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)

Betty Bachz is seen outside of the Furla store launch party on February 2, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by FameFlynet)

A man rides a horse at a playground on a hill in Kabul April 19, 2015. (Photo by Mohammad Ismail/Reuters)

Mazda Motor introduces the company's concept vehicle, Taiki during the press day of the 40th Tokyo Motor Show at Makuhari Messe, on October 24, 2007 in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)

Judy, a black collie whose owner was killed by a train when trying to retrieve her after she slipped her lead. (Photo by Evening Standard/Getty Images). 17th December 1976

Entertainers from the She Huo cultural troupe rehearse for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Redford barracks on August 5, 2009 in Edinburgh, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

A white lipizzaner Stallion performs during the Spanish Riding School of Vienna Gala Performance at Wembley Arena on November 24, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Triumph International's lingere set of bra and underwear come with a lock attached to the shorts and a key for the woman to give the key to her beloved on November 24, 2004 in Tokyo, Japan. (Photo by Koichi Kamoshida/Getty Images)