Toons & Teasers
Life Science Toons & Teasers
Enjoy our original life science cartoons, conceived by Phil Ness, owner and publisher of LifeScienceHistory.com (LSH), with illustration by Mark Reeve, an award-winning cartoonist, previously with The Mail On Sunday, who has done work for The Economist, GQ, and DC Comics. Follow us on LinkedIn…
Zoom in for fun “facts” hidden in the very small detail of our cartoons – all accurate, including the data, and quotes of all illustrated, excluding our non homo sapien characters, such as Drs. Muis and Mousee, Dr. Randy C. Roach, and others. Their quotes are from famous scientists, and others from history and today.
We invite you to Stay Tooned! Sign up for our monthly ehistory for news, history and original cartoons, and our mid month Spotlight highlighting select topics of interest.
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U.S. Healthcare Research in Peril
“The U.S. Healthcare Research in Crisis” illustrates the continued destruction of the world’s largest public funder of medical research, and the impact on our nation’s universities, non-profit research institutions, federal…
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Milestones in Autism
Milestones in Autism illustrates the history of the disorder from the coining of the term ‘autism by Swiss psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler, clinical identification, and the first book published on Infantile…
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The NIH and U.S. Healthcare in Crisis
“The NIH and U.S. Healthcare in Crisis” illustrates the demise of the world’s largest public funder of biomedical research, and the leading healthcare institutions that made our nation the world’s…
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Milestones in Fluoride
Fluoride is an inorganic mineral that is naturally present in our water, soil, certain foods and health products, such as toothpaste. Milestones in Fluoride illustrate the history of the mineral…
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The Biology of Valentines
The Biology of Valentines illustrates the many hormones driving this special day for two of our favorites: Estrogen and Testosterone, in all of their genetic splendor, skipping along the path…
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Defending Science and Reason
Defending Science and Reason requires suffering the slings and arrows from the army of doubters who embrace myths, conspiracies, pseudoscience and age-old quackery. Epic Cast of Characters: Xavier Becerra, Secretary,…
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Milestones in Diabetes
Milestones in Diabetes illustrates major milestones from the first administration of the hormone insulin in 1921 to a recent National Institutes of Health study into causes of atypical diabetes. Published:…
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Milestones in Parkinson’s
Milestones in Parkinson’s illustrates advancements in the disease from James Parkinson’s essay on ‘shaking palsy’ to development of therapies, the role of pathophysiology and the role of critical genes in…
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Women’s History Month II
Women’s History Month II celebrates the pioneering achievements of women doctors who served from the battlefield to the neglected communities; advanced chemotherapies and developed a novel therapy for malaria that…
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Milestones in CRISPR
Our Milestones in CRISPR cartoon illustrates several significant achievements in the development of the technology with commentary by Polly D’ Osuar; Erik Von Muis, Ph.D., Director, Centers for Human Disease…
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Milestones in Polio
Milestones in Polio illustrates the slow but steady advancements from its clinical description and discovery to widespread infection and, finally a cure from a disease that has affected humanity around…
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U.S. Biotech Initiative
On Sept. 14, 2022, The U.S. Biotech Initiative was announced detailing new investments and resources to advance the National Biotechnology and Biomanufacturing industry. Published: Nov. 21, 2022
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Management, Pre- & Post COVID-19
COVID-19 has significantly changed the world around us, especially the management of life science companies and organizations, and the juggling of operational issues and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration…
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COVID-19 Wheel of Fortune
Play the COVID-19 Wheel of Fortune and see how lucky you are! You have two wheels to choose from. Which wheel are you going to spin? Do you feeling lucky??…
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Asian American and Pacific Islander History Month
Asian American and Pacific Islander History Month celebrates the scientific accomplishments of several firsts, from the first chemo for children with Leukemia, and oral contraceptives, to the cloning of HIV…
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Evolution of DNA
The Evolution of DNA is an Illustration with the very small, requiring magnification, to the very large. Cast of Characters: Gregor Mendel | Charles Darwin | Herbert Spencer | Alfred…
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Women’s History Month I
Women’s History Month celebrates the Nobel achievements of Marie Curie and her work with radon; Barbara McClintock for jumping genes; Rosalind Franklin for X-ray diffraction; and Jennifer Doudna and Emmannuelle…
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Black History Month
Black History Month Celebrates the pioneering accomplishments of James McCune Smith, Rebecca Lee Crumpler, Alexa Canady and Patricia E. Bath for their ground-breaking advancements in medicine. Published: Feb. 21, 2022
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Evolution of CRISPR
The Evolution of CRISPR illustrates its climb out of the primordial oceananic soup on the backs of eukaryotic cells and their friends to its discovery, characterization and patenting by scientists…
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COVID-19 Heroes and Remembrance
Our Heroes and Remembrance illustration has Maurice Ralph Hilleman and John Enders, pioneering developers of common vaccines, and Clara Barton who served as a hospital nurse in the American Civil…
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COVID-19 Roller Coaster
The COVID-19 Roller Coaster is a wild ride, strap yourself in and hold on… Cast of Characters: Senator Addison Mitchell McConnell III | Ellie R. Elephant, Reluctant GOP Symbol |…
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Life-Saving Vaccines
Our Life-Saving Vaccines cartoon illustrates four invaluable vaccines that have significantly impacted human civilization throughout history from smallpox and influenza to the development of a measles vaccine and a cure…
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COVID-19 Vaccinated vs. Non-Vaccinated
Cast of Characters: Jay Inslee, Governor, Washington | Gavin Newsom, Governor, California | Doug Ducey, Governor, Arizona | Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MPH, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention…
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COVID-19 Vacation Destinations
Summer vacations are upon us: Where to go? How about going to one of those large events with tens of thousands of your closest friends? I wonder where COVID-19 went…
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The COVID-19 Vaccine
Cast of Characters: Jay Inslee, Governor, Washington | Anthony S. Fauci, MD, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases | Gavin Newsom, Governor, California | Doug Ducey, Governor, Arizona…
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COVID-19 PPE Distribution
Cast of Characters: Jay Inslee, Governor, Washington | Gavin Newsom, Governor, California | Doug Ducey, Governor, Arizona | Deborah Brix, MD, Director, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator | Kristi Noem, Governor,…
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The Wave
Cast of Characters: Donald Trump, President | Mike Pence, Vice President | Anthony S. Fauci, MD, Director, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases | Deborah Brix, MD, Director, U.S….
