Stunning Photo of the South Sandwich Islands by Sebastião Salgado, 2009
Photo by Sebastião Salgado
Sebastião Salgado is renowned for his poignant portraits that depict humanity’s struggles in a tumultuous world. His impactful work covers significant events, from the assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan to conflicts in Africa, the Balkans, and the Middle East, and also chronicles the lives of workers and immigrants around the globe.
After documenting the Rwandan genocide, Salgado faced a personal crisis and withdrew to his family’s Brazilian farm, disheartened by the environmental devastation. Motivated by what he observed, he dedicated himself to restoring the Atlantic rainforest, which reignited his passion for photography. His acclaimed project, Genesis, captures the planet’s “untouched and undestroyed” areas, from Alaska’s mountains to the Amazon’s indigenous communities. These journeys transformed him into a staunch environmental advocate, as expressed in a separate interview.
Glaciers is a newly released book posthumously showcasing 65 breathtaking black-and-white images of glaciers, taken during Salgado’s Genesis project. These captivating frames capture both grand and subtle movements within frigid landscapes. The main image features a parade of penguins leaping from an iceberg into the turbulent waters of the South Sandwich Islands, while another captures a seabird swooping near an ice tower within the same region.
Remarkable shot captured by Sebastião Salgado in 2009, between Bristol and Bellingshausen Islands.
Photo by Sebastião Salgado
However, these majestic images remind us that glaciers are rapidly vanishing, with approximately 1,000 disappearing each year. The situation is dire: current projections indicate that nearly 80% of glaciers may be lost by 2100, which includes vast regions in western Canada, the United States, and the Alps.
Incredible image of Kluane National Park and Reserve, captured by Sebastião Salgado in 2011
Photo by Sebastião Salgado
The above image showcases a grand glacier wending through the majestic landscapes of Canada’s Kluane National Park. The following image exhibits clouds swirling around the ice formations atop Cerro Torre in Patagonia.
Stunning photo of Cerro Torre, Patagonia, captured by Sebastião Salgado in 2007
Photo by Sebastião Salgado
The following image shows a glacier calving at the rocky shores of Chile’s Torres del Paine National Park, illustrating the profound effects of climate change, as both surfaces have been sculpted by the relentless flow of ice.
Calving glacier in Torres del Paine National Park, Chile, photographed by Sebastião Salgado in 2007
Photo by Sebastião Salgado
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In a picturesque mountain pasture in Austria, a remarkably intelligent cow is reshaping our understanding of animal cognition.
Meet Veronica, a pet Swiss brown cow who has innovatively learned to use both ends of a stick to scratch her back. This impressive tool use is exceedingly rare in the animal kingdom and has never been documented in cattle before.
Dr. Antonio Osuna Mascaro, a professor at the University of Veterinary Medicine in Vienna, led the groundbreaking study published in Current Biology. The research highlights how Veronica creatively utilizes available tools to scratch herself.
Initially, researchers provided her with a broom brush, expecting her to only use the bristles. However, Veronica adapted her tool use based on the specific itch needing relief.
For larger or more intense itches on her back, she utilized the bristled end of the brush. Conversely, for lighter itches, such as on her sensitive lower abdomen, she opted for the smooth handle end.
“The only well-documented occurrence similar to this was when a chimpanzee cleverly manipulated the ends of a stick to forage for termites,” Osuna Mascaro stated, as reported by BBC Science Focus.
Researchers emphasize that domestic animals have often been overlooked by behavioral scientists, meaning their perceived lack of intelligence may stem more from insufficient observation than from the animals’ actual capabilities.
“Understanding that cows possess the ability to innovate and use tools flexibly sends a powerful message about our biases regarding cow intelligence and capabilities,” Osuna Mascaro added.
Osuna Mascaro (left) shared that Veronica (right) is affectionate and cherished by her human family. – Credit: Antonio J. Osuna Mascaró
Veronica: The Beloved Cow
The study emphasizes that while Veronica is unique, her intelligent behavior is not an isolated case.
As a cherished pet, Veronica enjoys access to open spaces, daily human engagement, and the freedom to explore her environment. At 13 years old, she is significantly older than the average domestic cow.
Her human companion, Witger Vigele, first observed Veronica using tools over a decade ago. Intrigued by her intelligence, researchers analyzed footage of her behavior and decided to meet this extraordinary cow.
Researchers urge everyone to appreciate intelligent cows like Veronica – Credit: AJ Osuna-Mascaró
The findings suggest that our perceptions of domestic animals’ intelligence may not relate to their actual abilities, but rather to the opportunities they are given to demonstrate their intelligence and whether we take the time to observe them.
“I would love to hear from anyone who has witnessed cows displaying similar behaviors firsthand,” Osuna Mascaro expressed.
“The key element is using an object dynamically to achieve goals that would be otherwise difficult or impossible,” he concluded.
Marco Schioppo and Adam Park monitor ultra-stable lasers at the National Physical Laboratory in Teddington, UK.
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
In a striking portrayal, two physicists observe Britain’s revolutionary quantum technology involving ultra-stable lasers at the National Physical Laboratory in London. Captured by photographer David Severn for the **Quantum Untangled** exhibition at King’s College London, this fascinating image was shortlisted for the **Portrait of Britain Award**.
Severn states, “This portrait offers a rare peek into a domain typically hidden from view, like opening a door to a normally restricted lab.” While the photographs are contemporary, he notes that the scientists’ engagements with technology evoke imagery reminiscent of earlier eras, such as a 1940s submarine pilot or operators of a cotton spinning machine from the turn of the 20th century.
Having no background in quantum mechanics before this venture, Severn was briefed on current quantum physics projects in the UK. He observed that the bewildering aspects of quantum science closely align with artistic perspectives. “Although many scientific concepts eluded my detailed understanding, ideas like superposition and quantum entanglement resonated with me intuitively, akin to artistic realization,” he shared.
3D Printed Helmet Prototype
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
Severn’s captivating photographs highlight a range of innovations in quantum physics, showcasing a **3D-printed helmet** (above) designed to house a quantum sensor that images the brain using magnetic fields. He also features a complex **laser table** (below) monitored by Hartmut Grothe from Cardiff University, ensuring that the vacuum pumps sustaining the system remain operational.
Hartmut Grote at the Laser Table
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
Severn’s photography embraces a mystical quality, showcasing the **3D-printed imaging helmet** used by researchers from the University of Nottingham’s Sir Peter Mansfield Imaging Center (as shown above), along with the intricate network of pumps and mirrors essential for maintaining cleanliness in Grothe’s experiments (as depicted below). Severn asserts that this ethereal essence is intentional.
Joe Gibson Wearing a 3D Printed Imaging Helmet at the University of Nottingham
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
Complex Vacuum System from King’s College London’s Photonics and Nanotechnology Group
David Severn, part of Quantum Untangled (2025), Science Gallery, King’s College London
Severn references a favorite quote from photographer Diane Arbus: “Photographs are secrets about secrets. The more they tell you, the less you understand.” He finds a parallel in quantum physics, where just when one thinks they’ve grasped how light behaves, the quantum realm subverts those expectations and exposes the elusive truths underpinning our understanding of reality.
The **Quantum Untangled** exhibition is on display at the Science Gallery at King’s College London until February 28, 2025. This event is a reimagining of the traveling exhibition **Cosmic Titans: Art, Science and the Quantum Universe** organized by Lakeside Arts and ARTlab at the University of Nottingham.
This year has been exceptional for witnessing the stunning Northern Lights.
One of nature’s most enchanting yet elusive phenomena, the vibrant greens and reds of the Northern Lights offered breathtaking displays throughout 2025.
The magic behind these captivating displays originates 150 million kilometers (93 million miles) away on the sun’s surface.
Auroras result from charged particles emitted by the sun—known as solar wind—colliding with Earth’s atmosphere.
Earth’s magnetic field directs these particles into the atmosphere, resulting in collisions with nitrogen and oxygen, which causes them to emit light, leading to the spectacular phenomenon known as the Northern Lights.
The intensity of these light shows is dependent on solar activity.
Our sun operates on an approximately 11-year solar cycle, where periods of high and low activity occur.
During solar peaks, alongside the usual solar wind, massive plasma clouds, termed coronal mass ejections, frequently erupt.
The latest solar cycle peaked in October 2024, and the sun will remain active for the following year.
During solar maximums, activity is heightened, affecting the geographical visibility of the auroras.
Typically, auroras are confined to the aurora oval, a circular area around the poles at latitudes of 65 to 70 degrees.
Nevertheless, more vigorous solar storms can push the lights further south. This year, significant storms carried the Northern Lights to southern England and many parts of the U.S.
Although the Northern Lights, or Southern Lights, usually occur in remote locations or over uninhabited oceans, 2025 offered several opportunities to witness stunning displays from Australia and New Zealand.
All of this signifies that 2025 was a fantastic year not just for observing the Northern Lights but also for photographing them.
Visit Capture the Atlas for a curated selection of 25 incredible images for our annual Northern Lights Photographer of the Year competition. Check them out below.
Lights & Ice – Tori Harp
Tori initially aimed to photograph the night sky from an ice cave’s entrance when the aurora borealis transformed the scene. Aoraki/Mt Cook National Park, New Zealand – Photo credit: Tori Harp
Arctic Rain – Vincent Beudez
The aurora morphs constantly; this shot captures a moment when the light transformed into a colorful mosaic. Tromsø, Norway – Photo credit: Vincent Beudez
Essence of the Arctic Night – Giulio Cobianchi
This breathtaking 360-degree panorama features the Northern Lights beneath the Milky Way arc. Hawkland Beach, Lofoten Islands – Photo credit: Giulio Cobianchi
aurora color
One remarkable aspect of the aurora borealis captured in photography is its vibrant color variety.
The colors are produced by atmospheric particles being excited by solar wind.
Green is the most prominent color commonly associated with the Northern Lights, generated by oxygen atoms at low altitudes up to about 240 km (150 miles).
At higher altitudes, oxygen behaves differently and emits red, the second most common color.
Dark purple and blue shades, derived from nitrogen molecules, are rare and observed during the most intense displays.
Are the Northern Lights dangerous?
The aurora itself is a stunning spectacle, so enjoy it worry-free!
However, the solar activity that creates the auroras can pose dangers in space.
For astronauts, radiation is a significant health hazard. If a powerful solar flare is forecasted, the crew on the International Space Station must take shelter in the most shielded part.
Satellites can also be affected by radiation, leading to hardware damage or complete operational failure.
In February 2022, 40 newly launched SpaceX Starlink satellites were lost due to increased drag on them after a solar event.
Fortunately, we are shielded from this radiation on Earth by our atmosphere and magnetic fields.
However, we should be cautious as these solar storms can disrupt communications and lead to surges in electrical grids.
Alone under a dancing sky – Nikola Vukotic
Not all participants are veteran aurora hunters; Nikola saw the aurora for the first time just the day before taking this photo. Skagsanden Beach, Lofoten Islands – Photo credit: Nikola Vukotic
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The remarkable R1 humanoid robot, developed by Robbie Ant, a subsidiary of Ant Group, showcases the versatility of humanoid robots. With the ability to mimic human actions due to their similar appendages, R1 opens up possibilities across various job sectors.
Unlike traditional wheeled robots, the R1 achieves balance on two legs, thanks to its stable wheelbase and humanoid design from the waist up.
The R1 made a striking appearance at IFA 2025 in Berlin, demonstrating its cooking skills by preparing shrimp, albeit at a leisurely pace. Its creators envision potential applications for the R1 as a caregiver, nurse, or tour guide.
Tiangong Robot Takes a Tumble
Zhang Xiangyi/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images
The bipedal Tiangong robot, built by a government-backed AI robotics innovation center, aimed high but faced challenges—tripping and falling during a 100-meter race at the World Humanoid Robot Games in Beijing.
Various events, including soccer and dance, took place, with Tiangong not the only robot to sustain injuries; another competitor withdrew from the 1500m race. As one robot lamented, “My head came off.”
Robot Jockey Racing on a Camel
Karim Jafar/AFP via Getty Images
In response to a ban on child jockeys in camel races, the Qatari government shifted to using robot jockeys in 2005. Initially, these robots were rudimentary, functioning with simple tools, but they have since evolved into more sophisticated devices.
The image shows a robot jockey at a race organized by the Qatar Camel Racing Organizing Committee in Al Shahaniya, just outside of Doha.
Ready, Set, Go!
Kevin Frayer/Getty Images
In April, an impressive 12,000 humans and 21 robots participated in the Beijing E-Town Humanoid Robot Half Marathon, marking the first event allowing both humans and robots to race together.
Six robots finished the race, with the Tiangong Ultra completing it in a remarkable 2 hours and 40 minutes, boasting the advantage of multiple battery sets, an opportunity not available to human competitors.
