“Microscope images forge an extraordinary bond between science and art, said Hidenao Tsuchiya, Olympus America's Vice President and General Manager for the Scientific Equipment Group. We founded this competition to focus on the fascinating stories coming out of today's life science research laboratories. The thousands of images that people have shared with the competition over the years reflect some of the most exciting work going on in research today – work that can help shed light on the living universe and ultimately save lives. We look at BioScapes and these beautiful images as sources of education and inspiration to us and the world”. – OlympusBioScapes

Photo: Pretarsus of the third leg of a female drone fly (Eristalis tenax), ventral view, by Dr. Jan Michels, Institute of Zoology, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Germany. (Photo by Olympus BioScapes)

Debutantes Amira Rayner, 19 (L) and Eliza Lewis, 17 (R) prepare at Boughton Monchelsea Place ahead of the Queen Charlotte's Ball on September 9, 2017 in Maidstone, England. (Photo by Jack Taylor/Getty Images)

Catherine Hollis of Chester, Pa., and Izzy Weintraub of Atlantic City eat Cherrystone clams at Atlantic City's annual clam-eating contest September 16, 1946. They finished 96 and 66 clams respectively in 20 minutes. (Photo by Sam Myers/AP Photo)

A person waits for donations at the exit from the Fred Meyer parking lot on South 19th street in Tacoma, Friday, February 8, 2019. (Photo by Peter Haley/The News Tribune via AP Photo)

A Hong Kong Correctional Services Dog Unit (CSDU) officer demonstrates training at the CSDU training facility in Stanley, Hong Kong, China, 27 February 2018. The Hong Kong CSDU consists of 29 staff members divided across six dog teams. According to the department's latest figure from 2017, the average daily penal population of Hong Kong was 8,529. (Photo by Jérôme Favre/EPA/EFE)

A Colombia fan clearly regrets invading the pitch as she is chased by a large security guard during the International Friendly match between Australia and Colombia at Craven Cottage on March 27, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Getty Images)

Members of the Bearded Ladies Cabaret cross Broad St., before a march by supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in Philadelphia, on the first day of the Democratic National Convention, July 25, 2016. (Photo by Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call/AP Images)

A hand reaches out to touch a dinosaur during the “Jurassic Quest” experience at Broward County Convention Center on July 08, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)