Matilda Long

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Pictures of the week: Clocks, cranes and cavalry

Our pick of the best images from the last seven days

Made up

An artist applies make up to transform into the monkey god Hanuman to take part in a religious procession on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti in Allahabad, India. (Rex)

Hear me roar

Two lions - Leon and Ronja - have a stand-off as they play in a zoo in the Czech Republic. (Rex)

Fight to the death

Skeletons are arranged in a bar scene as part of a competition to create Day of the Dead altars on Regina Street in central Mexico City. (AP Images)

Smokescreen

Veiled women carry censers during a procession honouring The Lord of Miracles in the Plaza de Armas in Santiago, Chile. (AP Images)

Time flies

A man sizes hands for an eight-foot diameter silhouette clock at Electric Time Co in Massachusetts, U.S. (AP Images) 

Eye to eye

A woman looks at a painting produced collaboratively by Damien Hirst and David Bowie called "Beautiful, halo, space-boy painting" 1995, part of the Bowie Collection on display at Sotheby's auction rooms in London. (AP Images)

Up in the air

The Italian Air Force acrobatic squad 'Frecce Tricolori' (three-color arrows) maneuvers above Rome's skyline during the celebrations for the Armed Forces Day. (AP Images)

Think pink

A dusty pink sun sets over the Naviglio Grande canal, in Milan, Italy. (AP Images)

Lost in the fire

Residents salvage items from smoldering homes after a fire gutted a neighbourhood in Las Pinas, south of Manila, Philippines. (AP Images)

Silhouettes 

Migrating cranes fly during sunset near Straussfurt, central Germany. The cranes rest in central Germany on their way from breeding places in the north to their wintering grounds in the south. (AP Images)

Raising the flag

Mounted police and members of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment ride ahead of a state carriage procession carrying Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos from Horse Guards Parade to Buckingham Palace in London. (AP Images)

Those who wait

Cambodian boys use a fishing pole to catch fish in a flooded village of Samaki on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (AP Photo/Heng Sinith)

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National Geographic Nature Photographer Competition - the most breathtaking entries so far

The race is nearly over to find the photos "that showcase the awe-inspiring and diverse natural world around us".

Entries for the National Geographic Nature Photographer competition close on 4 November.

A number of spectacular pictures have already been entered into the competition, showing some of nature’s most epic moments.  

Beautiful landscapes, wild environments and dramatic wildlife shots all feature among the best entries.

The winner will receive a 10-day trip for two to the Galápagos with National Geographic Expeditions and two 15-minute image portfolio reviews with National Geographic photo editors.

Here are some of the best entries so far.

Hummingbird

This baby hummingbird was separated from his mother, but managed to fly back to her soon after the picture was taken. (Emily Riley/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of theYear)

On a mission

A grizzly bear battles to get his paws on a wriggling salmon. (Meril D./2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year) 

Cottonwood beauty

Yellow puffs of cottonwood flowers cling to the trees in the woodland scene, giving it the look of a Impressionist painting. (Gillian Lloyd/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

I am angry

Lions devour the body of a dead kudu, closely followed by a pack of hungry hyenas looking for their own share. (NingYu Pao/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Orphan orangutan

An Orangutan, whose parents have been killed due to Borneo’s deforestation, sits alone in the rainforest. (Yosuke Kashiwakura/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Wet wet wet

Two cheetah cubs trudge along through an afternoon downpour behind their mother. (Gillian Lloyd/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year) 

Fire dancer

The spewing lava of Erta Ale lake creates a childish stick figure. (Brina Bunt/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Breaking through

Horses thunder across the open grassland in a tight formation in Mongolia, pursued by a single rider. (Kyon.J/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Early morning rays

Smoke spews out of Mount Bromo, dyed orange but the morning sun. (Rifky Setya/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Engagement present

A Kingfisher presents a potential mate with a delicious engagement present. (Andres Miguel Dominguez/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

