The cover of Ion
Adventure in the Heartland is a floating, three-dimensional
(3-D) image,
but…
you don’t need colored lenses or polarized glasses
to see it, and you can observe the same 3-D effect on your
computer screen. The image from the book’s cover
is at the end of this written text. Just put your face
close to your computer screen and look at two of the
red balls
(ions), one with your left eye
and another with your right eye. While focusing each
eye on a separate ball, slowly withdraw your face from
the
screen to a normal reading distance.
Your visual fields
diverge into separate left and right images; notice
how your brain attempts to adjust and merge the two images.
As they fuse, the ions in the illustration miraculously
float in space at different depths within the three-dimensional
microcosm. Even the ion channels and ion pumps of the
cell membrane will join in truly stereoscopic, 3-D
perspective.
Some of us have eyes that are not precisely aligned
horizontally, so you may need to rotate your head slightly
clockwise
or counter-clockwise in order to successfully merge
the two images.
Don’t be discouraged if you are unsuccessful at first.
With a little patience, anyone can visualize the three-dimensional,
stereoscopic image; it is fascinating to experience your
brain’s attempt to merge disparate left and right
impressions. This illustration of the heart’s ionic-molecular
microcosm eventually emerges as a definitive, 3-D image.
Ever gradually, your mind learns to arrange the seemingly-cluttered
illustration into a spatially organized microcosm; it
seems as though you are there in person. We are so pleased
with
our accomplishment!
In a similar
fashion, most of us have been intimidated by scientific/medical
articles and literature dealing with ions, ion channels,
and other ion-kinetic (ion-moving) structures. They
are so important to understand, since they are vital
to the function of all living organisms.
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