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A cartouche is an intricate ornamental frame with a blank centre often flanked by scrolls. Cartouches commonly frame coats of arms, messages and paintings. 

What comes to mind when you think of a dragon? Depending on where you are in the world, the idea of what a dragon is will vary significantly. Dragons in western cultures are usually depicted as fire breathing winged and horned creatures. However, in eastern legends, dragons are wingless, serpentine beasts.

Radiolaria are a water-dwelling single-cell micro-organism. They measure a minuscule 0.1-0.2mm and have beautifully intricate mineral skeletons, usually made of silica. They are a type of zooplankton and float freely around oceans, seas, and freshwater areas, feeding on smaller animals and minerals.

Some of the earliest examples of surgery come from ancient Egypt, with documents and skeletal remains showing evidence of dentistry. Sushruta Samhita is an ancient Sanskrit text by Sushruta, an Indian surgeon and physician working in the 6th Century BCE, known as the 'Father of Surgery'. His book describes preventative measures, diagnosis and treatment of various ailments, including essential and cosmetic surgeries.

Early herbals and pharmacopoeia of many cultures have included the depiction of plants. This was intended to assist the identification of a species, usually with some medicinal purpose. In this article, we'll learn about when the interest in botanical images became widespread, and the unique prespective botanical illustration provides. 

A monster is typically depicted as a grotesque creature that possesses a destructive power that threatens humanity's social order or moral conduct. Within folklore, they are often portrayed as deformed, supernatural, mutant entities of the lowest class.

Read on for an introduction to our top five favourite Greek gods. Learn their Roman names, roles, sacred duties, symbols and more.

Learn about our top five favourite tropical fish! Read on to hear how fish help maintain a balanced eco system and find out the connection between 19th century convicts and a small white fish.

There are over 3,000 species of snake worldwide. Of the 600 poisonous types, only 200 species have venom strong enough to harm or kill a human - and the top three most venomous snakes on Earth are all native to one country - read on to find out which one.