The glacier pattern

Giant slabs of ice line the earth in uneven stripes in New Zealand. (Takashi Tsuneizumi/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographerof the Year)

Aladdin’s cave

The sun shines through the ceiling of a snow cave, created a rainbow pattern. (Denis Budkov/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Rush hour

A dense cloud of snow geese throng the sky in New Mexico. (Eileen Johnson/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Before sunrise

Whispy tendrils of cloud wrap themselves around the peaks of Xingping, China. (Tianyuan Xiao/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year) 

Oceans XVI

A surreal palette of colours tinges the ocean at Polihale State Park on Kaua'i. (Aaron Feinberg/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

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These are the most lawless countries in the world

These are the world’s most lawless countries, according to the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law index. 

The index judges how the rule of law is experienced by members of the public in everyday situations in 113 countries and jurisdictions. 

It measures a number of indicators, including constraints on government power, levels of corruption, security, open government and criminal justice, to consider how laws are used and enforced. 

The WJP uses the testimonies of local residents and legal experts to compile their data - the aim being to accurately collate the experiences of the general population, including marginalised groups. 

Denmark was found to be the most lawful country, demonstrating the strongest adherence to the rule of law, and the UK was tenth. 

In the most lawless countries, the report found that criminal activity goes unchecked, laws are not applied equally, corruption is apparent, and foreign investment does not reach the people who needed it. 

These are the ten countries where the rule of law was applied the least effectively.

10. Bolivia

This South American country was found to have high levels of corruption and very poor criminal justice. (Getty)

9. Uganda

Levels of corruption in Uganda are among the highest in the world. Order and security were also found to be low. (Getty)

8. Pakistan

Of all the countries included in the index, Pakistan had the lowest levels of order and security. Enforcement of regulation was also found to be a major problem. (Getty)

7. Ethiopia

The Ethiopian government performed poorly in terms of openness. The report found that laws and government data were not properly published and that complaint mechanisms were substandard. (Getty)

6. Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe is infamous for corruption, and issues were found within the legislature, judiciary, military and police. The country also performed worst globally for fundamental rights for citizens. (Getty)

5. Cameroon

Corruption was found to be rife in Cameroon, and order and security were both woefully low. (Getty)

4. Egypt

The Egyptian government is the least open in the world, according to the WJP’s index, with pitiful rights the information dragged the rating down. (Getty)

3. Afghanistan

Afghanistan’s residents experienced poor civil justice and reported high levels of governmental corruption.

2. Cambodia

Civil justice in Cambodia is the worst in the world - laws are not effectively enforced and access to help without discrimination is poor. (Getty)

1. Venezuela

Venezuela was found to be the most lawless country in the world. Criminal justice is at the lowest level in the world, and there is little constraint on the power of the government. Regulatory enforcement was also the lowest found by the index. (Getty)

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Landscape photographer of the year - the winners

These are the spectacular winners of the 2016 Landscape Photographer of the Year awards.

Dramatic coastal views, busy city-scapes and glorious countryside vistas were all recognised by the judges, who were looking for photographs that capture the UK’s rich and diverse landscapes.

A picture of a frantic storm of swallows on the Brighton seafront, taken by photographer Matthew Cattell, was crowned the overall winner. 

Charlie Waite, the founder of the Awards, said: “The sense of movement is palpable in Matthew’s photograph and you really feel what it would have been like to stand beside him. 

“The starlings seem to be swirling around the iconic remains of Brighton’s West Pier in a manner reminiscent of the tornado in the Wizard of Oz.”

The Landscape Photographer of the Year Awards are held in association with VisitBritain. 

Winning entries will be displayed on the Balcony of London Waterloo from 21st November 2016 - 5th February 2017. 

The Awards book, Landscape Photographer of the Year: Collection 10 (AA Publishing) is available now.

