This two-piece canvas illustration captures the contrasting activities that take place within diatom cells. Each canvas measures 18 X 24 inches and features a mixed media illustration employing the impasto acrylic technique to emphasize the organelles that are active during both the light and dark phases of diatom activity. In the ocean, diatoms undergo diel regulation, a term that describes the light and dark phases experienced by diatom over a 24-hour cycle. Vaishnavi conducted measurements of volatile organic compound (VOCs) production throughout this diel regulation in diatoms, presenting two key findings (REF). First, it was found that VOCs are produced in significant amounts during the day, primarily through chlorophyll, represented by the green elevated region of the diatom. Chlorophyll is a pigment that enables diatoms to generate their energy source, which is akin to how plants produce food. This process, known as carbon fixation, occurs via photosynthesis, allowing diatoms to create food using light and carbon dioxide. Second, during the dark phase, diatoms engage in reproduction, depicted in purple. Additionally, diatoms continue to produce VOCs in the dark utilizing mitochondria, represented by the yellow elevated organelle. Mitochondria are essential for energy production, similar to how a person sweats during exercise when muscles are active. In this illustration, the lead author simplifies the findings regarding VOC production in diatoms.