Robots in the Ring
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
At the World Humanoid Robot Games, the first-ever kickboxing match between robots featured Unitree G1 robots. Though their movements were slow, their attempts at punches were more akin to gentle nudges than knockout blows. Despite frequently losing balance, these robots displayed agility and determination by promptly getting back up post-fall.
Cyborg Tadpole
Hao Shen et al. 2025, Jia Liu Lab/Harvard University SEAS
These tadpoles are actually cyborgs, implanted with electronic devices to monitor their neural development as they mature into frogs.
Research conducted by Jia Liu at Harvard University utilized a flexible material known as perfluoropolymer to create a soft mesh around an ultrathin conductor, which was applied to the brain precursor of Xenopus frogs (African clawed frog). As they matured, this mesh integrated seamlessly into the developing brain, enabling researchers to capture brain activity data.
The groundbreaking discovery in 2010 of a 40,000-year-old finger bone led to the identification of the Denisovans, an archaic human species, named after the Siberian cave where it was found. Recently, DNA analysis from a 146,000-year-old skull unearthed in China has shed light on their appearance. Findings indicate that Denisovans had facial structures akin to modern humans, yet featured unique traits such as pronounced eyebrow ridges.
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<img class="Image" alt="Anglo-Saxon Burial Site" width="1350" height="826" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134223/SEI_274338500.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134223/SEI_274338500.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134223/SEI_274338500.jpg?width=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px), (min-width: 415px) calc(100vw - 40px), calc(70vw + 74px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2506940" data-caption="A woman and baby buried at an Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Scremby, UK" data-credit="Dr. Hugh Willmott, University of Sheffield"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Anglo-Saxon Burial in Scremby</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Dr. Hugh Willmott, University of Sheffield</p>
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<p>This poignant image reveals a tragic story: the woman buried in this Anglo-Saxon cemetery was likely in childbirth when she passed away. Dating back to the 5th or 6th century, she was interred in elaborate attire. Discovered by metal detectors in 2018, the excavation of the Screnby cemetery is now providing essential insights into ancient burial practices. Current research at the University of Sheffield aims to analyze the skeletal remains, seeking hormonal evidence of pregnancy at the time of death.</p>
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<img class="Image" alt="Ancient Hunter's Toolkit" width="1350" height="900" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134522/SEI_266340196.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134522/SEI_266340196.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134522/SEI_266340196.jpg?width=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px), (min-width: 415px) calc(100vw - 40px), calc(70vw + 74px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2506941" data-caption="An ancient hunter's toolkit" data-credit="Martin Novák"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Ancient Hunter's Toolkit</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Martin Novák</p>
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<p>This intriguing pile of sand and stones represents an ancient toolkit once stored in a leather bag, left behind at a hunting campsite in the Pavlovske Vrchy Hills of the Czech Republic around 30,000 years ago. It comprises an array of tools, from spear and arrow tips to utensils for processing meat and wood. Some tools were refurbished from older artifacts, suggesting they were intended for extended expeditions in resource-scarce environments.</p>
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<img class="Image" alt="Ancient Human Remains" width="1350" height="900" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134545/SEI_265721265.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134545/SEI_265721265.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134545/SEI_265721265.jpg?width=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px), (min-width: 415px) calc(100vw - 40px), calc(70vw + 74px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2506943" data-caption="The remains of a man excavated from Huiyaotian in Guangxi, China, dated to more than 9,000 years ago" data-credit="Yousuke Kaifu and Hirofumi Matsumura"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">9000-Year-Old Human Remains</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Yousuke Kaifu, Hirofumi Matsumura</p>
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<p>Wouldn’t you want to support your family even after passing? This thought may inspire practices reminiscent of contemporary Indonesian customs, where mummified bodies are preserved in a crouched posture. Archaeological findings in southern China suggest that such practices might have been prevalent as far back as 9,000 years ago. Recent studies indicate that the slow smoking and mummification of bodies could have been common in Southeast Asia up until around 4,000 years ago.</p>
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<img class="Image" alt="Organic glass in skull" width="1350" height="900" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05101506/SEI_241673209.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05101506/SEI_241673209.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/05101506/SEI_241673209.jpg?width=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px), (min-width: 415px) calc(100vw - 40px), calc(70vw + 74px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2507245" data-caption="A fragment of organic glass found inside the skull of a man in Herculaneum" data-credit="Pier Paolo Petrone"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">Organic Glass in Skull</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Pier Paolo Petrone</p>
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<p>This seemingly abstract artifact is actually the brain of a man from Herculaneum, who lived during the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius roughly 2,000 years ago. The brain was heated to 500 degrees Celsius and then rapidly cooled into a glass-like state. Despite the explosive incident, some parts remain remarkably preserved, revealing a network of brain cells.</p>
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<img class="Image" alt="Ancient mummified hand" width="1350" height="901" src="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134549/SEI_274338457.jpg" srcset="https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134549/SEI_274338457.jpg?width=300 300w, https://images.newscientist.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/03134549/SEI_274338457.jpg?width=400 400w" sizes="(min-width: 1288px) 837px, (min-width: 1024px) calc(57.5vw + 55px), (min-width: 415px) calc(100vw - 40px), calc(70vw + 74px)" loading="lazy" data-image-context="Article" data-image-id="2506944" data-caption="A 1200-year-old mummified hand featuring tattoos" data-credit="Michael Pittman and Thomas G Kaye"/>
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<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Title">1200-Year-Old Mummified Hand</p>
<p class="ArticleImageCaption__Credit">Michael Pittman and Thomas G. Kaye</p>
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<p>The striking mummified hand belonged to the Chancay civilization of Peru, dating back approximately 1,200 years. Discovered in 1981 in Peru's Huaura Valley, the hand showcases intricate tattoo designs, which are characteristic of Chancay mummies. Recent studies using laser-stimulated fluorescence have brought new insights into these tattoo details, though some researchers have raised concerns about the accuracy of these findings.</p>
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Exploring Supernova Remnant SNR 0509-67.5 with the VLT
Credit: ESO/P. Das et al. Background stars (Hubble): K. Noll et al.
Researchers captured a stunning two-tone sphere, evidence of a rare double-massive explosion, using the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile.
Astronomers from the University of New South Wales in Australia theorize that this magnificent gas and dust formation emerged when a white dwarf star, once akin to our sun, absorbed helium from a companion star and detonated. The initial explosion transpired approximately 300 years ago, potentially dazzling the Southern Hemisphere night sky, if not for the Sun’s obstruction from Earth.
Dramatic Explosion of SpaceX’s Starship
Photo by: James Temple
This year has been pivotal for SpaceX as CEO Elon Musk aims to send astronauts to Mars with the company’s Starship, the world’s largest and most powerful rocket. After a successful orbital test flight in August, three previous launches ended in catastrophic explosions, referred to by SpaceX as “unplanned rapid disintegration.” James Temple captured the spectacular display of flames during Starship’s seventh unsuccessful attempt in January.
SpaceX’s Dragon Spacecraft After Splashdown
Credit: NASA/Keegan Barber
Aside from its Starship endeavors, SpaceX made strides this year by successfully ferrying astronauts to and from the International Space Station (ISS), stepping in for NASA’s unready rockets. The stunning photograph captures the moment when SpaceX’s Dragon capsule splashed down near a pod of dolphins, carrying two astronauts who had spent nine months aboard the ISS after the Boeing Starliner spacecraft was rendered unsafe for return.
Historic Lunar Photos by Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Lander
Credit: Firefly Aerospace
In March, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander made history as the second commercial spacecraft to successfully land on the moon and the first to do so in an upright position, after previously tipping over. After a 45-day journey, it settled in the smooth volcanic terrain of Mare Crisium, capturing a selfie of its shadow against the sunlight, with Earth appearing as a distant dot.
Spectacular View of the Trifid and Lagoon Nebulae
Credit: NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory
The newly operational Vera C. Rubin Observatory, one of the most advanced telescopes in the world, will conduct daily scans of the night sky for the next decade. One of its early images depicts the Trifid Nebula, a stellar nursery located about 5,000 light-years away, visible as a pink and blue cloud in the upper right corner, contrasted by the Lagoon Nebula—another stellar formation situated 4,000 light-years from Earth. This breathtaking image was compiled from 678 individual snapshots taken during a seven-hour session.
Stunning Composite of September’s Lunar Eclipse Over Tokyo
Credit: Kyodo News (via Getty Images)
The astronomical community eagerly anticipated September’s lunar eclipse, where the moon traverses through the Earth’s shadow, adopting a distinctive red hue similar to sunsets. This striking composite visual captures the moon’s transition as it soared across the Tokyo skyline.
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Cats are truly distinctive creatures. Throughout history, they have held a complex place in human society, admired for their beauty and yet sometimes feared. Breeders have tailored them to align with our tastes. In his latest book, feline, celebrated animal photographer Tim Flach delves into the captivating world of felines.
“The core of this undertaking was to reveal the genuine nature of cats,” Flach explains. Featuring over 170 stunning images, feline also presents insights from neuroscientist Morten Klingelbach about why cats enchant us, alongside evolutionary biologist Jonathan Losos’s examination of felines and their development.
The image above showcases Stella, a Cornish Rex from Montreal, Canada. Her striking appearance arises from unique genetic characteristics during her embryonic development. Interestingly, cats with heterochromia often have one blue eye, a trait frequently observed in all-white breeds.
Flach further captures images of cats who have achieved online fame. Acchom (below) is a long-haired Persian cat who suffers from a rare condition known as hirsutism, leading to abnormal hair growth. Currently, Acchom boasts over 900,000 Instagram followers.
Acchom, a Persian cat with hypertrichosis
Tim Flach
In another example, the exotic shorthair named Zoo embodies cuteness in its purest form. It’s a perfectly round, fluffy bundle of joy (below).
Exotic shorthair cat “Zu”
Tim Flach
Cuteness, as Klingelbach notes, is fundamental. As outlined in feline, the traits that make young mammals and birds appealing help them gain care from their parents, compensating for their vulnerability. Features like large eyes and round faces activate the orbitofrontal cortex, the area of our brain responsible for emotional responses. Such mechanisms ensure the survival of our species. Interestingly, this pleasing response extends beyond our own kind; cats elicit the same reaction in humans.
Oriental shorthair kitten
Tim Flach
By scanning his own brain while interacting with his long-haired cat Loki, Flach illustrates the impact of cuteness, showing how the orbitofrontal cortex activates within a mere 130 milliseconds, faster than conscious thought. “In some ways, you’re observing the fundamental effects of cuteness,” he notes.
Cuteness isn’t the sole evolutionary asset for cats. Valentine, an 8-week-old Sphynx cat, demonstrates exceptional hunting agility as he leaps for an inconspicuous toy.
Sphynx cat jumping on prey (toy)
Tim Flach
Cats possess 40 times the number of scent-sensing cells in their noses compared to humans. Their uniquely designed whiskers are finely tuned to detect slight vibrations, aiding in navigation and close-range hunting in the darkness. Moreover, their tongues, featuring small papillae made of keratin, serve multiple purposes, including grooming and sensory tasks. This structure also enhances their sense of smell by transmitting pheromonal scents to the vomeronasal organ, located at the top of their mouths.
Poppy the domestic cat shows off her tongue
Tim Flach
However, one of the most striking features of cats is their mesmerizing eyes. Ancient myths claimed that a cat’s glowing gaze indicated a connection to the devil. In reality, the luminous effect seen when a light hits a cat’s eyes in the dark is caused by a special reflective layer called the tapetum lucidum, which bounces back unavailable light to the photoreceptors (rods and cones) in their retinas. Cats possess a far greater density of rods than humans, enabling them to see in one-sixth of the light that humans require, as Losos discusses in his book.
Russian blue cat with Smirnoff eyes
In exploring the mesmerizing quality of a cat’s gaze, Flach and his team employed specialized lenses and high-speed flashes, presenting the cats’ eyes in an unprecedented manner that evokes the imagery of shining mirrors, akin to lighthouse beams.
Photos of government IDs belonging to approximately 70,000 global Discord users, a widely used messaging and chat application amongst gamers, might have been exposed following a breach at the firm responsible for conducting age verification procedures.
Along with the ID photos, details such as users’ names, email addresses, other contact information, IP addresses, and interactions with Discord customer support could also have fallen prey to the hackers. The attacker is reportedly demanding a ransom from the company. Fortunately, full credit card information or passwords were not compromised.
The incident was disclosed last week, but news of the potential ID photo leak came to light on Wednesday. A representative from the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office, which oversees data breaches, stated: “We have received a report from Discord and are assessing the information provided.”
The images in question were submitted by users appealing age-related bans via Discord’s customer service contractors, which is a platform that allows users to communicate through text, voice, and video chat for over a decade.
Some nations, including the UK, mandate age verification for social media and messaging services to protect children. This measure has been in effect in the UK since July under the Online Safety Act. Cybersecurity professionals have cautioned about the potential vulnerability of age verification providers, which may require sensitive government-issued IDs, to hackers aware of the troves of sensitive information.
