Now celebrating its 40th year, Nikon Small World is widely regarded as the leading forum to recognize proficiency and photographic excellence of photography taken under the microscope. To select the winners, competition judges analyzed entries from all over the world covering subjects ranging from chemical compounds to up-close-and-personal looks at biological specimens. The 2014 winners will be revealed on October 30th. In 2014, the competition received over 1,200 entries from more than 79 countries around the world. (Photo by Dr. Igor Robert Siwanowicz/Nikon Small World 2014)

The competition, which is run by the Royal Observatory Greenwich in association with BBC Sky at Night Magazine, is now in its sixth year and has received over 2,500 entries. Photo: Centre of the Heart Nebula by Ivan Eder (Hungary). Situated 7500 light years away in the “W”-shaped constellation of Cassiopeia, the Heart Nebula is a vast region of glowing gas, energized by a cluster of young stars at its centre. The image depicts the central region, where dust clouds are being eroded and moulded into rugged shapes by the searing cosmic radiation. (Photo by Ivan Eder)

People pose for photos in the snow in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., December 2, 2019. (Photo by Carlo Allegri/Reuters)

Lilith interacts with spectators in the streets of Toulouse. French street show creator Francois Delaroziere, director of the art company “La Machine”, creates a show in the streets of Toulouse. The new show displays giant characters: Asterion, the Minotaur; Lilith, the scorpion woman; and Ariane, the spider woman. Lilith is fond of the Minotaur and wants to take Asterion to hell with her. Ariane protects Asterion and tries everything to keep Asterion safe. The show is displayed over three days and is attended by dozens of people. During the three days, the giant characters appear in the streets of Toulouse. (Photo by Alain Pitton/NurPhoto)

Mary Earps, the English goalkeeper, with her wax lookalike at Madame Tussauds in London in the second decade of November 2024. (Photo by The Times)

Harry Potter fan Emil Valkov, 7, from Bulgaria, who travelled to Britain with his family to attend the event for his older sister's birthday, poses for a photo at “Platform 9 3/4” during Back to Hogwarts Day at Kings Cross Station in London, Britain on September 1, 2023. (Photo by Hollie Adams/Reuters)

A dog owner feeds her dog during a dinner for dogs event ahead of the Lunar New Year at Kong Shan Yunnan Bistro restaurant in Shanghai, China, on January 25, 2025. (Photo by Go Nakamura/Reuters)

Benfica's Turkish midfielder #10 Orkun Kokcu celebrates after scoring their third goal during the UEFA Champions League knockout phase play-off second leg football match between SL Benfica and AS Monaco at Luz stadium in Lisbon on February 18, 2025. (Photo by Filipe Amorim/AFP Photo)