albrecht Durer (1471-1528). His skillful use of perspective

Jackdaw gathering nesting materials
Jackdaw (Corvus monedula) gathering nesting materials in spring. Photographed in Belgium

White stork carrying nesting materials
White stork (Ciconia ciconia) carrying nesting materials in flight. Photographed in spring in Belgium

Oil pipeline. Construction of an oil pipeline through an area of cloud forest. The Oleoducto Crudo Pesado pipeline, completed in October 2003, transports between 390, 000 and 450

Straw particleboard. Piece of particleboard made from wheat straw. Particles of straw are produced by milling bales of waste straw, and then bound by a resin to produce a wood-like building material

City building. This building is constructed from wood, steel and glass. Steel is commonly used in construction because of its strength. Photographed in Dusseldorf, Germany

Office building. Abstract image of the corner of an office building. Photographed in Dusseldorf, Germany

Scrap metal
Electromagnet being used to lift ferrous metal (iron and steel) at a scrap yard. The magnetic properties of ferrous metal make it easy to separate from other waste

Macrophoto of the synthetic textile polypropylene
Polypropylene. Macrophotograph of the synthetic textile polypropylene. This is a non-woven fabric in which the filaments are anchored together by heat bonding

SEM of hollow viscose fibres
Thermal insulator. Scanning electron micrograph of hollow viscose fibres used as a thermal insulator. These fibres are used in clothing and sleeping bags. Magnification x760 at 10x8 inch size

False-colour SEM of lycra / nylon woven fabric
False-colour SEM of lycra/nylon woven fabric

SEM of dacron polyester filling (Hollofil)

SEM of hollow viscose fibre
Thermal insulator. Scanning electron micrograph of a hollow viscose fibre used as a thermal insulator. Fibres such as this are used in clothing and sleeping bags

Macrophoto of a lattice of polyester silk fibres
Polyester silk. Macrophotograph of a lattice of polyester silk fibres. This is a synthetic textile used in automotive interior trim, such as car seats. Magnification: x20 at 6x7cm size

Angora wool fibres. Coloured scanning electron micrograph of fibres of angora wool. These show the overlapping scales typical of animal hairs

Light micrograph of polyamide in tissue
Polyamide tissue. Light micrograph of fibres of a woven polyamide tissue, a synthetic material. Magnification x77 at 5x4 inch size

PLM of a cross-section through rayon fibres

Corduroy under a magnifying glass. Corduroy is a woven fabric

Woven wool, SEM
Woven wool. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of fibres of wool woven together

SEM of lyocell (synthetic cellulose) fibres
Lyocell fibres. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of lyocell fibres. Lyocell is a synthetic fibre based on cellulose, a natural polymer

Polypropylene filaments, SEM
Polypropylene filaments. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of filaments of the plastic polypropylene, formed by the polymerization of propylene

Coloured SEM of an ant on some reflective foil
Reflective material. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an ant on some reflective material. The material (magenta and orange) is designed to be " retro-reflective", that is

PLM of a synthetic liquid crystal polymer fibres
Liquid crystal fibres. Polarised light micrograph (PLM) of an extruded, cellulosic, liquid crystal (LC) polymer fibres. LC polymers are long

Man made coloured fibres

Nylon stocking, SEM
Nylon stocking fibres. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the weave of a nylon stocking. Nylon is a polyamide substance, and was the first synthetic fibre ever to be produced

Woven fabric, SEM
Woven fabric, coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM)

Insulation material

PLM of a polypropylene film for adhesive plasters
Polypropylene film. Polarised light micrograph of a polypropylene (a type of plastic) film. From close up it can be seen that the film is a symmetrical pattern of hollow triangles

Bubble wrap packaging. This cushioning packaging material, which consists of air-filled bubbles in a plastic sheet, was invented in 1957

Wool, SEM
Wool. Coloured scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of wool from a sheep. The cuticle (outer layer) of the hair comprises overlapping scales

Net curtain, light micrograph
Net curtain, polarised light micrograph. This curtain is made from synthetic fibres

Organic cotton fabric and information labels. Organically-produced cotton fabrics eliminate the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides

String. Tangled threads of string

Energy efficiency
Insulation. Conceptual image of foam insulation round a copper pipe beside a globe

Foam insulation round a copper pipe

Polarised light micrograph of two Nylon 66 fibres
Nylon 66 filaments. Polarised light micrograph of two nylon 66 filaments. The filaments have a smooth appearance, typical of synthetic fibres

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"Exploring the Enduring Legacy of Materials: From Bakelite Telephones to Gorringes Fashion Fabrics" Delving into the past, we uncover a vintage treasure - a Bakelite telephone that revolutionized communication in its time. Witnessing history unfold, HMS Habbakuk sails alongside HMS Indefatigable in 1946, showcasing the strength and resilience used during wartime. In East Ham, London during World War II, recycling cans became an act of patriotism as they aided the war effort and demonstrated how materials could be repurposed for a greater cause. Hookes Law springs to life through an illustration depicting the elasticity of materials; it reveals how stretching a spring can unlock its potential energy. Step back in time with an enchanting advert from 1932 featuring Gorringes fashion fabrics, highlighting their exquisite quality and timeless appeal. Dive deep into adventure as a German diver fearlessly explores unknown depths using specialized materials designed for underwater exploration. Celebrating Marie Curie's groundbreaking contributions to science, her caricature immortalizes her pioneering work on radioactive materials that forever changed our understanding of physics and medicine. A page from The Architect's Surveyors and Engineers Compendium (1892) showcases intricate engravings detailing various construction techniques utilizing different building materials such as stone, wood, and metal. Discovering innovative solutions for damp-proofing houses unveils how modern technology has advanced over time to protect structures against moisture damage using cutting-edge material applications. Marvel at Clifton Bridge's majestic beauty captured in a stunning photograph; this architectural marvel stands tall thanks to durable construction materials that have stood the test of time. Journey along Kashmir's River Jhelum where tradition meets craftsmanship - witness a woman gracefully paddling a wooden boat crafted from locally sourced timber; showcasing nature's bounty transformed into functional materials.