This is What the Beating Heart of a Chicken Embryo Looks Like

The minute vasculature that feeds a chicken embryo normally remains hidden within its yolky confines. However, biologist Anna Franz from the University of Oxford was able to reveal their complex structure by injecting a minute quantity of ink into a 72-hour old chicken embryo. This not only revealed the pathways that carry nourishment to the growing chick, but also the pumping action of its tiny heart. The sight was so spectacular that it netted Franz the 2011 Nikon Small World in Motion award, though my first thought was if the chicken survived the experience. See the amazing video, after the break.

(via New Scientist)

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