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Science and Reason
COVID-19 and it’s naysayers are attacking Science and Reason. The defenders must suffer the slings and arrows from the army of doubters who throw science, logic and reason out the…
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Kefauver Drug Reforms
Senators James Eastland from Mississippi, and Everett Dirksen from Illinois were among the many who opposed Senator Estes Kefauver’s attempts to reform drug regulation in the early 1960s—at the same…
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Lipstick and Color Additives
The U.S. Congress passed the Color Additives Amendment in 1960 prohibiting the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) from approving carcinogenic colors for use in foods, drugs, and cosmetics. Scientifically,…
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FDA Cranberry Crisis
This signed editorial cartoon was sent to the FDA in the midst of its “cranberry crisis” in 1959. Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare, Arthur Flemming had announced in a…
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Infantile Paralysis, help me win my victory
A public campaign poster on polio, showing a symbolic representation of death holding a girl’s lower legs. The caption reads: ‘Help Me Win My Victory!! Join The March Of Dimes!’…
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Classroom in Proposed Bryan University of Tennessee
Classroom in Proposed Bryan University of Tennessee illustrates the university of William Jennings Bryan where he served as prosecuting attorney against John Thomas Scopes, a biology teacher charged with violating…
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Dr. Wiley and the U.S. Bureau of Chemistry
This illustration shows Uncle Sam consoling Dr. Harvey Wiley, who on March 15, 1912 resigned as Chief of the Bureau of Chemistry. It was his 1902 study into the effects…
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Mrs. Winslows Soothing Syrup for Teething Children
An illustration of Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup for teething and colicky babies. The product like many of the era was laced with a dangerous product. Mrs. Winslow’s syrup contained morphine…
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Some Welch Rabbits
‘Some Welch rabbits’, a caricature of William H. Welch, an American physician and one of the “Big Four” founding professors at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and his pupils. Illustration by…
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Uncle Sam and the Sure Cure
This political cartoon pays homage to Dr. Harvey Wiley, Chief Chemist at Bureau of Chemistry who led the fight to institute a federal law to prohibit adulterated and mis-branded food…
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Political cartoon pays homage to Bureau of Chemistry Chief Chemist Harvey Wiley
Bureau of Chemistry (now the FDA) Chief Harvey Wiley led the fight to institute a federal law to prohibit adulterated and mis-branded food and drugs. President Theodore Roosevelt signed the…
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Uncle Sam’s Christmas Smokers
This cartoon depicts Uncle Sam having received several cigars as Christmas presents; however, they are actually exploding cigars — that is, various scandals in the United States are being exposed….
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Hunts Remedy – The great & liver Medicine – Never known to fail
William E. Clarke of Providence, Rhode Island produced and marketed “Hunt’s Remedy”, a widely sold nostrum for kidney complaints, for decades. Trade card, shows a cured man leaping out of…
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Uncle Sam and the beef Trust
Cartoon about beef prices, the Beef Trust, and vegetarianism. Illustration by Ryan Walker. Published: Circa 1900.
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Patent Medicine Politics
This illustration shows the “baby soothing syrups” on the table are clearly labeled “paregoric” and “Mrs. Winslow’s Soothing Syrup.” Their use as a focal point in a political cartoon indicates…
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Smoking in Offices
A cartoon from Harper’s Weekly that shows an office worker, whose smoking cigar is drooping from his mouth, reading a sign on the wall: “No Smoking In Offices During Office…
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Butter vs. Margerine
This cartoon illustrates the battle between butter and margarine in the United States that began in the mid 19th century. Originally, made as a substitute for the troops of Napoleon…
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Look Before you Eat
Look Before You Eat, this Puck frontispiece captures the essence of the “pure food” movement in American history. With a “chemistry” text in his pocket and a bib around his…
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VACCINATION against SMALLPOX or Mercenary & Merciless spreaders of Death & Devastation driven out of society!
Jenner and his two colleagues seeing off three anti-vaccination opponents, the dead are littered at their feet. Coloured etching by I. Cruikshank. Published: June, 18, 1808.
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The Cow-Pock—or—the Wonderful Effects of the New Inoculation!
Caricature by British satirist James Gillray depicts a scene at the Smallpox and Inoculation Hospital at St. Pancras, showing cowpox vaccine being administered to frightened young women, and cows emerging…
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Newton’s famous steps under the fabled apple tree
Doctor Zirkel follows Isaac Newton’s famous steps under the fabled apple tree. Coloured wood engraving. Courtesy: Wellcome Trust. [Scene 1:] The doctor leaves his house, carrying his measuring compass. [2]…
