This February 7, 2018, photo shows João Lousada, a flight controller for the International Space Station, wearing an experimental space suit during a simulation of a future Mars mission in the Dhofar desert of southern Oman. The desolate desert in southern Oman resembles Mars so much that more than 200 scientists from 25 nations organized by the Austrian Space Forum are using it for the next four weeks to field-test technology for a manned mission to Mars. (Photo by Sam McNeil/AP Photo)

Beautiful, strange and occasionally alarming pictures from the shortlist for this year’s Wellcome image awards – which celebrate the very best in science photography and imaging – from an x-ray of a bat to a micrograph of a kidney stone. The exhibition opens on 12 March at three science centres and the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester. Photo: Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of an Arabidopsis thaliana flower, also commonly known as thale cress. Some of the anthers are open, revealing pollen grains ready for dispersal. Arabidopsis was the first plant to have its entire genome sequenced and is widely used as a model organism in molecular and plant biology. Horizontal width of image is 1200 microns. Magnification 100x. (Photo by Stefan Eberhard/Wellcome Images)

Early morning swimmers at Cullercoats Bay on the north east coast of England on Sunday, December 29, 2024. (Photo by Owen Humphreys/PA Images via Getty Images)

The Boeing 747-8 cargo plane pilot has seen thunderstorms, shooting stars and sunsets from up above the clouds and has looked down on mountaintops, carpets of cloud and cities lit up at night. The incredible pictures give a glimpse of the view from the pilots are treated to every day. Here: Shooting stars over India. (Photo by Christiaan van Heijst/Caters News Agency)

Oscars “Super Fan” Vivianne Robinson wearing Hollywood-themed attire, is pictured near the red carpet arrivals area, ahead of the 95th Academy Awards, in Hollywood, California, on March 10, 2023. The red carpet for the Oscars airing on March 12, 2023, is champagne-color for 2023. (Photo by Stefani Reynolds/AFP Photo)

“The Glimmer Twins”, a statue of Rolling Stones Sir Mick Jagger and Keith Richards created by sculptor Amy Goodman (centre), is unveiled at One Bell Corner in Dartford, Essex, UK on Wednesday, August 9, 2023. The statue has been commissioned by Dartford Borough Council to celebrate two of the town's most famous former residents. (Photo by Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)

Humanoid robots perform at the World Robot Conference 2023 in Beijing, capital of China on August 16, 2023. The World Robot Conference 2023 opened here Wednesday, showcasing cutting-edge achievements and the latest robot industry exhibits. (Photo by Wang Yuguo/Xinhua/Alamy Live News)

A motorcyclist ferries a pillion rider sitting on goods in Phnom Penh on June 6, 2017. (Photo by Tang Chhin Sothy/AFP Photo)