Starling Vortex

A thick cloud of birds blots out the view of the sea in Brighton, England. The image is the overall winner of the Landscape Photographer of the Year competition. (Matthew Cattell)

Finding Gold

The coloured stripes of a rainbow arch over Wast Water in Cumbria. (Mark Gilligan)

The Guardian of the Island

A red and white lighthouse reaches up in front of a rocky outcrop at Beachy Head in East Sussex. (Mirek Galagus)

Shelter from the Storm

Brutal winds whip spray from the sea over a coastal cottage in Loch Stack, Scotland. (Dougie Cunningham)

Sunshine Breaks Through

The sun manages to pierce through a blanket of grey clouds over the Ribblehead viaduct in North Yorkshire. (Francis Taylor)

Maelstrom

A seething sea churns in the winds of Storm Imogen off the coast of Newhaven, East Sussex. (Rachael Talibart)

Chrome Hill

A white peak juts skywards behind the inky silhouette of a tree in the Peak District. (Martin Birks)

Demolition

The red road flats in Glasgow begin to crumble to the ground in a planned explosion. (Lesley Smith)

Shifting Sands

The edge of the coast in Silverdale, Lancashire, cracks and splinters as it meets the sea. (Tony Higginson)

Mirror Bar

A Busy street is reflected in the glass of a bar in Glasgow. (Hannah Faith Jackson)

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Pictures of the week: Sculptures, storms and sunsets

Our pick of the best images from the last seven days.

Feeling blue

A child dressed as the Hindu god Shiva peers into the camera at Sangam, the confluence of River Ganga, Yamuna and Mythological Saraswati. (Prabhat Kumar Verma/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Take a bite

A waxwing bird chomps down on a winter rowan berry. (Vladimir Smirnov\TASS via Getty Images)

Foam party

Students from St Andrew's University indulge in a tradition of covering themselves with foam to honour their 'academic family’. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

Sea sculpture

'Dearest', a bright pink tentacle sculpture by Margarita Sampson, is erected by the water at Sculpture By The Sea at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. (James D. Morgan/Getty Images)

Sky on fire

The sky burns with bright colours as the sun rises over Southwold Pier. (Rex features)

Into the wild

A worker dressed up as a panda opens the cage to let giant panda 'Hua Yan' out into the wild at the Liziping National Nature Reserve the Sichuan Province of China. (Zhang Jian/Chengdu Economic Daily/VCG via Getty Images)

Changing seasons

A squirrel  munches on a conker as he hops over a bed of fallen leaves in Bath. (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Heroes’ welcome

A celebration in London’s Trafalgar Square celebrates the success of Team GB’s Olympians and Paralympians. (Rex features)

Red-handed

Women raise their hands stained with red paint simulating blood of women killed by men during a thousands-strong march in Santiago de Chile to protest against femicide and gender violence against women. (Mauricio Gomez/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Holidays are coming

The Christmas window display is unveiled at Selfridges department store, London. (PA Images)

Harvest time

Pinot Noir grapes are harvested on the Cottonworth vineyard in Hampshire as the harvest season gets underway. (Andrew Matthews/PA Wire)

Tornado alley

A storm churns in the sky above Tornado Alley in Kansas. (Marko Korosec/Caters News)

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Drone’s eye view - Flying photographers capture Britain from 400 ft

A new drone photography competition is launching to find the finest snaps of Britain from the air.

The ‘400ft Britain’ contest is the brainchild of VisitEngland and the Civil Aviation Authority, and aims to celebrate the beauty of our green and pleasant land from an interesting new angle.

All entries must abide by the Dronecode - the CAA’s guidelines for safe drone use. Pictures should be taken from no higher than 400ft and can’t be snapped within 50m of a person or building. 

VisitEngland Photography Manager, Jasmine Teer, said: “This is a great opportunity to not only showcase the beautiful and diverse scenery across our countryside from a new perspective but ultimately to inspire more people to get out and explore our nations and regions.”

Over the bridge

Puffs of cloud hover over the Balcombe viaduct, the route from London to Brighton. 

Making tracks

A combine harvester makes its way across an orange field, pictured from directly above. 

Get in line

Long lines of solar panels stripe the ground.

