Ukrainian artists assemble a barbecue grill in the shape of Moscow's Kremlin at their workshop in Kiev May 14, 2015. A group of Ukrainian artists are working on a project entitled “Mordor on Fire” where they create grills that are sold, and some donated to Ukrainian soldiers in the eastern conflict zone. (Photo by Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

People will spout about impermanence of digital records, but books are really fragile, too. Alexis Arnold from San Francisco wanted to illustrate that with her project The Crystallized Book: collecting books and growing Borax crystals on them. Books range from literature classics to magazines, and there’s even a mysterious and arcane tome called “Linux: The Complete Manual”.

Members of the Bavarian police and the Bundeswehr, the German armed forces, guard a vehicle checkpoint as they demonstrate a dynamic operation as part of the GETEX anti-terror exercises during a media event on March 9, 2017 in Murnau, Germany. (Photo by Philipp Guelland/Getty Images)

A wounded protester is seen after security forces intervene in protesters during a protest against military coup and detention of elected government members in Mandalay, Myanmar on March 27, 2021. (Photo by Stringer/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

“These incredible shots show the stunning formations of an iceberg beneath the surface of the ocean. Taken in Tasiilaq, Greenland, by Franco Banfi, the underwater photography captures the beauty of these ice mountains beneath the ocean’s surface. In some of the photos, divers are swimming around an iceberg under the frozen water, while other images show some of the weird and wonderful creatures you can encounter in that part of the ocean”. (Photo by Franco Banfi/Caters News Agency)

Weimaraner with his owner enjoys riding on a Vespa in Belgrade on April 19, 2025. (Photo by Milan Maricic/ATAImages)

This undated handout picture made available on February 3, 2016 and provided by Russia's punk band Рussy Riot shows Рussy Riot frontwoman Nadezhda Tolokonnikova performing in the band's new music video titled “Chaika” in Moscow. Russian punk band Рussy Riot, which became a symbol of resistance for a church performance slamming President Vladimir Putin, released a new protest song on February 3 mocking a senior official for alleged corruption. Titled “Chaika”, the satirical song and accompanying video take aim at prosecutor general Yury Chaika, whose two sons have been accused of using their father's position to accrue large fortunes. (Photo by Andrey Noskov/AFP Photo/Russian Punk Band Рussy Riot)

Some are in it just for the money, others to help buy a meal. Then there are those who trade for fun or to spend time among friends. Millions of investors – pensioners, security guards, high-school students – dominate China's stock markets, conducting about 80 percent of all trades. Retirees gather in brokerage houses dotted around China also to enjoy some company and savour the air conditioning on hot days. Some start as young as 13, trading from home with an eye on future careers in finance. Winning isn't guaranteed. This year, among the most turbulent in China's financial history, its stock markets more than doubled in the six months to May, only to crash amid concerns that growth in the country, which makes everything from cars to steel, is slowing faster than previously thought. (Photo by Aly Song/Reuters)