First place, The Beauty of Plants. “There are many stages of lotus growth on display at the Aquatic Gardens, but to come across twotwisted dancing stems of nelumbo nucifera was unexpected and quite magical”. (Photo by Kathleen Furey/The Guardian)

Passengers wear protective masks while riding a subway train on April 21, 2020 in Shanghai, China. Health authorities of China said the country has passed the peak of the COVID-19 epidemic on March 12. As of today, the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has spread to many countries across the world, claiming over 171,000 lives and infecting over 2.4 million people. (Photo by Yves Dean/Getty Images)

Skywhale and Skywhalepapa, created by artist Patricia Piccinini before flying over Melbourne on March 19, 2022 in Melbourne, Australia. It is the first time Piccinini's work Skywhales: Every Heart Sings has flown over Melbourne, as part of MPavilion. (Photo by Asanka Ratnayake/Getty Images)

Newcastle United's Fabian Schar and Southampton's Ben Brereton Diaz butt heads before Schar was sent off during the Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Southampton FC at St James' Park on August 17, 2024 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by Scott Heppell/Reuters)

People in costume as a Minecraft bee (left) and Crying Child from Fright Night at Freddy's 4 (right) at the Sheffield Anime & Gaming Con at the Mercure Sheffield in London on Sunday, September 17, 2023. (Photo by Danny Lawson/PA Images via Getty Images)

A child reacts as people attend a protest organized to celebrate the announcement of the ceasefire in Gaza,at Yarmouk camp in Damascus, Syria on January 17, 2025. (Photo by Yamam Al Shaar/Reuters)

The Chinese-flagged cargo ship Yu Zhou Qi Hang, which ran aground near Yehliu Geopark as a result of rough weather relating to typhoon Kong-rey, is seen in Yehliu on November 1, 2024. Taiwan on November 1 raced to remove 284 tonnes of oil from the Chinese carrier that ran aground off the island after losing power in rough seas as Typhoon Kong-rey neared. (Photo by I-Hwa Cheng/AFP Photo)

Dance artist HorsegiirL poses at the BRIT Awards at the O2 Arena in London, Britain, on March 1, 2025. (Photo Isabel Infantesby/Reuters)