iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 01/05/2026

I WON A THING!!! Submitted this image of "Darwinian protein evolution" at the VIZBI 2026 conference, and won best Art & Biology visualisation. I just wrote up a behind-the-scenes of the process of making it - e-nox.net/darwinian-pr... #SciArt

Illustration of the concept of protein evolution. It is based on The March of Progress, which shows early human ancestors changing step by step into humans, from left to right. But these figures are made up of protein structures, which increase in complexity and activity from left to right.

0101

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 09/03/2026

Thanks to the amazing @helenczerski.bsky.social for creating this monster

000

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 04/01/2026

Throughout December I made 24 BRAND NEW, daily protein renders for #ArtAdventCalendar, developing some new techniques and pipelines. I learnt a lot about #Blender, #MolecularNodes and compositing along the way! See them all here: e-nox.net/molecular-ad... #SciArt

A sample of four of the twenty-four protein renders I made as part of #ArtAdventCalendar, with a variety of materials/styles/colours

0132

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 03/01/2026

A quick write up about the poster I presented at last year's #VIZBI 2025, showing a series of protein renders from experiments learning to use #Blender and #MolecularNodes. Excited for #VIZBI 2026!!! "Molecular Masterpieces - A Fashion Show of Protein Glow-ups" e-nox.net/vizbi-molecu... #SciArt

The poster I presented at VIZBI 2025, showing a series of gorgeous protein visualisations with a range of materials, lighting and styles

062

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 24/12/2025

Day 24 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar The nuclear pore complex is a huge pore made of hundreds of proteins, that allows the flow of nucleic acids and proteins between the nucleus and cytoplasm. It also looks like a wreath! Merry Christmas! More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the inner part of the human nuclear pore, with the inner part of the ring in green, and the outer part highlighted in red, to look like a Christmas wreath

0116

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 23/12/2025

Day 23 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar A urea channel from helicobacter pylori, a bacterium which can survive stomach acid. This channel allows urea to flow into the bacterium, neutralising any stomach acid that would otherwise damage it. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of the urea channel from helicobacter pylori. It is six-sided, and has a gap in the centre that opens up to allow the urea to pass through

2173

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 22/12/2025

Day 22 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar Aspartate transcarbamoylase is a crucial allosteric enzyme, catalysing the first step in pyrimidine ring biosynthesis, which are used to build the bases in RNA and DNA. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualsation of the structure of aspartate transcarbamoylase showing its three repeating sub units in blue, orange and purple

0143

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 21/12/2025

Day 21 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This shows six zinc fingers bound to a section of DNA, which helps to stabilise it. The zinc fingers are used to control transcription of the gene for ribosomal RNA. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of six zinc fingers (blue) wrapped around a short section of DNA (red)

1155

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 20/12/2025

Day 20 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This is a TAL effector, a modular protein from bacteria that can read the sequence of bases in DNA. Scientists have harnessed it to target gene knockouts, or insert new genes. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of a TAL effector protein (purple) wrapped around a section of DNA (red)

0232

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 19/12/2025

Day 19 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This is the measles virus nucleocapsid, which is a helical complex formed around its RNA genome to protect it from cellular enzymes More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the helical structure of the measles nucleocapsid, which forms around the RNA genome, protecting it from attack.

0274

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 18/12/2025

Day 18 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This is a Piezo1 mechanosensitive channel. Piezo proteins help our cells gain a sense of touch - physical forces/pressures open up the channel, allowing ions to flow into the cell, triggering its response More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of the piezo1 mechanosensitive channel. Changes in force/pressure cause the protein to change shape, opening up its ion channel. This allows ions to flow into a cell, triggering the cell's sensory response. It is made up of three repeating units (coloured shades of yellow/pink/purple) and has a propellor-like appearance

0234

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 17/12/2025

Day 17 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This is a coronavirus protease, an essential part of the virus' war chest, cutting its RNA into correct pieces, and interfering with the cell's defence mechanisms. So brutal, but at least it's ❤️-shaped More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the coronavirus protease, shown as the ribbon structure with a semi-transparent surface around it. The two parts of the protease form a heart-shape (from a certain angle)

0184

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 16/12/2025

Day 16 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar These are secretory antibodies, which defend mucosal linings in the body. They contain multiple arms, which bind to many sites on a pathogen, strengthening the interaction. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of secretory antibodies. The antibodies (red/yellow) are joined together via secretory proteins (purple) which can hold two or more antibodies

191

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 15/12/2025

Day 15 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar The PhotoSystem II supercomplex in plants contains light-gathering antenna complexes (yellow). More antennas means better photosynthesis in low-light conditions (like the version shown with SIX antennas). More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of PhotoSystem II supercomplex from an algae that is accustomed to low-light conditions (Chlamydomonas reihardtii). It has six yellow antennae complexes which gather light for photosynthesis.

