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)

Three-month old cheetah cubs make their public debut at the Smithsonian National Zoo on July 24, 2012 in Washington, DC. (Photo by T.J. Kirkpatrick)

“George Stubbs (25 August 1724 – 10 July 1806) was an English painter, best known for his paintings of horses”. – Wikipedia

Photo: LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 06: Christie's employees stand beside a painting entitled “Gimcrack on Newmarket Heath, with a Trainer, a Stable-Lad, and a Jockey” by George Stubbs on April 6, 2011 in London, England. The painting is expected to sell for in excess of £20M GBP, making it one of the most expensive Old Master paintings ever sold at auction when it goes on sale at the 'Old Masters and British paintings evening sale' at Christie's auction house on July 5, 2011. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

Four-year-old Chinese boy Huang Yang plays with five-year-old beluga whale Xiao Xin at the Qingdao Ocean World on November 3, 2007 in Qingdao of Shandong Province, China. Huang Yang began swimming as a baby and fell in love with the whale after watching its performance. On the International Children's Day, June 1 this year, the Qingdao Ocean World has made the boy's dream come true when they allowed Huang Yang to swim with the beluga whale. (Photo by China Photos/Getty Images)

Extraordinary tales of everyday heroism have been illustrated beautifully by renowned US photographer Steve McCurry in the new 2015 Lavazza Calendar. The calendar which has been created in collaboration with the Slow Food movement, features twelve breathtaking pictures, capturing the spirit, strength and humanity of the Earth Defenders – women and men who protect their land and projects in Africa with passion and bravery. The proceeds from sales of the calendar and all donations will be contributed entirely to create 10,000 food gardens in African schools and villages by the end of 2016. (Photo by Steve McCurry/2015 Lavazza Calendar)

Hailey Hanestad thinks nothing about nuzzling up to the animal, called Wiley, and even dozes off with him on her bed. Wiley has been a treasured member of the family since being rescued by Hailey's dad, Rick, three years ago. Today he's thought to be just one of two coyotes in the US that have become domesticated after being born in the wild. Photo: Coyote Wiley sniffs Hailey, 8, at their home. (Photo by Barcroft Media)

On July 7, Chinese archaeologists from the Academy of Social Sciences announced that they have reconstituted a 5,300-year-old Mongolion pottery statue found at a relic site in North China, according to Xinhua news agency.

Northern Lynx kittens, explore their enclosure at the Highland Wildlife park on October 9, 2012 in Kingussie, Scotland. The feline twins are believed to be the type of lynx found historically in Scotland. The Highland Wildlife Park specialises in Scottish animal species, both past and present, and species that are well adapted to cold weather. (Photo by Jeff J. Mitchell)