Discord released a statement acknowledging: “We have recently been made aware of an incident wherein an unauthorized individual accessed one of Discord’s third-party customer service providers. This individual obtained information from a limited number of users who reached out to Discord through our customer support and trust and safety teams… We have identified around 70,000 users with affected accounts globally whose government ID photos might have been disclosed. Our vendors utilized those photos for evaluating age-related appeals.”
Discord requires users seeking to validate their age to upload a photo of their ID along with their Discord username to return to the platform.
Nathan Webb, a principal consultant at the British digital security firm Acumen Cyber, remarked that the breach is “very concerning.”
“Even if age verification is outsourced, organizations must still ensure the proper handling of that data,” he emphasized. “It is crucial for companies to understand that delegating certain functions does not relieve them of their obligation to uphold data protection and security standards.”
Approximately 8,000 names, photos, and addresses of children were allegedly taken from the Kido Nursery chain by a group of cybercriminals.
According to the BBC, these criminals are demanding ransoms from companies operating 18 sites in London, as well as additional locations in the US, India, and China.
The hackers also accessed details about the children’s parents and caregivers, claiming they were securing notes. They reached out to several individuals by phone, employing tactics associated with the Frightor.
Kido has been approached for comment but has yet to confirm the hackers’ assertions. The company has not released an official statement regarding the incident.
A nursery employee informed the BBC that she had been made aware of the data breach.
The Metropolitan Police indicated that they were alerted on Thursday “following reports of ransomware attacks on a London-based organization,” adding that “enquiries are ongoing and remain in the initial phase within Met’s cybercrime division. No arrests have been made to date.”
A spokesperson for the Intelligence Committee office stated that “Kido International has reported the incident to us and we are currently assessing the provided information.”
Many organizations have experienced cyberattacks recently. The Cooperative reported a £80 million decline in profits due to a hacking incident in April.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) was unable to assemble vehicles at the start of the month following a cyberattack that compromised their computer systems.
As a result, the company had to shut down most systems used for tracking factory components, vehicles, and tools, impacting their luxury Range Rover, Discovery, and Defender SUV sales.
The company has since reopened a limited number of computer systems.
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Meta has sparked controversy by utilizing a female student’s back-to-school photo to market one of its social media platforms to a 37-year-old man, a decision deemed “outrageous” and “upsetting.”
The man is pitted against Mark Zuckerberg’s Elon Musk’s X, receiving a post urging him to “get the thread.”
Meta employed the child’s images after they were shared on Instagram by their parents as school started back up. The parents were unaware that the meta setting allowed for this usage. One mother noted her account was private, yet the posts were automatically visible in public threads. Another mother mentioned that she posted the photo on her public Instagram account. Stranger interactions highlighted their child’s posts as “suggested threads.”
The recipient conveyed to the Guardian that the post felt “deliberately provocative and ultimately exploitative of the children and families involved.”
The father of the13-year-old girl featured in the post expressed that it was “absolutely outrageous.” All images portrayed female students in short skirts, showcasing bare legs or stockings.
“Discovering her image used by such a large company in a context that felt sexualized for product promotion made me feel quite sick,” he stated.
Meta, a massive company valued at £1.5TN, based in Menlo Park, California, defended its actions, stating the images did not breach their policies. They encouraged users to explore the thread by highlighting public posts that adhere to community standards and recommended guidelines. Although their system does not recommend threads shared by teenagers, these posts were generated from adult accounts that permitted public viewing.
The man who received the post noted that he was solely sent promotional content featuring female students, with no representation of boys in school uniforms, which he felt added a “sexualization aspect.”
One mother of a 15-year-old said the images were used in a promotional post featuring a prominent “thread” button. “It was a photo of my daughter heading to school. I never anticipated Instagram would utilize it for promotion. I absolutely hate it. She’s a minor,” she lamented.
She firmly rejected any agreement, stating, “It wasn’t for the money of the world. [its platform].”
Her Instagram account, typically modest with 267 followers, saw her child’s post attract nearly 7,000 viewers.
Another mother whose 13-year-old child’s photo was similarly featured remarked:
Meta categorized such posts as “recommended tools,” insisting that public posts should serve this function.
A corporate representative stated, “The shared images do not violate our policy and are postings from schools published by parents. There are systems in place to prevent teenagers from recommending shared threads.”
The 37-year-old London Instagram user who received the post requested to remain anonymous.
He noted he had not liked or posted similar images prior to receiving photos of the schoolgirl.
“To me, this feels intentionally provocative, introducing trendy and popular content, ultimately exploiting the children and families involved and jeopardizing online safety.”
“We advocate for children’s rights online,” said Beeban Kidron, a crossbench peer and advocate.
“Meta prioritizes corporate growth over children’s rights to privacy, which is the only reason we can fathom for sending a photograph of a female student to a 37-year-old man.”
She urged the Regulator of Communications to consider implementing measures this summer to prevent unidentified adults from contacting children, stating that “companies should not have the right to feed sensitive content to children.”
Ofcom’s illegal harm initiatives aim to combat online grooming, emphasizing that “Your child’s profile, location, and connections should not be visible to others.”
Meta’s system suggests that if a thread profile is public, posts from an adult profile could be recommended on Facebook or Instagram, allowing others to “discover, follow, and interact with you.” Users can turn this off or switch a thread profile to private.
Capturing birds in photographs can be quite challenging. Their speed, grace, and unpredictable nature can pose difficulties for photographers. Yet, their vibrant colors and iridescent feathers have long captivated those behind the camera. Today, a stunning array of images, showcasing the talent of over 50 photographers from across the globe, takes center stage in the Bird Center.
Birds: Modern Photographic Birds is a remarkable 200-page journey through the enchanting world of birds. Unlike typical bird books that categorize by species or habitat, Aviary adopts a fresh perspective. It presents six thematic chapters that explore the bond between humans and birds through imaginative performances such as “sanctuary” and “meetings.” The collection blends several disciplines, including art, fashion, documentary filmmaking, and ornithology.
Mario CEA, The Blue Trail, 2015.
Mario CEA
Some photographs astound with their simplicity, while others impress with their dynamic capture of movement and intricate details. For example, a striking image freezes a Kingfisher mid-dive, its vibrant blue stripes contrasting with the calm waters (as shown above), masterfully captured by Mariocia.
Red-crowned Crane Courtship.
Alan Walker
In Alan Walker’s image (above), two of the rarest and largest birds, the red-crowned cranes, engage in a courtship display, their heads elegantly arched as soft snow falls around them. Meanwhile, the radiant flamingos captured by Robert Clark appear to rest peacefully, their heads tucked into their feathers, evoking the essence of a traditional oil painting.
Aviary by Danáe Panchaud and William A. Ewing will be available September 11th, with official release on October 14th.
This began as a project involving my daughter and her friend. Being part of the smartphone generation, they were both 14 at the time and eager to explore their relationship with mobile devices. According to Ofcom’s 2022 research, nine out of ten children owned a smartphone by age 11, and by age 12, 91% were using video platforms, messaging apps, and social media. I discussed the negative perceptions surrounding mobile phones, teenagers, and screens with them. They shared that social media can both enhance confidence and diminish it.
I asked if I could take a photo. I didn’t provide much direction; instead of capturing them in a typical portrait style, I simply observed their interactions. The energy was vibrant: they moved swiftly, danced to short music clips, filmed one another, laughed, scrolled, chatted, took selfies, and rehearsed TikTok dances. I struggled to keep pace with their excitement. This image, titled TikTok, emerged from our session. I quickly directed Lucy to glance at me, capturing the moment just before they transitioned to the next activity. As a portrait photographer, you develop an instinct for certain shots, and I felt this one was special.
While editing, I reflected on how girls utilize their phones for visual communication, as theorized by Nathan Jurgenson, who refers to it as “Social Photography.” This concept emphasizes that photos are more about social interaction than mere objects, moving away from traditional photography’s intent of documentation or archiving, focusing instead on sharing moments visually.
Spending time with the girls revealed the darker aspects of mobile usage. I showcased this project as a continuing exhibition in Oxford, working with focus groups of teenage girls who shared their experiences regarding online sexism and sexual harassment. Some of the stories I learned were quite shocking. The final work incorporates photographs alongside handwritten testimonials.
To deepen my research, I explored the writings of activists Laura Bates and Soma Sarah. Initially, the project title was inconsequential, but as it evolved, I changed it to a catchy phrase from a TikTok soundbite my daughter had shared with me. This shift evoked feelings of protectiveness and annoyance as a mother and a feminist. Although the title may be discomforting, it serves to capture attention and foster awareness.
This photo embodies multiple layers of meaning. It is beautiful and captivating, capturing a remarkable moment that celebrates the joy of girls in their generation, and reflects the essence of their world. These teenage years are fleeting, and the joy they share is essential to witness in a safe environment.
Additionally, the image invites viewers to notice the dynamic gaze between the three girls. Lucy not only looks directly at the camera but also interacts with the viewer through her expression and stance. As a mother and a photographer, my perspective evolves with ongoing research. The viewers’ perceptions may mirror their experiences as teenagers, which introduces a fascinating tension into the conversation surrounding this subject.
The girl in my mind is now 17 years old. Much has happened in the world since that photo was taken, including the rise of figures like Andrew Tate, who gained notoriety even as our children were already aware of him. Recently, themes addressed in Netflix series have sparked broader societal discussions.
Just this week, my mom reached out to discuss “short skirts.” The conflict between my role as a mother and a woman often feels intricate. As a protective instinct kicks in, I question why women shouldn’t wear what they choose. Sadly, young women today face risks merely by possessing a smartphone, in a world that remains unfamiliar to us parents.
Phillippa James’ Resume
Photo: Philippa James
Born: Bus, 1978 Trained: Kent (2000) in Art and Moving Image; Falmouth Photography MA (2023) Influences: “The inspiration from Rineke Dijkstra, Miranda July, Lynne Ramsay, Tracey Emin, Abigail Heyman, Cindy Sherman, Samantha Morton, Catherine McCormack, Robert Altman’s film Short Cuts, and Lisa Taddeo’s book.” Career Highlight: “Last year, I was honored to be selected for the Taylor Wessing Portrait Award and exhibited at the National Portrait Gallery, with funding from the Arts Council England to further develop my practice. I also received LensCulture’s Emerging Talent Award. Career Low Point: “In 2020, I faced public backlash for including trans women in my first personal project, 100 Women in Oxford, which led to protests against the exhibition. This experience taught me invaluable lessons about responsibility, expression, and the emotional impact of capturing real people.” Top Tip: “Stay committed to your work, reflect on your creations, and keep producing. Photography may seem easy, but it’s challenging; consistency is key.”
Anger has surged on Chinese social media following reports of online groups, reportedly comprising hundreds of thousands of men sharing unauthorized photos of women, including explicit images.
A report published last week by Southern Metropolis outlined a group on the encrypted messaging app Telegram, known as the “Mask Park Tree Hall Forum.” This group boasts over 100,000 members and claims to be “exclusively composed of Chinese men.”
These individuals allegedly circulated sexually explicit images of women, captured either in private settings or through hidden cameras disguised as everyday objects such as plug sockets and shoes.
The incident has drawn parallels to South Korea’s “nth room” scandal, where women were coerced into sharing explicit photos within a Telegram group.
While Telegram is blocked in China, users can still access it via a virtual private network (VPN) that bypasses location restrictions.
The hashtag linked to the scandal had garnered over 110 million views on Weibo by Thursday. However, there are signs of censorship, as some related searches yield results indicating, “According to relevant laws and regulations, this content cannot be viewed.” Earlier reports from Reuters noted the hashtag received over 270 million views.
“Women’s lives are not a male erotic novel,” commented one user on Xiaohongshu, a platform similar to Instagram.
Another user on Xiaohongshu remarked:
In South Korea, the leader of the chat group received a sentence of 40 years in prison.
In China, those who photograph individuals without consent face penalties of up to 10 days of detention and a fine of 500 yuan (£53). Disseminating pornographic material can lead to prison sentences of up to two years.
The Mask Park scandal isn’t an isolated incident; last year, a tech company owner in Beijing was found to have secretly recorded over 10,000 videos of female employees in the bathroom, receiving only a 10-day detention as punishment. “Ten days are merely encouragement,” remarked one Weibo user.
Criminal law professor Lao Dongyan from Tsinghua University stated on Weibo that Chinese law treats unauthorized filming as an indecent crime, rather than a violation of women’s rights.
“Women who are secretly filmed are the primary victims. Reducing their experiences to indecency material is equivalent to categorizing them as participants in pornographic content, which is absurd,” Rao commented.
As authorities continue to limit civil discourse and behaviors, addressing feminism and women’s rights in China becomes increasingly challenging. Nonetheless, some women have discovered ways to counteract misogyny publicly, including through comedy.
In a recent episode of the popular stand-up show The King of Standup Comedy, comedian Huang Yijin humorously mentioned putting on makeup alone in his hotel room.