053

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 14/12/2025

Day 14 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar The equine encephalitis virus doesn't just affect horses, it's zoonotic and passes between animals & humans - being most prevalent circulating in bird species. It has 240 surface glycoproteins ready to go More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of the eastern equine encephalitis virus, shown as bluey/purple, with pinkish red surface glycoproteins

0111

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 13/12/2025

Day 13 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This is the human apoptosome, which is part of the mechanism for cells to self-destruct when problems occur. Normally the sub-units float around harmlessly, but when danger calls, APOPTOSOME ASSEMBLE!!! More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the human apoptosome, which is like a seven-starred shuriken. Shown here with a light shining through it like a waxy candle. The cytochromes are shown in pink, and the main body of the apoptosome in yellow.

2105

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 12/12/2025

Day 12 (I've made it halfway!!!) of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This earthworm haemoglobin (erythrocruorin), which is enormous compared with our own (144 chains cf. our measly 4 chains). More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of earthworm haemoglobin (erythrocruorin), with colours highlighting the various components. It is 144 chains compared with our four chains, and it is thought that its enormous size is because they are not safely packaged in red blood cells like ours, so need to be a bit more robust to freely float, and because having the same effectiveness with fewer particles keeps the viscosity of their blood low.

0111

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 11/12/2025

Day 11 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This the Zika virus, which has an interesting repeating unit (five copies makes a starfish; and repeats twelve times). More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of the Zika virus capsid, which is made up of 60 copies of a repeating unit (five copies makes a star shape, which repeats 12 times). Here it is shown with different coloured stars, and some translucency for effect

0202

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 11/12/2025

Day 10 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This the human papillomavirus, which attacks cells in skin and mucous membranes. It is usually harmless but very occasionally can cause cancer. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

VIsualisation of the structure of the human papillomavirus, showing the capsid units which make up the virus shell, which contains its circular DNA genome.

082

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 09/12/2025

Day 9 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This the clover-shaped "Acetohydroxyacid Synthase", which is involved in synthesising three critical amino acids in plants - which is why it's targetted by herbicides. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of Acetohydroxyacid Synthase, shown as a ribbon structure, with a semi-transparent surface. Catalytic subunits are shown in turquoise, regulatory subunits in blue, and valine in red. The structure is clover-shaped with four arms

0121

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 08/12/2025

Day 8 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar A resistosome is a molecular machine found in a plant's immune system, with unusual curved arms compared with imflammasome, the analogous complex in animals. It forms pores in infected cells & kills them. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of a plant resistosome, a molecular machine in the plant's immune system. It has a five-fold symmetry with curved arms, and the funnel (centre, yellow) is responsible for forming a pore in infected cells, leading to that cell's death

071

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 07/12/2025

Day 7 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This is a malaria pump (PTEX), which pumps malaria effector proteins out of the parasite and into red blood cells, to help remodel their new home. (Nice for them; bad news for us) More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of the malaria parasite PTEX protein pump. The blue/green section is a pore that penetrates the membrane, the pink part is an ATP motor that unfolds and threads effector proteins through the centre of PTEX, and the yellow part joins the motor to the pore

2111

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 06/12/2025

Day 6 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar This is a "nanodisc", which is a tiny section of lipid membrane, just big enough to hold a single membrane-bound protein, and holds the structure stable enough to probe its structure More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of a membrane-bound protein (green) in a nanodisc, which is a tiny section of lipid membrane (clear), and you can see the two stabilising bands (pink/purple) that go around the disc

0217

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 06/12/2025

Day 5 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar Today it's HLA-A2, which is critical for the immune system. They present fragments of intra-cellular proteins to CD8+ T cells, which can initiate a targeted immune response. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of HLA-A2, presenting a peptide (protein fragment). HLA-A2 is shown in blue/purple with its surface translucent and an internal ribbon showing its structure. The peptide is shown bound to a crevice in magenta.

0218

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 05/12/2025

Day 5 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar Today it's HLA-2, which is critical for the immune system. They present fragments of extra-cellular proteins to CD4+ T cells, which can initiate a targeted immune response. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of HLA-2, presenting a peptide (protein fragment). HLA-2 is shown in blue/purple with its surface translucent and an internal ribbon showing its structure. The peptide is shown bound to a crevice in magenta.