Through the mist

Foggy air lingers over Leeds castle, which can be seen reflected in a glassy lake from 400ft in the air.

Out to sea

The jagged coastline of Anglesey Island is captured from a drone’s eye view.

Feeling blue

A 360 panorama picture shows white clouds scudding over a bright blue field.

Green, green grass

A perfectly oval running track is surrounded by trees, as seen from far above.

Coastal castle

Hurst Castle in Hampshire stretches out into the turquoise sea. 

Peeking in

Knowlton church in Dorset lies open to the elements without its roof.

Colour code

The astonishingly green fields of Donegal encircle a bright blue lake.

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The Wildlife Photographer of the Year - The jawdropping winners

These breathtaking images are the winners of the 2016 Wildlife Photographer of the Year. 

A creeping leopard, a swirling school of fish and a colourful lagoon all appear in the photographs that took the top prizes across 16 categories.

An endangered Orangutan determinedly clambering up a tree trunk was the subject of the overall winner, taken by American photographer Tim Laman. 

Tim’s picture beat more than 50,000 entries from 95 countries. It will go on show alongside 99 others at the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the Natural History Museum, before touring in the UK and internationally. 

Sir Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum, said: ‘Wildlife Photographer of the Year highlights some of the big questions for society and the environment: 

‘How can we protect biodiversity? Can we learn to live in harmony with nature? The winning images touch our hearts, and challenge us to think differently about the natural world.’’

Entwined Lives - Winner: grand title

A young male orangutan drags himself up a thick root of a strangler fig. The spectacular picture, which was crowned the overall winner of the competition, was taken in the Gunung Palung National Park, Indonesia. (Tim Laman)

The Moon and the Crow - Winner: young photographer

A dusky blue light glows by moonlight, crisscrossed with the silhouette of a crow perched on a jagged branch. The picture was taken in Valentines Park in London, and came first in the young photographer category. (Gideon Knight)

Eviction Attempt - Winner: birds

An Indian rose-ringed parakeet snaps at the tail of a Bengal monitor lizard in an attempt to dislodge it from the bird’s roosting hole. The tiff took place in India’s Keoladeo National Park. (Ganesh H Shankar)

Wind Composition - Winner: plants and fungi

Wisps of pollen from a Hazel tree are dislodged by the wind and lit by winter sunshine. The photographer took the picture near his home in northern Italy. (Valter Binotto)

The Alley Car - Winner: urban

A leopard slinks along the street in a suburb of Mumbai, searching for food. Despite the occasional attack against humans, big cats are an accepted part of life in the area. (Nayan Khanolkar)

Requiem for an Owl - Winner: black and white

A pygmy owl, whose companion had recently died, rests on a branch by the fuzzy light of the moon. The melancholy picture was taken in southern Sweden. (Mats Anderson)

Snapper Party - Winner: underwater

For a few days each month, thousands of red snapper fish gather in the waters around Palau in the western pacific to breed. The fish change colour during the mating process, fading from bright red to greyish white. (Tony Wu)

The Sand Canvas - Winner: details

Swirling lagoons form in the dunes of Brazil’s Lençóis Maranhenses National Park. The water is tinted by bacteria in algae, forming intricate patterns. (Rudi Sebastian)

Star Player - Winner: impressions

A Californian sea lion nudges a starfish with its nose just under the surface of the sea. (Luis Javier Sandoval)

The Pangolin Pit - Winner: single image

A pile of 4,000 dead pangolins defrost, following one of the largest seizures of the animals ever. They are widely trafficked due to the false belief that their scales have wide-ranging medicinal properties. The illegal trade means that four African species are now endangered. (Paul Hilton)

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Obliterating the past: The ancient sites destroyed by Islamic State

Kurdish forces are currently battling to recapture the Iraqi city of Mosul from the clutches of Islamic State.

An estimated 3,000 ISIS fighters are holding the city, which has been under the control of the terrorist group since 2014. It is the last Iraqi city under the control of Islamic State.