Two of the five snow leopard cubs recently photographed in Mongolia
SLCF-Mongolia/Snow Leopard Trust
A team of researchers explored two snow leopard dens in the Tost Mountains of Mongolia, studying and capturing images of five cubs, which provided a rare chance to gather data on this endangered species.
Before their expedition in June and July, researchers had not been able to access snow leopard nests globally since 2019. Örjan Johansson of Snow Leopard Trust noted, “The burrows are situated in tight cracks and caves. We only get one opportunity. If the mother returns before we locate the burrow, we have to stop our search. Going back more than once is too intrusive.”
Johansson and Bren Nyam, a local field ranger, pinpointed the burrow’s approximate location by tracking GPS collars that had been previously attached to 20 adult female snow leopards.
The burrow where the cubs were found was located by tracking the mother’s whereabouts
SLCF-Mongolia_snow Leopard Trust
Johansson explained, “The range of female snow leopards’ homes in Mongolia’s South Gobi region typically spans about 130 square kilometers, which is approximately 2.5 times the area of Manhattan. Without the GPS collar, we would not have discovered their burrows.” However, even with the collars, the team had to search an area as vast as 60,000 square meters to pinpoint the exact location.
The snow leopard (Panthera uncia) is categorized as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, with an estimated 3,920 to 6,390 individuals remaining in the wild. These cats inhabit alpine terrains across Central Asia, spanning 2 million square kilometers across 12 countries, including China, India, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. Their populations face threats from habitat loss, poaching, and conflicts arising from livestock predation.
Johansson noted, “To effectively model and predict population trajectories of multiple species, we must grasp essential factors such as fertility, mortality, and the dynamics of animals entering and leaving an area.” He collaborated with the Snow Leopard Conservation Foundation on this project.
“Visiting the dens is crucial as it is the only means to gather information on average litter sizes and cub survival rates during their first five to six months. Before this age, cubs typically remain secluded with their mothers. Accessing the burrow allows researchers to collect invaluable data that would otherwise be unattainable. Such information is essential for enhancing understanding of snow leopard ecology and informing conservation strategies for a sustainable future.”
To celebrate the remarkable advancements in science during the third year, astronomers have utilized the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope to capture images of the Cat’s Paw Nebula.
This web image depicts the Cat’s Paw Nebula, a significant star-forming region located 5,500 light years from the constellation Scorpio. Image credits: NASA/ESA/CSA/STSCI.
The Cat’s Paw Nebula resides in the southern constellation of Scorpio and is approximately 5,500 light years from Earth.
First identified in 1837 by British astronomer John Herschel, this dynamic star-forming region spans an estimated 80 to 90 light years.
Also known as NGC 6334 or the Bear Claw Nebula, it is one of the most vibrant stellar nurseries in the night sky, producing thousands of young, hot stars that emit light not visible from our perspective.
Recent images captured by Webb’s NIRCam instrument reveal structural details and functionalities previously unseen.
“Massive young stars are actively interacting with nearby gas and dust, and their bright stellar light produces a luminous, hazy glow, represented in blue,” Webb astronomers stated.
“This scenario illustrates a transient period where a destructive young star plays a significant role in the broader narrative of the region, characterized by relatively short lifespans and high luminosity.”
“Due to the dynamic activities of these massive stars, the local star formation process will eventually come to a halt.”
“We begin with a central area identified as the ‘opera house’ because of its hierarchical circulatory structure,” they noted.
“The principal sources of the blue glow in this area are likely positioned towards the bottom, obscured by dense brown dust, interspersed with light from bright, yellowish stars or nearby sources.”
“Beneath the orange-brown dust lies a bright yellow star displaying distinct diffraction spikes.”
“This giant star is sculpting its surrounding environment but has not managed to push gas and dust away sufficiently nor create a compact shell of surrounding material.”
“Take note of smaller regions, such as the tuning fork-shaped area adjacent to the opera house, which contains fewer stars.”
“These seemingly vacant zones are still in the process of forming stars, indicating the presence of dense filaments of dust that obscure the light of background stars.”
At the center of the image, small, fiery red masses can be seen scattered within the brown dust.
“These glowing red sources highlight areas where large-scale star formation is occurring, albeit in a less visible manner,” the researchers explained.
“Some of the blue-white stars, particularly in the lower left area, appear more sharply resolved than others.”
“This sharper appearance is attributed to the material between the star and the telescope being diffused by the star’s radiation.”
Near the bottom of this area is a compact dust filament.
“These small dust aggregates have managed to survive the intense radiation, indicating they are dense enough to give rise to protostars.”
The small yellow section on the right marks the location of a massive star still in its formative stages, managing to shine through the intervening material.
Numerous small yellow stars are scattered across the scene, displaying distinct diffraction spikes.
“The bright blue-white stars prominently feature in the foreground of this web image, with some possibly being part of the larger Cat’s Paw Nebula region.”
A particularly striking feature of this web image is the bright red-orange oval shape located in the top right corner.
The low concentration of background stars indicates it is a dense area where the star-forming process has only recently commenced.
Several visible stars are distributed throughout the region, contributing to the illumination of central materials.
Some of the developing stars have left behind traces of their existence, such as the shock wave visible in the lower left area.
This captivating and intimate image offers a unique view of the Caribbean reef octopus (Octopus Briareus), showcasing the mother and her potential offspring in the Blue Heron Bridge diving area near West Palm Beach, Florida.
Following mating, these solitary creatures retreat to seclude themselves while safeguarding their developing eggs. However, for Octopus Briareus and several other octopus species, this tale takes a tragic turn.
Once her mother octopus lays a batch of hundreds of eggs, she ceases to feed and dies shortly after the eggs hatch. Research conducted in 2022 illuminated this phenomenon. The optic nerve gland, the primary neuroendocrine hub of the octopus, regulates lifespan and reproduction in invertebrates, akin to the pituitary gland in vertebrates.
Octopus mothers can dramatically boost cholesterol production post-mating, leading to self-destructive spirals, although the reason behind this cycle remains elusive. One theory suggests that the octopus stops eating for her young.
The mother of the octopus by freelance nature photographer Kat Zhou triumphed in the Aquatic Life category at the Bigpicture Natural World Photography Competition, which invites both professional and amateur photographers to capture, narrate, and advocate for the conservation of Earth’s diverse life forms.
The overall grand prize went to photographer and conservationist Zhou Donglin for Lemur’s Tough Life, a breathtaking capture (shown below) taken at the Tsingy de Bemaraha Strict Nature Reserve in Madagascar. After a challenging trek through rugged terrain, Donglin documented a common brown lemur (Eulemur Fulvus) making a daring leap from one cliff to another—with her baby clinging on.
Lemur’s tough life Zhou Donglin
Zhou Donglin
Next is Mud Skip by Georgina Steytler (shown below), depicting a fascinating reminder of life’s ancient past as a beautiful amphibian emerges from the mud. Steytler, a finalist in the Aquatic Life section of the competition, spent days at Goode Beach in Bloom, Western Australia to capture the precise moment when a Boleophthalmus pectinirostris leaped into the air.
Mud Skip By Georgina Steytler
Georgina Steytler
The final image (shown below) appears reminiscent of a scene from another planet. In reality, Remaining in the Snow by plant photographer Ellen Woods, a finalist in the awards for landscapes, waterscapes, and flora, was captured near her home in Connecticut, in the northeastern USA.
Remaining in the snow By Ellen Woods
Ellen Woods
It features skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), often among the first plants to bloom at winter’s end. Notably, it can create its own microclimate, generating warmth of up to 23°C even when ambient temperatures remain below freezing.
This unique capability of thermal regulation protects the plant from frost damage and attracts beetles and fly pollinators drawn to its warmth and scent of carrion.
However, it’s not particularly pleasant; the name arises from its odor, likened to a skunk’s scent when the leaves are disturbed.
The winning photograph will be displayed at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco later this year.
From molten lava coursing through ice-covered landscapes to sharks gracefully swimming in crystal-clear turquoise waters, viewing nature from an aerial vantage point provides a breathtaking perspective on our planet’s terrain and wildlife.
Welcome to the inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year Competition. This contest invited both professional and amateur photographers from around the globe to submit their entries, which were judged against high standards (yes, pun intended).
The first prize was awarded to Joanna Steidle, a professional drone pilot and artist. Her remarkable photograph, along with other prominent entries from the competition, can be explored below.
plane! plane! – David Mielowski
The airplane’s shadow dances over the vibrant waters of the Hat Lagoon in Western Australia. Photo: David Mielowski/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Flamingo and Pelican – David Swindler
A pelican wades through a sea of flamingos. Photo by David Swindler/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Smoking Skull – Daniel Binigarcia
The cooling lava of Iceland’s Fagradalsfjall volcano created a skull-like formation, evoking a spooky scene. Photo: Daniel Bini Garcia/First International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Elephant of Flow – Murray Evans
A herd of elephants roaming the Basanga plains in Kafue National Park, Zambia. Photo: Murray Evans/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Austfonna Ice Cap – Thomas Vijayan
An aerial view showcasing the Bråsvellbreen glacier, part of the Austfonna ice cap in Svalbard, Norway. Photo: Thomas Vijayan/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Laguna Hedionda – Ignacio Palacios
Laguna Hedionda in Bolivia, notable for its diverse flamingo species, beautifully captured from the sky. Ignacio Palacios Photography/First International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Salt Works IV Eye – Daniela Tonmar
A drone capture showing salt extraction operations along Australia’s coral coast. Daniela Tommasi/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
read more:
Tahogait Volcano – Javier Garcia
The Tahogait Volcano (Montañarajada) in La Palma, Spain erupted on September 19, 2021, leading to widespread destruction. Photo: Javier Garcia/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
read more:
Twisted Owl – Colin Leonhardt
An aerial perspective of the Alumina Mine Tapered Dam near Collie, Western Australia. Photo: Colin Leonhardt/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Tidal Flora – Peter Harrison
Joseph Bonaparte Bay Marine Park in Australia’s Northern Territory is sculpted by formidable tides that flow through shallow, muddy flats. Photo: Peter Harrison/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Recover – AelKermare
An aerial snapshot capturing a volcano’s energy as lava engulfs icy pathways in Iceland—documenting the nation’s sixth volcanic eruption in three years. Photo: Ael Kermare/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
read more:
Celestimpur – Daniel Writer
The colorful hot springs, geysers, and bubbling mud pots of Yellowstone National Park, USA, create intriguing patterns. Photo: Daniel Reiter/First International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Eternal Harmony – Rositsa Dimitrova
The rugged terrains and rivers of Iceland are beautifully showcased in this stunning aerial capture. Photography by Rositsa Dimitrova/The Inaugural International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Sunrise on Mars – Taylor Duncan
This image of Bentonite Hills in Utah, USA, unveils a landscape reminiscent of Mars, shaped by time and water. Photograph by Taylor Duncan
International Aerial Photos of the Year – Ignacio Palacio
The mesmerizing anti-crepuscular rays in Cono de Arita, Argentina created by the sun’s light converging due to atmospheric phenomena. Ignacio Palacios Photography/First International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Winner of International Aerial Photographer of the Year – Joanna Steidle
A dynamic aerial shot of a spinner shark creating a gateway amidst a school of menhaden fish in the Atlantic Ocean near Southampton, New York, USA. Photo by Joanna Steidle/First International Aerial Photographer of the YearHumpback whales gracefully submerge beneath the Atlantic’s surface after surfacing for air. Captured near Southampton, New York, USA. Photo by Joanna Steidle/First International Aerial Photographer of the YearA captivating aerial image of rays stirring the sand as they glide along the ocean floor near Southampton, New York, USA. Photo by Joanna Steidle/First International Aerial Photographer of the Year
Suspended Blessing: Sleeping Sperm Whale and Her Calf
Paul Nicklen
A full belly—if you look closely, you can see the tentacles of the deep-sea squid she recently devoured hanging from her mouth.
This photo, titled The Interrupted Bounty, is one of many captured by photographer Paul Nicklen and showcased at the Photo Fair. It exudes a sense of peace, yet Nicklen experienced a whirlwind of emotions while filming it in Dominica in 2019.
“Even while my lungs ached and my mind screamed to surface just 5 meters away, I had to calm myself,” he reflects. “In that moment, my focus shifted to breathing, framing, and floating. The fear was present, but I remained centered.”
As he grounded himself, a feeling of “quiet adoration” washed over him. “It brought a certain joy, aligned with their rhythm for a while,” Nicklen recalls. “Over time, that joy has shifted into a heavier contemplation. I’m reflecting on the risks that whales now face—ocean pollution, ship strikes, entrapment in nets, and rising sea temperatures. Looking back at these images reveals lines that may not endure unless changes occur. Still, I feel fortunate. I’m honored to share their stories.”
