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)

People rollerblade along the beach a day before renewed restrictions due to a surge of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) cases in Los Angeles, California, U.S. November 29, 2020. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Reuters)

Secondary school graduates play in a fountain as they celebrate the last day of school, traditionally called the “last bell” in central Kiev, Ukraine on May 31, 2019. (Photo by Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters)

Festival goers arrive for the Glastonbury festival at Worthy Farm, in Somerset, England, Thursday, June 23, 2016. (Photo by Guy Bell/Rex Features/Shutterstock)

Belle Hassan is seen attending Lipstick and Champagne – party at STK on August 29, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie Lorriman/The Sun)

Cast members Ryan Hansen, Kristen Bell, and Jason Dohring (L-R) pose at the premiere of “Veronica Mars” in Hollywood, California in this March 12, 2014 file photo. (Photo by Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)

Stunning Northern Lights/aurora borealis display in Minster on Sea in Kent, UK on May 10, 2024. (Photo by James Bell/Alamy Live News)