As Iraqi forces have recaptured land across the country, a catalogue of destruction has been uncovered - over the last two years ISIS has carried out a campaign of annihilation of historical sites in Iraq, Syria and Libya.

When militant fighters first took over Mosul in 2014, video footage soon emerged of terrorists burning, looting and destroying the city's libraries, museums and cultural heritage sites, as part of IS's campaign of destruction of places of worship.

The terrorists claim that the sites represent idolatry, and used proceeds from plundering the locations to fund their campaign of violence.

These are some of the most important sites that have now been lost.

Mosul Museum, Iraq

A soon as ISIS took over the city of Mosul, reports of destruction and looting of museums and libraries began to emerge. The central library was razed to the ground and fighters raged through the museum, toppling priceless statues and smashing artifacts.

Hatra, Iraq

This third-century city was taken over by ISIS in 2014 and used as a training camp. Propoganda videos released by the terrorist group show fighters destroyed artifacts and buildings with sledgehammers. (AP)

Apamea, Syria

The Roman city of Apamea was badly looted even before the appearance of ISIS. The Islamic State continued the pillaging, selling ancient artifacts for millions of dollars. (Getty)

Khorsabad, Iraq

Located close to Mosul, Khorsabad in an ancient Assyrian civilisation that has suffered widespread damage at the hands of Islamic State. (Getty)

Nimrud, Iraq

The city of Nimrud was built more than 3,000 years ago. Much of it has now been bulldozed by ISIS militants. (Getty)

Mar Elian monastery, Syria

The 1,500-year-old Christian monastery was bulldozed by Islamic State in 2015. (AFP)

Dura-Europos, Syria

This Ancient greek site in Syria, close to the Iraqi border, was home to the world's oldest known Christian church. It is now all but destroyed by looting. (Getty)

Arch of Triumph, Palmyra, Syria

Islamic State militants blew up the monument in the 2,000-year-old city of Palmyra in 2015. (Getty)

The temple of Baal-Shamin, Palmyra, Syria

Pictures released in August 2015 showed ISIS terrorists destroying the temple of Baal-Shamin in Palmyra. It was reduced to rubble. (Getty)

The temple of Ba-al, Palmyra, Syria

Shortly after the destruction of the temple of Ba'al-Shamin, explosions were reported at the larger temple of Ba'al in the ancient city of Palmyra. (Getty)

Mari, Syria

Satellite imagery has revealed widespread looting and damage to this Bronze Age civilisation. (Creative Commons)

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The countries with the most 21st century Nobel Prize winners

These are the countries that have produced the most Nobel Prize winners for the sciences in the 21st century. 

The rankings, produced by Times Higher Education, are based on the winners between 2000 and 2016, and are weighted according to the number of prizewinners per category. Prizes for peace and literature are excluded. 

The U.S. tops the list, followed by the UK. 

The report also looked at which universities have produced the most Nobel laureates since 2000. Of the top ten, nine are American institutions, with Princeton University taking the top spot. 

Phil Baty, the THE rankings editor, warned that today’s funding practices could be stifling the kind of groundbreaking research recognised by the Nobel Prizes.

‘Increasingly, the demand from governments that fund university research is for clear, short-term outcomes, with obvious and immediate applications, and the demand from university administrators is for a steady stream of research publications,’ he said.

‘In today’s tighter, tougher climate, it seems clear that much of the work that has won Nobel prizes over the years might not have taken place – it would have been deemed too risky, or to esoteric, or to be taking too long.’ 