Photo London will take place at Somerset House from May 15th to 18th. Nicklen’s work is presented by Hilton Contemporary, which also features a photograph by marine biologist Christina Mittermeyer, showcasing her striking image from Madagascar in 2008: Mandare’s Washing. It depicts brightly colored clothing drying on cracked earth, with two emaciated cows nearby on a dry stretch of the Mandare River.
Mandare Washing: Dried Beds on the Mandare River in Madagascar
Christina Mittermeier
Seventeen years later, Mittermeier reflects on the tumultuous feelings she experienced while taking those shots. “It wasn’t just the illness, but also the tropical fever, combined with a sense of guilt. Not guilt for being there, but for leaving,” she recounts. “The village families had no escape from the drought; they lacked alternatives, no backup resources, no taps to turn on.
Today, that guilt has evolved into a profound respect for the resilience of the locals.
“I think of the elasticity of that fabric, the dust, and how survival here is stitched together with each piece of clothing, meal, and glass of water,” Mittermeier shares. “It’s a testament to drought, but also to the overarching decisions that determine who suffers and who survives.”
Below is another stunning photograph by Nicklen titled Ephemeral Palace. Captured in 2012 on the Antarctic Peninsula, it depicts a vast iceberg adrift, destined to melt as it approaches the sea.
Ephemeral Palace: Iceberg on the Antarctic Peninsula in 2012
Paul Nicklen
The final shot from Nicklen, titled Meet Face to Face, features an unexpected visitor, photographed in Svalbard, Norway in 2008. He labels the encounter with “the bear in question” as a significant highlight of his career, noting he has rarely encountered the approximately 2,000 polar bears he has documented, yet he has never succumbed to panic.
Face to Face: A Close Encounter with a Norwegian Polar Bear
Don Pettit, NASA’s oldest active astronaut, made his return to Earth on April 20th, coinciding with his 70th birthday. This marked the end of his fourth mission, a demanding 220-day stay at the International Space Station.
Throughout his time aboard the space station, Pettit engaged in various experiments, interacted with students, and exercised extensively to maintain his health and combat bone density loss. However, his most captivating contribution was through his photography.
For many on Earth, going to space is simply a dream. “I caught a glimpse of how they perceive my image,” said Pettit during a press conference following his return to Japan.
Pettit mentioned that dedicated photographers always carry a camera. “I could gaze out of the window and enjoy the stunning views,” he described. “But every time I look out, I am just enjoying it, saying to myself, ‘Wow, look at that. Oh, there’s a flash. What’s happening there?’ and, ‘Ah, a volcano appears.’ Then I think, ‘Where’s my camera?’
At times, he would set up five different cameras simultaneously in the cupola module, where seven windows offered sweeping vistas of space and Earth.
Capturing images in space shares similarities with night photography; the stars are faint and require longer exposure times to gather sufficient light. However, in orbit, everything is in constant motion, with the space station racing at 5 miles per second while the Earth spins beneath.
At times, Pettit embraced the dynamic beauty. The shimmering lines blurred under the light showcased the stars tracing arcs across the night sky.
“These meld science with art,” Pettit noted on X. “There are so many techniques to observe, or you can simply sit back and think, ‘How cool!’
His camera was fitted with a “trajectory fitting tracker,” a homemade device that gradually adjusts for the space station’s movements, keeping the lens focused on a particular point in the sky.
Thanks to this tracker, he was able to capture a 10-second exposure of the Milky Way shining above the cloudy Pacific Ocean just before dawn, revealing a captivating blue-purple glow from sunlight scattering through nitrogen in Earth’s atmosphere.
The sidereal tracker also contributed to capturing the image below from the windows of the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft.
The photo reveals the large and small Magellanic Clouds, the closest galaxies to our Milky Way on a cosmic scale.
In April, Pettit filmed the mesmerizing rhythmic pulsations of the aurora, a glowing phenomenon caused by high-energy solar particles interacting with atmospheric molecules.
On occasion, vibrant lights were the result of human activity, not celestial events. The green lines seen in this photo are similar in color to the aurora but actually result from fishing boats off Thailand attracting squid.
While photographing Earth, Pettit recorded lightning striking in the upper atmosphere above the Amazon Basin in South America. These videos captured time intervals ranging from 6 to 33 seconds, showcasing more intricate details of the flashes.
The Betoshiboca River in Madagascar reminded Pettit of the visual patterns seen in human eyes’ blood vessels.
Similar to wildfires, urban areas intensify in brightness at night.
Pettit seized the opportunity to document spacecraft launching and returning to Earth, including a test flight of a SpaceX Starship rocket from Texas last November…
…and the docking of the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, scheduled to transport cargo to the space station in December.
During his mission, Pettit also designed an entertaining science experiment. One showcased electrically charged water droplets dancing around a Teflon knitting needle. “I aim to do in space what can only be done in space,” he stated. “I’m worried that when I return, I’ll have to catch up on all the TV shows.”
In another experiment, he injected food coloring into a droplet of water, producing a sphere resembling Jupiter or a pristine marble.
Pettit also dissolved antacid tablets in water. In a microgravity environment, the escaping bubbles create entirely different patterns of pop, fizz, and hiss compared to on Earth.
He even froze thin water ice wafers at minus 140 degrees Fahrenheit. “What can you do with a freezer in space?” He wrote on X. “I decided to grow a thin layer of water ice just for the fun of it.”
Photographing the ice layer through a polarizing filter revealed intricate crystal formations.
While Pettit holds the title of the oldest NASA astronaut, he is not the oldest person to orbit Earth; that honor goes to John Glenn, who flew around the Earth in 1962 and again in 1998 at the age of 77.
Pettit is also not the oldest individual to spend time aboard the International Space Station; that distinction belongs to private astronaut Larry Connor, who was 72 during his two-week mission in 2022, organized by Axiom Space in Houston.
“I’m only 70, with a few good years ahead of me,” Pettit remarked during a news conference. “We’ve managed to squeeze in another flight before we had to finalize the rocket nozzle.”
The sun’s upper atmosphere, or corona, seen in ultraviolet light
ESA & NASA/Solar Probe/EUI Team
These fiery images are the clearest views of the Sun ever seen by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft.
solar orbitera joint mission between the European Space Agency (ESA) and NASA, is a state-of-the-art instrument that orbits the sun and has been sending information back to Earth since it arrived in 2020.
These images were taken in March 2023, when Solar Orbiter was less than 74 million kilometers from the sun. The photo above was taken using ultraviolet light and reveals the sun’s outer atmosphere, or corona, in great detail, showing billowing million-degree plasma exploding along the sun’s magnetic field lines. There is. Normally, bright light from the sun’s surface hides the corona. Therefore, the corona can only be seen when observing it by blocking visible light or using ultraviolet light, which typically occurs during solar eclipses.
To create this complete image of the sun’s corona, many smaller zoomed-in images had to be stitched together, resulting in this complete mosaic of 8000 pixels. In the future, Solar Orbiter will be able to obtain two such high-resolution photos of the Sun each year, according to ESA.
Visible Sun imaged by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft’s polarization measurements and solar seismic imager
ESA & NASA/Solar Probe/PHI Team
This second image shows what the sun’s surface, or photosphere, looks like when viewed from Solar Orbiter in visible light, the same light that our eyes can see . The temperature of this layer of the sun is approximately 4500-6000°C. The dark areas here are sunspots, which are cooler and emit less light than the surrounding areas.
Map of the Sun’s magnetic field measured by the Solar Orbiter spacecraft’s polarization measurements and solar seismic imager.
ESA & NASA/Solar Probe/PHI Team
Observations using the spacecraft’s magnetic instruments show that the Sun’s magnetic field is concentrated around the sunspot region (see image above). The field directs charged particles away from these areas, cooling them and giving them a dark appearance.
Velocity map, or tachogram, showing the speed and direction of movement of matter on the visible surface of the Sun
ESA & NASA/Solar Probe/PHI Team
Solar Orbiter can also track the speed and direction of plasma as it moves across the Sun’s surface. In this velocity map (above), called a tachogram, blue represents movement toward the spacecraft and red represents movement away from the spacecraft. It shows that it diverges in its surroundings.
This collection of images helps scientists understand the behavior of the sun’s corona and photosphere. Solar Orbiter will also image never-before-seen images of the Sun’s poles at the top and bottom of the star. Currently, not much is known about the solar poles, and researchers expect these regions to look significantly different from the rest of the sun.
IThis was one of history’s monumental moments, but if John Glenn had not stopped at a supermarket on his way aboard Friendship 7 to pick up a Contax camera and 35mm film, the visual record may not have existed. A photograph taken by an American astronaut through the window of a capsule while in Earth orbit on February 20, 1962, provided unprecedented evidence of Project Mercury’s first orbital mission. The Soviet Union may have beaten the Americans in the race to human spaceflight, but the Americans were also taking the first color photographs of the galaxy.
German gallerist Daniel Blau points out that these photos are also “the most expensive photographs ever taken.” Billions of dollars were spent to obtain them. Blau has an original print of Glenn’s first photograph taken in space. Photos from Paris this yearalong with NASA’s cache of rare photographic prints, many of which have never been publicly displayed before, most of them by unknown scientists and astronauts.
“At that time, NASA didn’t provide cameras to astronauts,” Blau says. “In a way, this was Glenn’s private photograph.” Despite their scientific motivations, Glenn’s images convey the inescapable mystery of the universe. A warm, glowing ball of light spreads out from the center of the frame. Luminescent flashes blaze into the deep darkness of the void, dancing like the “fireflies” described by Glenn. It must have been terrifying to watch. In fact, the spark turned out to be condensation.
Traveling at 28,000 km/h, humans managed to reach space, but they had not yet designed a photographic machine powerful enough to keep up with the journey. Lacking much visual information or detail, Glenn’s photographs probably reveal less about the universe and have become totems of human ambition. Glenn later added a personal caption, warning, “I guarantee you a photo will never be able to recreate the brilliance of a real scene.”
Blau began carrying vintage NASA prints in the 1990s. “The Space Race and the Cold War were the defining forces of the second half of the 20th century. Of course, my generation remembers all the important moments.” Some of the photos were published at the time, but original prints It is difficult to obtain. “These scientists and the people who worked on the missions passed down their personal archives to their children, and now their grandchildren, so there is still a lot of material on the market. It was natural for me to start searching and working with these photographs.”
At Paris Photo, a crowd gathered around a series of six silver gelatin photographs from 1948 overlooking the Rio Grande from a V-2 rocket at 73,000 feet. Also on display were humanity’s first close-up photo of Mars, taken in 1965, and the first panoramic photo of Earth seen from the moon. The latter was not photographed by humans, but was sent by radio signal from an unmanned mission in August 1966. They were then stitched together pixel by pixel into a single image at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
By 1979, the interstellar probe Voyager was able to take better pictures of the planet, and its images of Jupiter and its four moons suspended like marble in an onyx atmosphere were particularly startling.
The impressive large-scale mosaic of Mercury’s pockmarked surface, created in 1974, is “the only mosaic of this size I’ve ever seen,” Blau says. “It was probably produced for a NASA presentation, similar to Voyager’s photo of Mars.” This photo only shows part of the solar system’s smallest planet, but it doesn’t fit our understanding and You get another glimpse of what lies beyond your control.
By the late ’70s, photography had taken on a more central role in missions and the advancement of space science. “NASA was and still is dependent on public funding, but Glenn’s color photographs taken in Earth orbit showed that the best and most positive way for NASA to demonstrate its accomplishments was through photography.” It became clear that there was one thing,” Blau said. “Of course, the scientific side of things is the driving force, but photography tells a first-hand story.”
Blau’s footage was released the day after the US presidential election. He said he wanted to remind visitors of the “positive common efforts of many countries.” They are certainly humble. “Perhaps no photograph embodies more than this photograph the combination of mystical awe and mastery of nature that constitutes the human condition,” Blau muses. “Humans escape from the confines of the earth to see and record things that have never been seen or recorded before – the impossible.”
Jutting out into the Tasman Sea between Australia and New Zealand is the curved, crescent-shaped volcanic remnant of Lord Howe Island. Measuring 10 kilometres in length and 2 kilometres at its widest point, the rocky island is covered in lush, unspoiled forest and boasts a sandy, coral-rich lagoon.
“This is paradise.” Neil HadawayA photographer who went there to document the activities of the marine research group. drifting“There are birdsongs all around, beautiful coral reefs and golden sand beaches.” Among the bird calls is the shearwater (Aldena CarneipesOf the total, approximately 22,000 breed on the island.
Petrel chick (Ardenna carneipes)
Neil Hadaway
But life there is not ideal, and newly hatched petrel chicks, like the one pictured above, are under threat from increasing marine plastic pollution. Adult petrels mistake plastic debris in the sea for food and end up feeding it to their young. In fact, Adrift researchers have found that the amount of plastic ingested by chicks is increasing every year. One of the team, pictured below, sifts through chunks of plastic in the stomach of just one bird.
As a result, these chicks become increasingly underdeveloped, with dozens dying each year from starvation and plastic-related diseases.
