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)

American Internet personality and model Cassie Amato – the girlfriend of actor Sam Claflin – sets the gold standard in a new campaign for Jacquie Aiche on July 6, 2023. The golden girl poses topless with only shimmering jewelry to save her modesty in a sеxy shoot for the latest collection from the LA-based jewelry brand. Cassie confirmed her relationship with Brit star Sam last year and was previously linked to Leonardo DiCaprio. (Photo by Jacquie Aiche/The Mega Agency)

U.S. singer Katy Perry slips on the icing of a giant cake that she had jumped onto as part of her performance at the MTV Latin America Awards in Guadalajara, in this October 16, 2008 file photo. (Photo by Daniel Aguilar/Reuters)

American singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo shows off her excitement ahead of her San Diego show in the second decade of May 2022. (Photo by oliviarodrigo/Instagram)

Dancers of the Moulin Rouge cabaret adjust their boots prior to a show on April 22, 2014 in Paris. Since 1945, the “Maison Clairvoy” is specialised in the creation of luxury shoes and started in 1960 a collaboration with the famous Moulin Rouge to create boots and shoes for French Cancan dancers. (Photo by Franck Fife/AFP Photo)

Gemma Collins in the last decade of October 2024 sent temperatures soaring with a sеxy look. The iconic reality star channelled her inner Playboy bunny as she posed in her kitchen, wearing a black lace leotard and corset with fishnet stockings, a bowtie, cuffs and high heels. (Photo by Instagram)

A storm trooper feeds a walker in the grass, taken in Glasgow, Scotland, December 2016. Tiny Storm Troopers and a mini Darth Vader are captured doing everyday activities – from taking a bath, to wrapping presents. Scottish Artist and Photographer, David Giliver created these scenes over a period of two years using toys and miniature props. (Photo by David Gilliver/Barcroft Images)

English model Leomie Anderson attends a private view of “The Mandalorian And The Child”, a special portrait being unveiled in collaboration with the National Portrait Gallery, on October 29, 2020 in London, England. The portrait will be available to the public to view for free on the 30th and 31st of October, and marks the arrival of the highly anticipated second season of “The Mandalorian” on Disney+. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Disney+)