Palestinians watch a man performs acrobatics on the beach of Gaza City, Friday, June 4, 2021. (Photo by Khalil Hamra/AP Photo)

J.T. Miller #9 of the Vancouver Canucks scores a goal on Alex Nedeljkovic #39 of the Pittsburgh Penguins during the second period of their NHL game at Rogers Arena on October 26, 2024 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Getty Images)

The Sun rises above the forest near Kiskorpad, Hungary, 02 January 2021. (Photo by Gyorgy Varga/EPA/EFE)

Dancers at the Windmill Theatre in London, England practice a routine wearing gas masks and hard-hats with their costumes, 1940. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

People walk during a polluted day in Shenyang, Liaoning province, March 31, 2016. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

With its huge eyes, comical name and diminutive size, Mark R. Smith’s image of a baby Hawaiian bobtail squid can’t help but raise a smile. A curiously endearing creature, the cephalopod is just 1.5cm across, its mantle cavity bearing more than a passing resemblance to a rather natty shower cap. But it is also a beautiful example of symbiosis – nature’s version of “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine” – for on the underside of the squid is a light organ which houses bioluminescent bacteria. The squid offers the bacteria protection and food, while the bacteria emit a glow – a handy trait that the squid uses to offset its silhouette, helping it to evade predators in the depths below. Mark R. Smith’s entry combines several images of a Hawaiian bobtail squid with different focus lengths to create a final picture with greater depth of field than normal. (Photo by Mark R. Smith/Wellcome Images/Macroscopic Solutions)

Afghans pass a clothing storein Kabul, Afghanistan, Tuesday, October 12, 2021. (Photo by Ahmad Halabisaz/AP Photo)

Australia's State Emergency Service (SES) personnel gather at the scene of a light plane crash near the Capital Golf Course, in Melbourne, Australia, 22 June 2021. A pilot was injured and rushed to hospital after his light plane crashed shortly after taking off from Moorabbin Airport. (Photo by James Ross/EPA/EFE)