“This island may be magical,” Hadaway said, “but it's also full of frustration and sadness.”
He says stricter laws against plastic pollution are needed to protect populations of petrels, which locals affectionately call “muttonbirds” (see above) after their taste.
a A few years ago, I encountered an unexpected problem: New York City had very few reliable phone repair shops, and even fewer that would repair a 2010 BlackBerry. No one seemed to understand my situation. Get your broken cell phone working again. It held text messages from my high school days. It was a significant part of my life.
For a brief moment, my BlackBerry actually turned on. I scrolled through my long-lost inbox, hoping to find some forgotten treasure: a written account of teenage heartbreak, memories of excitement, or moments shared with friends. However, my search yielded little. Most were emails about schoolwork.
I could never manage to get the device working again. This felt like a crisis, even if it was a personal and self-centered one. It felt tragic that all these materials — records of my feelings, communication, and my friends’ conversations during my teenage years — were stuck in a broken device.
Over time, the sadness faded, but my digital footprint continued to expand. Each day, I come across more content that I’ll want to revisit in the future: Numerous text messages. An average of 75 exchanges per day — Photos, videos, emails, social media likes, metadata from countless Google searches, group chat memes, “be there in 5 minutes” texts, my last message from my grandmother, and the complete story of a now-ended long-distance relationship.
I learned from my BlackBerry mishap. Instead of relying on a device destined to become outdated, I now invest in a cloud service that stores everything in a vast, overwhelming digital repository. For just $2.99 a month, I have over 200GB of digital storage, including 16,000 photos, eight years’ worth of Gmail, and 44GB of iMessages exchanged since I set my iPhone to “Don’t Delete” in 2017.
In the physical world, I lack the impulse to regularly discard old, irrelevant items without much consideration. However, I am sentimental and tend to engage in what experts label as “digital hoarding” — accumulating excessive digital content that leads to stress and anxiety.
Even with a more moderate approach, one’s digital footprint remains vast, dispersed, disorganized, and controlled by technology companies at their discretion. Experts reveal that each individual generates about 8MB to 2MB of data traveling online daily, a significant surge from 2MB ten years ago. The average American possesses about 500GB of storage, which includes social media usage, and this figure continues to grow amid escalating data demands. 328.77 million terabytes of new data are generated daily.
For many, including myself, the link between mobile phones and the cloud remains unclear and under-researched. Dr. Liz Silens, a psychology professor at Northumbria University and one of the few researchers to delve into this subject, discovered through Personal Digital Data Storage that most individuals don’t know where to begin with their data. “Is it genuinely mine? Is it stored in the cloud? Even if I delete content from my device, does it persist? Do I require additional backups if I can’t trust them? This exacerbates the data issue,” she remarked.
The topic of data makes me anxious as well because I’m not well-versed in technology and lack organizational skills. Data storage, like money, isn’t something I enjoy contemplating. If it’s accessible and usable, that suffices. Periodically, I attempt to transfer my data from the cloud in a casual, DIY manner, such as copying and pasting all my Facebook messages with my best friend at 16 into a Word document. I quickly become overwhelmed by technical terminology and multi-step processes recommended in various Reddit threads populated by individuals, like me, who fear losing themselves and remnants of their past. Digital Legacy of a Loved One.
One holiday season, my sister gifted me a subscription to iMazing, a service that backs up your iPhone and converts your iMessages into easily readable PDFs. However, after numerous failed attempts and frustration due to inadequate storage space on my 2017 MacBook, I abandoned the endeavor. For months, I manually removed photos from texts to address the memory shortage on my phone. Subsequently, rather than risking unintentional deletion from the cloud, I opted to purchase a new phone.
Archivist Margot Note highlighted a growing trend of private clients seeking to preserve caches of digital treasures, particularly text messages documenting “everyday history and significant moments.” Analogous to physical letters, they reveal the evolution of relationships over time, she mentioned.
The desire to safeguard such content stems from curiosity: What conversations did my best friend and I have in 2018, fresh out of college, full of vigor, and continents apart? How did my former partner indicate our relationship exceeded friendship? When did our bond begin to unravel?
The predominant emotion driving this preservation effort is anxiety. Losing these emails would mean forfeiting evidence of myself and my connections. It would signify losing one of the few constants after a loved one’s passing: their voice, its evolution over time, and their unique tone addressing me. Reflecting on her diary in Ongoingness, writer Sarah Manguso articulated the wish to shield “against awakening at the end of one’s life and realizing you’ve missed it.”
“Just the thought of data triggers anxiety because of its enigmatic nature. It can be overwhelming,” Silens remarked. “Anxiety serves as a significant barrier to addressing the reorganization and management of one’s digital information.”
Engagement with social media introduces its own set of risks. In her book The End of Forgetting: Growing Up with Social Media, cultural and media scholar Kate Eichhorn contends that the internet’s ability to swiftly transport us back in time undermines our capacity to develop adult identities, evolve, and mature. “There’s a risk in the fact that anything can resurface in your life,” she noted. “We haven’t fully grasped the psychological repercussions of that yet.”
Whenever I delve into my 44GB repository of texts, I emerge feeling overwhelmed by information, nostalgic for the past, and acutely aware of the relentless march of time. Memory’s fallibility becomes apparent, as the records don’t always align with my idealized view of history. These texts aren’t my memories but fragments of experiences frozen in time. What’s the harm in forgetting? What do we truly gain from revisiting the past?
Both Eichhorn and Silens question the necessity of retaining such copious digital content. Eichhorn highlights the incessant accumulation of data. “Is this an archive? Or is it simply another form of clandestine, socially acceptable storage?” Silens proposes that tidying up the cloud could evolve into a routine, akin to filing taxes: “Review your day’s photos and only delete those you know won’t be needed in the future.”
I appreciate the notion of being more discerning. We can begin to be deliberate about our digital archives. We can organize and discard unnecessary items. Apps like “Second Brain App” serve as external memory for various content, from text to tasks. Note, the archivist, reassured me that my struggle to organize my digital repository isn’t foolish. There currently isn’t an optimal solution. While institutions possess robust preservation mechanisms, “it requires significant effort and resources,” she noted. “This hasn’t trickled down to personal digital archives yet. It’s likely to happen eventually, but the necessary solutions remain largely unknown to the public.”
Hence, I’ll likely procrastinate until my cloud storage reaches capacity before making a decision. At that point, I’ll likely purchase additional storage. My cloud storage operates quietly in the background, easy to delay, always present but forgotten. Similar to the old BlackBerry tucked away in a desk drawer, never to be used again but comforting in its mere existence.
In celebration of our 25th anniversary NASA’s Chandra X-ray ObservatoryThe Chandra team has released 25 new images of cosmic objects and phenomena.
This collection of images was released to celebrate Chandra’s 25th anniversary. Image credit: NASA/CXC/SAO.
On July 23, 1999, the Space Shuttle Columbia launched into orbit carrying Chandra, the heaviest payload carried by the shuttle at the time.
Under the command of Commander Eileen Collins, the astronauts aboard Columbia successfully placed Chandra into a highly elliptical orbit roughly equivalent to one-third the distance to the Moon.
“For a quarter century, Chandra has made one amazing discovery after another,” said Dr. Pat Slane, director of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory’s Chandra X-ray Center.
“Astronomers have used Chandra to explore mysteries that were unknown when the telescope was built, including exoplanets and dark energy.”
“Chandra is a great success story for humanity and its pursuit of knowledge,” said Dr. Andrew Schnell, acting Chandra project manager at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center.
“The telescope’s incredible achievements have been made possible through the hard work and dedication of the team.”
The new series of images is a sample of the roughly 25,000 observations Chandra has taken during its quarter-century in space.
In 1976, Riccardo Giacconi and Harvey Tananbaum first proposed the mission that would become Chandra to NASA.
Eventually, Chandra was selected as one of NASA’s great observatories, along with the Hubble Space Telescope, the now-retired Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, and the Spitzer Space Telescope, each observing a different kind of light.
In 2002, Giacconi was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics for his pioneering contributions to astrophysics that led to the discovery of cosmic X-ray sources and laid the foundation for the development and launch of Chandra.
Today, astronomers continue to use Chandra data in conjunction with other powerful telescopes, including the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and NASA’s Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE).
“On behalf of the STS-93 crew, we are incredibly proud of the Chandra X-ray Observatory and the talented team that built and launched this astronomical gem,” said Eileen Collins, commander of Space Shuttle Columbia, which launched Chandra into space in 1999.
“Chandra’s discoveries have continued to amaze and inspire us for the past 25 years.”
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This article is a version of a press release provided by NASA.
More than 3,500 photos were submitted for the award, and Karina Leterrier Baeza's photo was among the 30 finalists. Arctic DragonThis photo taken at Arctic Henge in Iceland shows the aurora borealis, the result of a geomagnetic storm caused by a coronal mass ejection, resembling a rearing dragon.
The final candidates are The cry of a dying star (Below), photo by Jan Sainty. The “star” in question is actually the remnant of a supernova explosion, when a star dies and explodes, releasing a tremendous amount of light and energy. This explosion occurred about 10,000 years ago.
Sainty combined clear skies and a long exposure in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco to capture rarely seen details of this glowing remnant, called Cygnus Loop, named after the famous painting. scream Sainti said the painting symbolizes Edvard Munch's “The Scream,” but also the “scream” that reverberates through the universe after a star dies.
Below is a stunning photo of the sun's corona (the outermost layer of the atmosphere) over the Himalayan mountain ranges, taken by Geshuang Chen near the Tibetan city of Shigatse. Normally hidden by the brightness of the sun's surface, the corona can be glimpsed here because thin clouds are diffracting sunlight, producing a vibrant array of rainbow colors. Chen calls this image the “solar corona.” Himalayan Palette.
The winner of the competition, run by the Royal Observatory, will be announced on September 12th. The winning submission, along with the finalists' works, will be displayed in an exhibition at the National Maritime Museum in London from September 14th.
debtMark Aitken has been working on a photo series in Lapland for the past two years. The Presence of Absence“The work explores the delicate, sometimes eerie, boundary between life and death experienced by people living in this extreme climate and landscape,” he says.
Aitken, who was born in New Zealand, grew up in South Africa and has lived in London for many years, took the photo on a sheep farm this spring. “Kukkola is a small village on the Finnish-Lapland border on the Tornio River close to Sweden. The farm has been running for 20 years and this lamb is one of around 100 born in March and April,” Aitken says.
The lamb doesn’t have a name, but the inquisitive collie does: “He’s a lively young male called Possu, which means piglet. I saw the two animals interacting when I went into the barn to find Jaana, one of the farm owners, and arrange a time to take her portrait.”
Aitken usually shoots on 35mm film and likes to take his time preparing to take a photograph, especially when working with people. “When the right atmosphere, light and mood is achieved, I press the shutter. I like this discipline. This process also applies to printing in the darkroom. Only then does the memory of that moment become associated with the photograph.”
That day, he didn’t have his camera with him, but he did have his iPhone SE, and before his eyes the theme of his series was playing out in a whole new way: “I was amazed and intrigued by the inter-species relationships. The possu were trying to herd the lambs, but they were failing. The lambs hadn’t yet learned fear.”
This tournament Insect Week It showcases the best insect photography by amateurs of all ages, shedding light on the miniature world of insects.
The overall winner of this year’s competition is Luke Chambers from the UK, whose piece “Sleeping Cuckoos” depicts two beautiful cuckoo bees resting on a blade of grass covered with morning dew (scroll down to see it).
The overall winner in the “18 and under” category was 17-year-old Gustaf Pallenmark from Sweden, whose work “Silence” shows a striped damselfly at rest.
The Royal Entomological Society exists to advance the science of insects through research and to increase public understanding and appreciation of insects and the vital role they play in the Earth’s ecosystems.
Here are this year’s fantastic contest winners and some other favourites.
Special Award for Under 18s – Purple Fire
Leaf-cutter wasp (Megachile lagopoda). This species is under threat due to intensive land use. Photo: Gustav Pallenmark
Portrait of Special Praise – Picasso Bug
The aptly named Picasso bug (Sphaerocoris annulus) was photographed in Louiru, Kenya. Photo by Robin Backhouse
Under 18 Runner-up – Robber Fly Breakfast
A spindly-legged centipede fly (Leptarththrus brevirostris) feeds on small insects. Photo by Jamie Smart
Special Award Portrait – Flowers of Evil
European mantis (Mantis religiosa) among cyclamen. Photo by Panagiotis Dalagiorgos
Honorable Mention Portrait – Brown Argus Roosting at Sunrise
A brown argus butterfly (Alicia agastis) warms itself on a stalk of grass as the sun rises, Martin Down, Dorset, UK. Photo by Richard Sheldrake
Particularly praised behavior – mating veins
Two mating Timandra comai moths. Timandra comai moths belong to the Geometridae family. They get their name from the distinctive reddish stripes that run from wing to wing. Photo by Heath McDonald
Specially praised environment – a pair of silverfish
These silverfish (family Bacillarioidea) appear to be stuck together in tiny clay nest structures. Some of their shiny silvery scales are frayed, which may indicate an imminent moult. Photographed in Western Australia. Photo by Frank Ashwood.