1143

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 04/12/2025

Day 4 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar Today it's AAA+ protease (surely the best of all proteases?) It has a protein pump to pull only the correct proteins into the central barrel, where they are destroyed. Maybe the AAA+ is their accuracy? More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the molecular structure of a AAA+ protease, with its structure shown as ribbons. The purple ends are the protein pumps, and the red is the chamber where proteins are destroyed. It is backlit by a strong light

0142

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 03/12/2025

Day 3 of making proteins for #ArtAdventCalendar Today I've been playing with Apolipoprotein B-100, which helps deliver fats. It wraps around a lipoprotein, and as cells extract triglycerides for energy, it shrinks and ApoB100's belts shrink to fit More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of ApoB100, showing the belts that it wraps around lipoproteins as it transports fat and energy around the body. The structure is backlit and shiny

1183

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 02/12/2025

Day 2 of #ArtAdventCalendar Today's new protein is Arc, a protein found in the brain, which can form icosahedral capsids (like viruses) containing its Arc mRNA cargo. They are linked to regulation of synaptic plasticity and forming long-term memories. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Visualisation of the structure of the Arc protein, shown as an icosahedral capsid (protein structure depicted as a ribbon), with a point light at its centre, throwing out shadow rays into the surrounding space.

0184

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 01/12/2025

It's time for #ArtAdventCalendar! Going to try to make a new protein render each day. Today is FOXP3, which is involved in controlling the expression of numerous genes. Here shows as a domain-swapped dimer that is able to bridge two(!) strands of DNA. More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/ #SciArt

Illustration of the structure of the FOXP3 protein, here shown as a dimer (red translucent surface with ribbon structure visible inside) binding with two separate strands of DNA (glowing yellow)

0234

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 28/10/2025

Don't stop there! Go full mad max.....

Macho insanity in a motorbike from Mad Max: Fury Road

110

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 06/05/2025

Back onto making some protein visualisations for fun - this is RCSB's Molecule of the Month, and I had a go at my own version. It's a TOC-TIC Translocon (all the cool kids are doing Toc-tic, right?) Made in #Blender and #MolecularNodes #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Image of a TOC-TIC translocon (PDB 7VCF), showing the molecular structure, coloured according to its pLDDT value (the degree of confidence/accuracy). Lots of JJ Abrams style lens flares. Much future, so wow.

0120

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 06/05/2025

Thanks to #VIZBI nudging me, I hosted an online chat, where I whizzed through my typical workflow using #MolecularNodes, #Blender and After Effects to make this image in ~40 minutes(!) Thanks for giving me your time, and I hope you all found it useful #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

070

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 01/04/2025

Managed to submit my #VIZBI conference poster on time, which is great if you like looking at pretty proteins. IT'S HAPPENING NEXT WEEK!!! #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Conference poster consisting of 8 pretty visualisations of proteins in different styles.

060

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 27/03/2025

#VIZBI in-person registration closes tomorrow! I'm attending so please come and join me in Cambridge to learn all the best things to know about biological visualisation!!! There will be snacks too. Virtual registration still an option. I AM EXCITED

000

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 26/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty theme is "magenta". This is an illustration we made for the University of Vienna, showing strings of entangled qubits. The journal article on Blind Quantum Computing (published in Science) can be viewed here: arxiv.org/abs/1110.1381 #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Image showing cris-crossing streams of qubits (quantum information), which are shown in groups of four engangled qubits, linked in different arrangements. Each stream also has faded variations behind it, because these are superpositions of all the qubit states

090

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 25/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty theme is "socks", so I made a SOX gene, which is a transcription factor that binds to the minor groove of DNA. Made in #Blender and #MolecularNodes #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Image of DNA represented as balls-and-sticks, bound to the SOX gene, which is represented as a glowing backbone ribbon, with semi-transparent surface

0476

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 23/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty is #SensoryArt's theme of "LOUD". Reposting this illustration we made of synaesthesia, which is a neurological condition that causes crossovers between senses, such as seeing a colour when you hear a word. #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Illustration of a pair of over-ear headphones, with swirly whirly purpleish streaks circling the ear cushions

0160

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 21/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty theme is #FishyFeb, and I'm lacking fishy pics, so I made this fish inflammasome disc, which are protein structures involved in sensing inflammatory signals, and triggering the immune response. Made in #Blender and #MolecularNodes #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Render of the structure of a fish inflammasome disk (RCSB structure 8EJ4), with a bright light source at the centre of the ring, and dramatic rays of light streaking outwards

