These journal cover proposals were created for Nature to illustrate the concept of “microbial treasure troves”, based on the work of Lucas Paoli and the Sunagawa Lab, published in 2022. The research uncovered the vast biosynthetic potential of the global ocean microbiome, revealing hidden genetic resources with important ecological and biomedical relevance.
The two designs interpret this idea visually: one shows DNA sequences inside a microbe suspended in the water column, while the other uses the metaphor of a treasure chest illuminated on the seafloor, with DNA strands representing the valuable discoveries within. Both images translate the essence of the study into a striking key visual, highlighting the richness and untapped potential of marine microbial diversity.