Under 18 Winner – Tranquility
A striped male Calopteryx splendens dragonfly photographed in Sweden. Photo by Gustav Pallenmark
Special Smartphone Award – Pollinator
A common Carder’s bumblebee (Bombus pascuorum) collecting pollen from a flower. Photo by Michael Wood
Particularly praised behavior – fatal attraction
A swarm of dead flying ants floats on the surface of a swimming pool. United States. Photo by Rosemary Haleem
Special Award for Under 18s – Camouflage Masters
An Indian praying mantis (Schizocephala bicornis) transforms into a leaf. The color of the mantis and the leaf are almost the same and it is impossible to spot the insect unless it is moving. The mantis’s body was following the veins of the leaf, making it difficult to identify. Photo by Kushaan A Ksheerasagar
Particularly praised behavior – Conopidae column
Male and female red-legged bees (Sicus ferrugineus) nestle after mating. The smaller male guards the female, making sure no other suitors ruin the night. Photo by Luke Chambers
Special Smartphone Award – Wasps join cream teas
A German hornet (Vespula germanica) joins a family enjoying a cream tea at a British cafe. Photo by Abi Batten
Special Smartphone Award – The Moth and the Mountain
A male wolf moth (Saturnia pavonia) rests on the heather on the slopes of Meal Buide. In the background you can see the summit of Stack an Lochaine in the Scottish Highlands. Photographed in Scotland, UK in May 2023. Photo by Marianne Cockburn.
Special Prize Portrait – Centipede
A brown heath robberies (Epitriptus cingulatus) resting on long grass in Droxford, Hampshire, UK. Photo by Stephen Mahy
Particularly rewarded behavior – Junk Bugs
Junk bugs (Chrysopidae) are voracious predators of the insect kingdom, so named because they wear vegetable matter and the exoskeletons of past victims on their backs as part of a complex camouflage to fool predators. Photo by Rosa Dunbar
Special Featured Portrait – The Third Eye
A photo of a velvet wasp (Ichneumonidae) in a moth trap in the UK. Photo by Ben James
2nd place overall – Caddisfly larvae
Spotted sedge caddisfly (Glyphotaelius pellucidus) larvae in a gelatinous egg sac. Taken on a leaf overhanging the water, this image shows newly hatched caddisfly larvae in a clear, gelatinous egg sac. The larvae fall into the water and live as aquatic insects through their larval and pupal stages. Photo by Tim Jonas
Overall Winner – Sleeping Cuckoo
A flying squirrel (Epeolus variegatus) sleeps on a leaf. Morning dew is visible on the surface of its eyes. Photo by Luke Chambers
This humpback whale (with its wide-open jaws and sharp teeth)Melanocetus johnsonii) looks even more terrifying when its internal complexity is revealed. Also known as Johnson’s Deep Sea Monster, this deep sea monster is Solvin Zankl.
This image shows the fish after a lengthy cleaning and staining process to reveal its internal structure. Scientists used digestive enzymes to remove the soft tissues, exposing the bones and collagen, which they then stained. Blue indicates cartilage, and red indicates bone. Not all tissues become transparent during the chemical processing; for example, the black mass (left) is the fish’s stomach.
The technique offers a glimpse inside the anglerfish, from its gills to its two fearsomely impressive pairs of jaws. It’s just one of the incredible adaptations that have evolved in this deep-sea species, Zankl says. But don’t worry: Females, like the one shown here, can grow to about 153 millimeters in length, while males are just 28 millimeters.
This fish lives at depths of about 900 metres in tropical oceans. The specimen was collected from the Benguela upwelling system, a very fertile deep water area of the South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of South Africa and Namibia, during a research expedition to document the wildlife in the region.
Zankl says working with scientists allows him to visit places that are normally inaccessible, because photographing the deep sea is a huge challenge. Documenting these organisms can shed light on their ecology and broader ecological processes in fragile ecosystems, he says.
Maltese artists at the 60th Venice Biennale Matthew Attard Through the prism of AI-driven technology, we address our nation's maritime heritage, along with concepts of faith and progress. His work focuses on images of ships graffitied by sailors on the stone facades of Maltese chapels from the 16th century to his 19th century, one of his is pictured below.
Boat graffiti in the Chapel of the Visitation of Our Lady in Weed Kilda, Malta
Elise Tonna
Attard, pictured below, used his line of sight to follow notches in the ship's hull, rigging, and billowing sails, a process facilitated by line-of-sight trackers and generative algorithms. “This line of sight was converted by technology into data points, which were further interpreted to produce lines and drawings,” he says.
A database of digital images generated from the data points captured the sculpture from different perspectives, from which works of art such as 3D scans and video works were created.
Matthew Attard wearing an eye tracking device.
Elise Tonna
Marine graffiti resonates with cultures where the relationship with the sea has been and continues to be important, and ships remain a metaphor for hope and survival. Similarly, the Maltese chapels have long been sanctuaries. Attard said he wanted to explore “parallels to the current 'blind faith' in digital technology.”
A reinterpretation of his etching is the impression of a ghostly skeleton, as shown in the main image. “Some would argue that even the most traditional mediums, such as pencil or charcoal, can be considered a form of drawing technique,” he points out. His exhibition, commissioned by the Malta Arts Council, will run at the Malta Pavilion at the Venice Biennale in Italy until 24 November.
A new image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope shows a jet emerging from the cocoon of the multistar system FS Tau.
This Hubble image shows the multistar system FS Tau about 450 light-years away in the constellation Taurus. Image credit: NASA / ESA / K. Stapelfeldt, NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory / Gladys Kober, NASA / Catholic University.
FS Tau It is located about 450 light years away in the constellation Taurus.
The system is part of the Taurus-Auriga region, a collection of dark molecular clouds that is home to many newly formed young stars.
FS Tau, also known as HH 157 or TIC 58437437, is only about 2.8 million years old, making it an extremely young star system.
FS Tau is a multi-star system consisting of FS Tau A, a bright star-like object near the center of the image, and FS Tau B, a bright object on the far right hidden by a dark vertical dust lane. ''' said the Hubble astronomer.
“The young object is surrounded by gently illuminated gas and dust in this stellar nursery.”
“FS Tau B is a protostar surrounded by a protoplanetary disk. A protoplanetary disk is a pancake-like collection of dust and gas left over from star formation that eventually coalesces to form a planet. It will be.”
“A thick lane of dust seen almost head-on separates what is believed to be the illuminated surface of the flared disk.”
“FS Tau B is probably T TauriAlthough nuclear fusion has not yet begun, it is a type of young variable star that is beginning to evolve into a hydrogen-fueled star similar to the Sun. ”
“Protostars glow because of the thermal energy released when the gas clouds from which they formed collapse, and from the accretion of material from nearby gas and dust.”
“Variable stars are a type of star whose brightness changes significantly over time.”
“FS Tau A itself is a Tauri T binary system, consisting of two stars orbiting each other,” the researchers added.
“Protostars are known to emit fast-moving columns of energetic material called jets, and FS Tau B provides a striking example of this phenomenon.”
“Protostars are the source of the unusual, asymmetric, double-sided jets that appear blue here.”
“Their asymmetric structure may be due to differences in the rate at which mass is ejected from the object.”
“Herbig halo objects form when jets of ionized gas emitted by young stars collide at high speed with nearby clouds of gas and dust, forming bright nebular patches.”
The history of science is filled with moments of discovery, those “Eureka” moments when a theory is proven or a breakthrough is achieved. The latest image competition at Great Ormond Street Hospital, titled ‘A Moment of Discovery’, celebrates these breakthroughs.
Staff from Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (GOSH) and its partners have submitted images capturing significant milestones in research. The public voted on the three most popular images shortlisted by a panel of experts via social media.
The shortlisted images range from colorful micrographs to cartoon illustrations, offering a glimpse into the research conducted at GOSH. It is hoped that this research will lead to new treatments for rare and complex conditions, transforming the lives of children and young people with serious illnesses.
The winning image, taken by PhD student Giada Benedetti at the Zayed Pediatric Rare Disease Research Center (ZCR), shows exploding intestinal organoids revealing their inner workings.
Organoids are small three-dimensional tissue cultures derived from stem cells that can mimic different organs like the heart and liver in the human body.
In honor of Rare Disease Day on February 29, all winning and shortlisted images will be displayed at an event at the Zayed Pediatric Rare Disease Research Center.
Selected as a finalist – my lungs are on fire
These lung “mini-organs,” or organoids, were grown from stem cells to replicate the complexity of lungs. The image showcases cell nuclei in blue, cell membranes in red, and moving hair-like structures called cilia in yellow/orange. Photo courtesy of Giuseppe Cala at GOSH.
Shortlist – Active Glial Cells
The image showcases nerve helper cells, known as glial cells, with long fibrous structures that transport nutrients and oxygen to surrounding nerve cells. Photo courtesy of Lucien Bonfante at GOSH.
Finalist – Light of Life
The image shows the spinal cord of a zebrafish embryo with different neurons generated through asymmetric division. Photo courtesy of Atachapon Theppichaiyanond at GOSH.
Lunar New Year is celebrated around the world, and the phases of the moon, not the calendar, mark the beginning of 2024. This year's Chinese New Year was on his February 10th.
Chinese New Year is based on the lunisolar calendar, and the year begins when the second new moon (following the winter solstice) marks the beginning of the new year. This day is considered one of the most important days in Chinese culture, and families gather together to celebrate and eat together.
This year is the Year of the Dragon, the fifth of the 12-year animal cycle in the Chinese calendar. People born in the year of the Dragon are believed to have more power, luck, and success than other animals, so China tends to have more lunar birthdays.
However, Lunar New Year is not only celebrated in China. Here's how people around the world rated this event.
Wuhan, China
Children touch a traditional dragon head to pray for blessings after a performance on the second night of the Spring Festival in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, February 11, 2024.Photo courtesy: Getty Images
Seoul, South Korea
Korean performers wearing traditional costumes participate in traditional games to pray for good luck during the Lunar New Year at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul, South Korea, on February 11, 2024. Korean people travel from big cities to their hometowns during the Lunar New Year holiday to pay respects to the spirits of their ancestors.Photo provided by: Jung Sung-joon/Getty Images
london, united kingdom
Costumed performers entertain the audience at the 2024 Chinese New Year Dragon Parade in London, England. Photo credit: Loredana Sangiuliano/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
Hong Kong
People enjoy fireworks at Golden Bauhinia Square in Hong Kong on February 11, 2024, the second day of Lunar New Year. Hong Kong celebrated Lunar New Year with a huge fireworks show at Victoria Harbour. Photo provided by: Hou Yu/China News Service/VCG/Getty Images
Undefined
Yen Bai, Vietnam
A couple in traditional costumes dance to celebrate Vietnamese New Year, or Tet, in Yen Bai province, northern Vietnam, February 12, 2024. Photo by Nhac Nguyen/AFP/Getty Images
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bangkok, thailand
Thai and Chinese people pray for good luck with incense sticks at a Chinese temple during Lunar New Year celebrations on February 10, 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. Photo credit: Anusak Laowilas/NurPhoto/Getty Images
madrid, spain
Women in traditional costumes celebrate the Lunar New Year parade in the Usera neighborhood of Madrid, Spain. The Chinese community celebrated the beginning of the Year of the Dragon with a traditional parade along with the Spanish people. Photo credit: Marcos del Mazo/LightRocket/Getty Images
Singapore
People watch as a pair of dragons formed by 1,500 drones rise into the sky at the Marina Bay Sands waterfront in Singapore on February 11, 2024. The show is called “The Legend of Dragon Gate” and is performed as part of the Lunar New Year celebrations. Photo credit: Suhaimi Abdullah/NurPhoto/Getty Images
Gauteng, South Africa
Children in traditional costumes celebrate the Lunar New Year and the arrival of the Year of the Dragon at the South Chinese Buddhist Temple in Bronkhorstspruit, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa, February 11, 2024. Photo by Ihsaan Haffejee/Anadolu/Getty Images
Beijing, China
People try to touch a dragon during a performance at a temple fair on February 11, 2024, on the second day of the Lunar New Year in Beijing, China. Photo by Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images
Qingdao, China
Front view of tourists enjoying colorful lanterns at the Golden Beach Beer City Lantern Fair in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China on February 11, 2024. Photo credit: Zhang Jingang/VCG/Getty Images
toronto, canada
Performers dance during the Lunar New Year celebration at Chinatown Center in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, February 11, 2024. Photo by Mike Campbell/NurPhoto/Getty Images
These exquisite images show starlings swirling and swooping to create dramatic cloud-like flocks known as murmurs.Photographer Seiren SolcareBest known for his portraits of Björk and Paul McCartney, these are from his new photo collection.
