“A team of expert cavers and photographers had been exploring caves in the Chongquing province of China – when they were amazed to discover the entrance to a hidden cave that was previously undiscovered. And they were stunned when they managed to enter the ginormous cave – and found that it was so large there was even a cloud inside it – a cave so large it has its own weather system. Photographer and caver Robbie Shone, from Manchester, was part of a team of 15 explorers on a month-long expedition who stumbled across the natural wonder”. – Caters News

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)

A demonstrator dances as riot police try to prevent LGBT rights activists gather for a Pride parade, which was banned by local authorities, in central in Istanbul, Turkey on June 26, 2021. (Photo by Dilara Senkaya/Reuters)

UK Love Island beauty Ekin-Su Cülcüloğlu stunned as she donned a plunging mini dress for a night out in Scotland in the first decade of November 2024. (Photo by @ekinsuofficial/Instagram)

Sunday Well Rebels’ Ross Twomey and Dylan Kennedy celebrate after winning their game against Malone Tornadoes in the IRFU Mixed Ability Rugby Tournament, Buccaneers RFC, Co. Westmeath, Ireland on Saturday, June 10, 2023. (Photo by Tom Maher/Inpho)

A Brighton and Hove Albion fan wearing a mask of a seagull outside the stadium ahead of the Premier League match at the American Express Stadium, Brighton and Hove on Sunday, December 15, 2024. (Photo by Zac Goodwin/PA Images via Getty Images)

This aerial photo taken on June 13, 2021 shows an image of youths, created by growing different varieties of rice, in a paddy in Shenyang, China's northeastern Liaoning province. (Photo by AFP Photo/China Stringer Network)

Lulu Shaffer of Team United States takes a run during the preliminary rounds of the Women's Dual Moguls Competition at the Intermountain Healthcare Freestyle International Ski World Cup at Deer Valley on February 03, 2024 in Park City, Utah. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)