Lopez Cardona of Cuba and Oleksandr Khyzhniak of Ukraine appear inseparable in the 80kg semi-final on August 4, 2024, but it was Khyzhniak who progressed to the final. (Photo by Peter Cziborra/Reuters)

The land-robot “teleMAX” of German company telerob stands next to soldiers during a trial at the German army base on May 18, 2010 in Hammelburg, Germany. ELROB provides an overview of the current state of affairs in European unmanned system technology and to evaluate commercial off-the-shelf products for military use. It is to show what is feasible in robotics, to support technological developments in Europe, and to find solutions for the current military challenges. (Photo by Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images)

Vancouver B.C. April 20, 2014 Big Day to celebrate as thousand gathered in front of Vancouver Art Gallery to take part in the 420 Marijuana smoke in here in Vancouver on April 20, 2014. Here lots of free “joints” ready for the big moment. (Photo by Mark van Manen/PNG Staff Photographer/Ian Austin Province News/Vancouver Sun News & Web stories)

Getting her tongue pierced was “exciting and scary” says a teen who succumbed to pressure from her best friend in Austin, Texas, February 22, 2008. This image is featured in National Geographic's exhibition “Women of Vision: National Geographic Photographers on Assignment”, on view at the Palm Beach Photographic Centre, Jan. 22 - Mar. 22, 2015. (Photo by Kitra Cahana/National Geographic)

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and these striking images of 2017 are no exception. The photo highlights include incredible snapshots of the natural world as well as some awesome animal and human encounters. The vibrant gallery also shows thrill-seekers pushing themselves to the limit with breathtaking stunts captured in perfect clarity. The pictures have been taken by a host of photographers from around the world. Here: The two lion cubs singing their hearts out at Antelope park in Zimbabwe. (Photo by David Jenkins/Caters News Agency)

A pilgrim crawls in front of the Navy band outside the Holy Church of Panagia of Tinos, on the Aegean island of Tinos, Greece, on Saturday, August 15, 2020. For nearly 200 years, Greek Orthodox faithful have flocked to Tinos for the August 15 feast day of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, the most revered religious holiday in the Orthodox calendar after Easter. But this year there was no procession, the ceremony – like so many lives across the globe – upended by the coronavirus pandemic. (Photo by Thanassis Stavrakis/AP Photo)

Brave slackliners have been pictured walking the ropes above Rio de Janeiro, Brazil on August 15, 2016, with the half a mile drop showing the city in all its glory. The stunning shots show the daredevils tread across an eighty-two-foot-long high line on Pedra da Gvea mountain with an amazing sunrise illuminating the city landscape behind. (Photo by Rafael Moura/Caters News Agency)

A woman surveys the damage after the earthquake on March 17, 2011 in Kensennuma, Japan. Residents were allowed back to their homes today and began the massive cleanup operation caused by a 9.0 magnitude strong earthquake that struck on March 11 off the coast of north-eastern Japan. The quake triggered a tsunami wave of up to 10 metres which engulfed large parts of north-eastern Japan. The death toll has risen past 5000 with at least 8600 people still missing. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)