As a child growing up in southern Denmark near the Wadden Sea, Solker was fascinated by the murmurs of starlings. Returning several years later, he witnessed large flocks of these birds being attacked by peregrine falcons. “The shapes and formations the flock created to ward off attacking birds of prey amazed me. They were beautiful and dramatic, like ink paintings or calligraphy,” he says.
Black Sun #50
Seiren Solcare
After three years of photographing the phenomenon known as the “black sun” in Denmark, he expanded the project to other parts of Europe. What is shown in the main image is Black Sun #145, photographed over Rome's Piazza Venezia from a nearby rooftop. Moving clockwise, Black Sun #50, The top photo was taken in Glastonbury, England, and the bottom photo was taken in Glastonbury, England. Black Sun #230taken early one morning on the Italian island of Sardinia, as the birds were leaving their roost.
Black Sun #230
Seiren Solcare
“I believe that patterns in nature speak to us as humans on a deep and universal level,” Solkar says. “Experiencing these pure forms creates joy and recognition. To me, they seem to form a kind of language that many people can relate to. We want to inspire a deeper connection with ourselves.”
These images are featured in his new book starlingIt is a sequel. black sun. Solkær's photo is National Nordic MuseumSeattle, through March 10.
In the deep waters surrounding Romblon Island in the Philippines, a small translucent moray eel larva spins its body into the shape of a heart. Photographer Liang Hu took this magical photo 28 meters below the water's surface during a night dive.Pictured are some of our latest winners Close-up Photographer of the Year competition.
“I was so lucky to be able to capture this moment on camera,” Fu said in a statement. “The eel stayed at that depth for less than 10 seconds before swimming down and disappearing into the darkness.”
Slime mold with an ice crown
Barry Webb | Cupoty.com
Another winning image shows a gorgeous ice cap resting on a miniature slime mold (Didymium Squamrosum) grows on the forest floor at Hodgemoor, Buckinghamshire, England. Barry Webb's shot won the top prize in the fungi and slime mold category of the competition.
Nuthatch flying between trees
Csaba Darozzi | Cupoty.com
When I looked up at the sky, I saw a nuthatch (Citta Europaea) is flying among the trees in the Hungarian forest. These small, short-tailed birds are found throughout Europe and can be identified by their long blue bills, black eye stripes, and bluish-gray upper body. To take this photo, photographer Csaba Darozzi placed her GoPro camera inside a hollow tree stump and placed a sunflower nearby to lure wildlife.
A flycatcher catches a leafhopper
Peter Grob | Cupoty.com
Peter Grob's vivid photo shows the grasshopper, named for its extraordinary predation skills, about to lunge at an unlucky leafhopper. Mr. Grob, who works in airport security, came across the scene of a violent crime when he visited Penang Island in Malaysia.
fairy shrimp eggs
René Krekels/cupoty.com
The dazzling, colorful eggs of a female fairy shrimp can be seen in this close-up photo taken by German biologist René Krekels. This marine creature can be found in seasonal wetlands and highly saline lakes around the world, from the world's hottest deserts to the frigid climates of Antarctica. Fairy shrimp take 18 days to mature from hatching and have a lifespan of only a few months.
Cross section of European beachgrass leaves
Gerhard Vlcek/cupoty.com
Gerhard Vlczek captured a fluorescent cross-section of European beach glass (Ammophila arenaria) through a microscope. The bright orange-red tubes are vascular bundles that transport food and water through the grass and encase the green tissue. In this shot, Vlcek sliced
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) helped make 2023 the year of amazing space images. But this groundbreaking telescope wasn’t the only source of visual wonder. A series of new missions are sending back photos from space, and the view from Earth isn’t bad either. Here are 6 photos that surprised us the most.
The star in the photo above was captured by JWST as it prepared to explode. It’s called WR 124 and has about 30 times the mass of the Sun. When a star that large runs out of hydrogen to burn in its core, heavier elements begin to fuse together. This fusion creates a powerful burst of energy, sending gusts of wind at speeds of millions of kilometers per hour. When these powerful winds strip away the outer layers of a star, it becomes a star known as a Wolf-Rayet star. It will explode as a supernova within a few million years after it peels off. The purple spots in this photo are clouds of dust and gas that were the outer layer of WR 124. It has already lost about 10 times the mass of the Sun. If these layers are not intact, it is doomed to explode into a supernova.
Solar tornado seen from Earth
Andrew McCarthy and Jason Guenzel
Then we have the tallest solar tornado ever recorded (above). The event occurred on March 14, when the rotation of the sun’s magnetic field stirred up plasma near the north pole. This feature rose above the surface of the Sun, and the giant flare reached a height of 178,000 kilometers, or nearly 14 times the diameter of Earth. This image is the result of a careful collaboration between astrophotographers Jason Genzel and Andrew McCarthy. They used high-speed cameras to record the event, and it took him five days and 90,000 individual shots to create the photos. The sun appears furry in this image because it is covered in millions of stirring geysers of plasma, each lasting only a few minutes.
Herbig Halo 211 captured by JWST
ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, Tom Ray (Dublin)
This bright explosion (above) reveals the newborn star’s incredible supersonic jet. These result in what are known as Herbig-Haro objects. The star itself is hidden within the dark cloud of gas from which it formed, but when jets erupt from its
ides, they collide with surrounding gas and dust, creating huge shock waves that cause them to glow. This particular object, called Helbig Halo 211, is located in the constellation Perseus, about 1000 light-years from Earth.
Jupiter’s moon Io
NASA/JPL-California Institute of Technology/SwRI/MSSS/Brian Swift/CC BY
Return to our solar system and proceed to Jupiter’s moon Io (above). In October, NASA’s Juno spacecraft flew just 7,000 miles (11,645 kilometers) above the moon’s surface, capturing this amazing image of it passing by. This is one of the best photos of Io ever taken, with enough detail to show the shadows of some of the giant volcanoes.
India’s Vikram lander lands on the moon as part of Chandrayaan-3 mission
Isro
And to our moon. On August 23, India’s Chandrayaan-3 mission landed near the moon’s south pole for the first time. This photo (above) of the Vikram lander landing on the moon was taken by the mission’s Pragyan rover a week later. The study of the moon’s south pole, initiated by Chandrayaan-3, is particularly important because of the large amount of ice there, which could help in future human exploration and the establishment of a permanent lunar base.
Comet Nishimura as seen by an amateur astronomer
Javier Zayas/Moment RF/Getty Images
Our final images become more ephemeral. Above is Comet Nishimura, which shows a striped pattern in the night sky as seen from Earth. Two rare green comets made a dramatic appearance in the sky this year. First, in early February, comet C/2022 E3 approached Earth for the first time in 50,000 years. Then, in August, amateur astronomer Hideo Nishimura discovered another comet (now named after him) that remained visible for about two months. These comets appear green because the gas surrounding their rocky core contains diatomic carbon. Diatomic carbon is a relatively rare substance consisting of a pair of bonded carbon atoms. Make the most of your images of Comet Nishimura now. The comet takes about 437 years to orbit the Sun, so it won’t be seen again until the 25th century.
This spotted hyena (Crokuta Crokuta) is a natural in front of the camera, while its mother and siblings watch closely in the background. This playful shot was taken by Wim van den Heever in Amboseli National Park in southern Kenya.
Southern Stingray
As the sun rises over the coast of the Cayman Islands, southern rays (Dashatis Americana) are captured in this striking split-level snap by the photographer, Alex Mustard, as they wander on a sandy beach.
Slug Sucking Sap
A brightly fluorescent animal known as the sap-sucking slug (Costasiella crocimae) is captured by Mustard, crawling on green algae just off the coast of northern Indonesia. This sea slug has a special ability to preserve the chloroplasts of the algae they feed on, allowing them to photosynthesize.
Eurasian Brown Bear
Deep in the forests of Finland, Andy Rouse took an action shot of a Eurasian brown bear (Ursus Arctos Arctos) after a short soak in the pond, the body trembles dry. These mammals can weigh up to 480 kilograms and are common in Eastern Europe and Russia.
Spotted Fritillary Larva
In the grasslands of the Rhodope Mountains in Bulgaria, Guy Edwards took a colorful photo of a spotted fritillary (Melitaea Didyma) larvae. It eventually transforms into a butterfly, its wings becoming bright orange with brown spots.
White Winged Snowfinch
The majestic white-winged snowfinch (Montifringilla Nivalis) is captured braving a snowstorm in the Swiss Alps by Mateusz Piesiak. It is a relatively large and sturdy bird, reaching up to 19 centimeters in height.
Fruit Bat
This bewildered fruit bat has its nose and throat swabbed as part of an effort in the Republic of Congo to better understand how zoonotic diseases such as Ebola are transmitted to people. Researchers from the Wildlife Conservation Society and Congo Medical Research Foundation collected blood and saliva samples from about 100 fruit bats.
Chimpanzees at a zoo were shown photos of old group members to test their memory.
Johns Hopkins University
Bonobos and chimpanzees appear to be able to recognize photos of former group members, even animals they haven’t seen in over 20 years. This means that these apes have the longest social memory of any non-human animal.
Great apes such as gorillas, chimpanzees, and bonobos are known to have impressive memories. For example, some chimpanzees The exact location of a particular fruit tree In the forest, predict what will happen next in a previously seen movie. The researchers also found hints that great apes have long-term memories of individuals.
“When we went back to great ape populations that we had studied in the past, we noticed that they seemed to recognize and remember us,” he says. laura lewis at the University of California, Berkeley.
To investigate how long this social memory lasts in great apes, Lewis and her colleagues tested 12 bonobos and 15 chimpanzees living in zoos in the UK, Japan, and Belgium.
For each animal, the researchers flashed side-by-side photos of two different great apes on a screen for three seconds. One of the photos was of a monkey that had been living with them for at least a year, and the other was of a stranger.
Using eye-tracking technology, the researchers found that all participants looked on average about a quarter of a second longer at images of former group members than at images of strangers. As zookeepers say, former co-workers with whom they had a good relationship stay in the picture even longer.
This finding shows that these apes remember their acquaintances even after long periods of time. “It’s not that different from walking down the street in a big city and unexpectedly running into someone you went to school with and doing a double take,” team members say. Christopher Krupenier at Johns Hopkins University in Maryland.
In the most extreme case, a bonobo called Louise appeared to recognize her sister Loretta and nephew Erin after being separated for more than 26 years.
“This is the longest long-term social memory ever recorded in a non-human animal,” Lewis said.
Up-and-coming social app BeReal continues to attract users’ attention by adding more and more bells and whistles. next week, Bereal is rolling out two major new features: Behind the Scenes and RealGroups. Behind the Scenes is an iOS Live Photo-like feature that shows you a few seconds of video recorded just before you take the photo. RealGroups lets you share BeReal with a small group of friends and allows you to send messages directly within that group.
Behind the Scenes (BTS) is an opt-in feature that borrows a lot in UX from the way Apple set up Live Photos on the iPhone. When your friend enables her BTS and posts her BeReal, you will see a Live Photo symbol in the top corner of the image. If you press and hold this, you can watch a few seconds of video leading up to the BeReal photo.
The app is designed to connect you with your already close friends as it asks you to share your front and back camera photos at random times every day. You won’t be able to see other people’s posts unless you create her own BeReal posts. BeReals tend to be more unfiltered and — Because I can’t find any better words — It’s real, because you’re being prompted to take a photo at an unknown time (but if you get a notification to post while you’re in the bathroom… you might just post late). But now, BeReal is creating an experience for even closer friends. Start a RealGroup to share your BeReals more privately. To sweeten the deal, group admins will now be able to choose when daily notifications are sent. You can also DM BeReals within the group, but a group chat is also available. This is likely to be used to anger administrators who have chosen an inappropriate “BeReal time.” However, he can only belong to two groups, so choose carefully.
“Going off to college and missing your close friends from home? Create a RealGroup to stay close, share your dorm life adventures, see what’s going on at home, and stay connected no matter how far away you are.” Stay close to me even when you are away!!” BeReal wrote in a blog post.
BeReal is now on the brink of life or death. Will apps survive the hype cycle or will they fade away? According to Pew’s annual survey on teens and social media. 13% of US teens ages 13 to 17 have used BeReal. However, BeReal has rejected data from external sources in the past. In September, app analytics company Similarweb told TechCrunch that BeReal has about 16 million monthly active users (MAUs), including about 3 million in the United States. However, Apptopia told TechCrunch that BeReal’s MAU in 2023 was at its highest in October at 8.73 million, and at its lowest in February at 7.96 million. BeReal itself reports that in April it had 20 million daily active users worldwide, and in September it had 25 million daily active users.
Although the app was relatively stagnant at first, BeReal has rolled out a ton of new features, including messaging, the ability to post more photos, Spotify integration, and a “friends of friends” discovery feed. . Soon, the app will add his 2023 Year in Review feature and tagging, making it easy to repost tagged content, similar to Instagram.
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