Teller and the Artificial Heart

I’ve just signed a two-year contract to create cover illustrations for the journal Artificial Organs! My first cover under this new collaboration focuses on Edward Teller and his contributions to the development of the artificial heart.

Teller is best known for his work on nuclear technology, but he also designed a plutonium-powered battery with a half-life of 87 years. While this battery was never used in artificial hearts, the design was adapted for pacemakers, and there are still a couple dozen in existence today. Translating this fascinating mix of history, technology, and medicine into a single cover was a unique challenge. The goal was to create a visual that was both striking and informative, capturing the innovation and scientific curiosity that defined Teller’s work while making it approachable for readers.

I loved exploring this unusual intersection of science and history, from Teller’s pioneering ideas to the fact that some of these early pacemakers still survive today—a tangible connection to decades of medical and technological innovation.

P.S. If you’ve seen the movie Oppenheimer, you might recognize this character from his portrayal in the film. It depicts him as one of the few scientists who testified against Oppenheimer at his security clearance hearing—an act that had lasting consequences for their relationship and Teller’s reputation within the scientific community.