Harry Sprinkle eats a meal at St. John's Bread and Life, a free meal service, on December 23, 2011 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City. St. John's Bread and Life serves approximately 2,200 meals per day; the organization has existed since 1982. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images)

“Microscope images forge an extraordinary bond between science and art, said Hidenao Tsuchiya, Olympus America's Vice President and General Manager for the Scientific Equipment Group. We founded this competition to focus on the fascinating stories coming out of today's life science research laboratories. The thousands of images that people have shared with the competition over the years reflect some of the most exciting work going on in research today – work that can help shed light on the living universe and ultimately save lives. We look at BioScapes and these beautiful images as sources of education and inspiration to us and the world”. – OlympusBioScapes

Photo: Pretarsus of the third leg of a female drone fly (Eristalis tenax), ventral view, by Dr. Jan Michels, Institute of Zoology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Germany. (Photo by Olympus BioScapes)

Models Felicia Verna and Crystal Boyd wearing Stacey Angela during the Fallen Hearts Fashion Experience at Symphony Space on May 31, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Jemal Countess/Getty Images)

Models present creation for the 7th Hosa Cup China Swimwear Design contest and Hosa Swimwear Trend fashion show on day five of China Fashion Week A/W 2011 on March 28, 2011 in Beijing, China (Photo by Feng Li/Getty Images)

A model showcases designs by Antonia Paris during the Women's RTW 3 catwalk during Rosemount Australian Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2011/12 at Overseas Passenger Terminal on May 5, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Stefan Gosatti/Getty Images)

A model showcases designs by Isola by Megan Gale on the catwalk at the David Jones Spring/Summer 2011 season launch at the Royal Hall of Industries, Moore Park on August 3, 2011 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images)

A reveller is covered in tomato pulp and juice while participating in the annual Tomatina festival on August 31, 2011 in Bunol, Spain. An estimated 35,000 people threw 120 tons of ripe tomatoes in the world's biggest tomato fight held annually in this Spanish Mediterranean town. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Tom Palmer, the England lock, dives off at the 134 meter high Nevis Bungy jump during an England IRB Rugby World Cup 2011 team visit on September 12, 2011 in Queenstown, New Zealand. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)