Art of Science: Deciphering Dissected Fruit

A grid of colorful cross-sections may look like abstract art, but the image is actually a series of MRI scans of everyday fruits – including kiwis, tomatoes and mangoes.

The image, titled “Orchard Architecture”, created by Refaat Gabr, Ph.D., MRI physicist and director of FAU’s MRI research services, earned an honorable mention in Florida Atlantic University’s annual Art of Science contest for transforming a medical imaging tool into an accessible visual experience.

Using magnetic resonance imaging, Gabr scanned the fruits to demonstrate how MRI reveals the internal structure of objects. The same principle used to distinguish tissues in the human body was used to show the structure of the fruit. In the images, seeds, cores and soft interiors appear as distinct patterns and textures, highlighting MRI’s ability to capture subtle contrasts.

“People usually think of MRI as a hospital machine,” Gabr said. “But it’s really a powerful research tool for seeing inside almost anything.”

Beyond its visual appeal, the image reflects Gabr’s broader research mission at FAU: expanding MRI techniques to study the brain and neurological disease. Through Art of Science, he said he hopes the image sparks curiosity and helps audiences better understand how imaging technology works.

“If people look closer and start asking questions,” he said, “then the image has done what it was meant to do. Science is meant to make people curious.”