1214

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 18/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty theme is "glasses", so here is a test project, the first I ever made in #Modo, exploring its refraction/caustic abilities. It's a planetary gearbox, not that you can really tell - but it has lots of interesting internal geometry! #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

$Render of a planetary gearbox, as if it were made of glass, and the complex refractions give rise to lots of colour splitting/dispersion and caustics$

2442

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 17/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty is #SensoryArt's theme of "rough". These are some rough versions of an illustration: 3D scene in #Modo, (2) render, (3) compositing. Our work massively improved once we learned to worry less about rendering, and more about compositing #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Screenshot of the 3D scene in Modo, showing the geometry made of polygon meshes

Render from Modo, which has nice lighting, but is very flat at boring compared with the final image

Final image from After Effects, which is recoloured, has depth-of-field blurring, and subtle glow effects. Much better!

0180

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 13/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty theme is #FishyFeb, so I made an image of fish aquaporin, which are protein channels that help maintain water balance in the fish's body. Alpha helices are shown in blue, loops in yellow. Made in #Blender and #MolecularNodes #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Visualisation of a fish aquaporin protein, which are channels embedded in the lipid bilayer in cells, allowing water through the layer to maintain the right amount of water in a cell.

0182

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 12/02/2025

Nope! It's a digital scene rather than a photo. We made the 3D model of the molecule, and then arranged it in space, with interesting lighting, textures, etc. I'm glad it looks realistic enough to pass for a photo!

wireframe view of the testosterone molecule

110

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 12/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty theme is "orange", so these are some glowing orange testosterone molecules, which we made for Sekisui Diagnostics, with #Modo and #VMD #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Illustration of glowing testosterone molecules (ball and stick structure), floating in a soup. Yum yum

1232

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 11/02/2025

NINE YEARS ago we made a visualisation of the Biomass satellite for Airbus Defence & Space - today it's ready to be packed up for launch! Space is hard but rewarding.... Go Biomass!!! #SpaceArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Visualisation of the Biomass satellite, which has an enormous umbrella-shaped antenna to pick up very weak reflections from the Earth

071

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 11/02/2025

Another DEEP DIVE, this time into tracking space debris around the Earth, and how we visualised datasets of many thousands of objects to help explore the near-Earth environment Read it here! e-nox.net/wrangling-sp... #SpaceArt #SpaceDebris #SpaceJunk #SpaceSustainability

Visualisation of space objects orbiting the Earth. Data of thousands of actual tracked and classified objects was used, so this represents the actual position of everything at a single particular date and time. You can see a ring of geostationary satellites at 36000km above the Earth (useful because in this orbit they orbit once per day, and therefore always stay above the same point on the Earth), and a dense shell of low Earth orbit satellites (where they orbit much more quickly, but can observe and measure the Earth far more precisely). Active satellites are shown in blue, inactive satellites in red

080

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 11/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty theme is #SensoryArt and "sweet", so this morning I made this visualisation of the human sweet-sensing receptor using #Blender and #MolecularNodes #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

$Visualisation of the structure of the human sweet-sensing receptor. It is shown as yellowish ribbons within a transparent refractive volume representing the surface of the protein. Backlight with a fuzzy out-of focus light source$

1210

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 10/02/2025

"Rings" is too good a #FebruArty theme to only post once, so here's an illustration we made of space objects around the Earth (working/defunct satellites, rocket bodies, other bits and bobs). You can see a ring of geostationary satellites, and a shell of low earth orbit satellites. #SpaceArt

1232

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 10/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty theme is "rings", so it had to be Saturn, which we made after being inspired by the Cassini backlit Saturn photo (www.jpl.nasa.gov/images/pia17...) #SpaceArt Taken from an animation series we made of Saturn: e-nox.net/portfolio/sa...

Image of Saturn backlit by the sun, with sections of its rings illuminated and in shadow. Lots of lovely lens flare

0152

Equinox Graphics @e-nox.net · 08/02/2025

Today's #FebruArty theme is "puzzle", so this is an illustration where we had to work out how to fit erythromycin into its binding site on Human Serum Albumin (HSA), which is very much like doing a 3D jigsaw puzzle... Made with #Modo and #VMD #SciArt More projects: e-nox.net/portfolio/

Visualisation of erythromycin (shown as a stick model) binding to human serum albumin (HSA). The amino acids involved in hjydrogen bonding are labelled, and hydrogen bonds are drawn as glowing dotted lines

0161