By activating multiple fluorescent proteins in neurons, neuroscientists at Harvard University are imaging the brain and nervous system as never before, rendering their cells in a riotous spray of colors dubbed a "Brainbow."

The technique, described in the cover story of the Nov. 1 issue of the journal Nature, has been developed by a team led by Harvard's Jean Livet, Joshua R. Sanes, and Jeff W. Lichtman and  allows researchers to tag neurons with roughly 90 distinct colors, a huge leap over the mere handful of shades possible with current fluorescent labeling. (read article; view slide show)