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)
Singer Taylor Swift poses backstage with her awards for Top Artist, Billboard Chart Achievement Award, Top Female Artist, Top Hot 100 Artist, Top Digital Songs Artist, Top Streaming Song (Video) for “Shake it Off” and Top Billboard 200 Album for “1989” during the 2015 Billboard Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada May 17, 2015. (Photo by L. E. Baskow/Reuters)
American rapper Amala Ratna Zandile Dlamini, known professionally as Doja Cat performs at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California, U.S., May 21, 2021. (Photo by Mario Anzuoni/Reuters)
Lady Gaga attends the 2011 CFDA Fashion Awards at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on June 6, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
(L-R) Poppy Delevingne, Model of the Year Cara Delevingne, Joan Smalls and Karlie Kloss pose in the winners room at the British Fashion Awards at London Coliseum on December 1, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
NFL player Rob Gronkowski, of the New England Patriots, from second left, accepts the best comeback athlete award with his brothers, NFL free agent Chris Gronkowski and former NFL player Dan Gronkowski at the ESPY Awards at the Microsoft Theater on Wednesday, July 15, 2015, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP Photo)