10th - Norway

The small Scandinavian nation has a population of just five million - nearly half that of London. But despite its diminutive size it has produced three Nobel Prize winners since 2000, putting it in tenth place globally. (Getty)

Joint 8th - Canada

Canada has produced three Nobel Prize winners between 2000 and 2016, including Art McDonald who was recognised for the physics prize in 2015 after discovering that neutrinos have mass. (Getty)

Joint 8th - Australia

Australia holds the eighth spot alongside Canada, with three prize winners since 2000. (Getty)

7th - Russia

Five Russians have won a Nobel prize since 2000 in disciplines including economics and physics. (Getty)

6th - France

Jean-Pierre Sauvage won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry this year, the fifth Frenchman to be recognised since 2000. (Getty)

5th - Israel

The Technion Israel Institute of Technology is the only university outside of the U.S. to appear in the top ten universities for producing Nobel Prize winners. The country is the fifth most prolific, with five winners since 2000. (Getty)

4th - Germany

A German last won a Nobel Prize in 2014, when Romanian-born German citizen Stefan Hell was recognised in the field of Chemistry. Overall seven Germans have won since 2000. (Getty)

3rd - Japan

Japan now accounts for 9% of Nobel Prize winners, with Yoshinori Ohsumi honoured for medicine in 2016. (Getty)

2nd - United Kingdom

The UK has produced 16 Nobel Prize winners in the 21st century, the highest highest total in the world. The UK’s Oliver Hart is the most recent winner, claiming victory in the field of economics in 2016. (Getty)

1st - United States

The U.S. dominates the list of Nobel Prize winners, with 72 Nobel Prized this century. But its grip on the top spot is waning a little - in 2015 the country accounted for 49% of winners but this dropped to 45% in 2016, with second and third place winners The UK and Japan both increasing their number of winners. (Getty)

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Pictures of the week: Swimmers, selfies and seashells

Our pick of the best images from the last seven days.

Get in line

Lines of people practice yoga on bright mats in Rizhao, China. (Getty)

Taking wing

Gabriel Lott of Brazil glides through the air during the qualification of World Wingsuit League (WWL) in Zhangjiajie, China. (Rex)

Autumn leaves

Autumnal colours shine three the trees in a cemetery near the Congregational Church in Cumberland, Maine. (AP Photo)

Iron men

Competitors start the swimming portion of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon in Hawaii. (AP Photo)

Red heads

Eight year old Kate Cameron stands with a red-headed cow at the 119th annual autumn sale of pedigree highland cattle in Oban, Scotland. (Getty Images)

Red selfie

Hindu women take a selfie in front of an idol of goddess Durga on the last day of Durga Puja festival in Mumbai, India. (AP Photo)

Flyover

The shadow of a Chinook helicopter passes over the wreckage of houses in southwestern Haiti, in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Sign of worship

A woman worships Jibika Bajracharya, a newly appointed 'child goddess' in Kumari, Nepal. The Bhaktapur Kumari is a living child goddess and is an ancient tradition in Kathmandu Valley, worshipped by devotees in order to receive blessings from ancestors or deities. (Getty)

Leap of faith

A bullfighter hurls himself into the air to avoid a bull during the "recortadores" bullfight in Zaragoza, Spain. (Rex)

He’s behind you

A deer sneaks up on a group of photographers in Richmond Park, London. (Rex)

In formation

Members of La Legion, an elite unit of the Spanish Army, sing during a military parade as they celebrate 'Dia de la Hispanidad' or Hispanic Day in Madrid. (AP Photo)

March for peace

A girl sleeps on her father's shoulders as indigenous activists march through the Colombian capital of Bogota. (Getty Images)

She sells sea shells

A girl searches for seashells during a low tide on the beach of Nungwi, Zanzibar. (Getty Images)

For sale

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy sells a chicken to be used in the Kaparot ceremony in Jerusalem, Israel. It is believed that the Jewish ritual, which involves swinging a live chicken above one's head, transfers the sins of the past year to the chicken, which is then slaughtered and traditionally given to the poor. (Getty Images)

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Small world: The astonishing finalists of Nikon's microscope photography competition

These incredible images are among the finalists for the Nikon  Photomicrography Competition.

The contest showcases the complex and beautiful images achieved by taking pictures through a microscope. Jawdropping colours, precise patterns and fascinating structures are all revealed under the lens.

The contest began in 1975 and is now the leading platform for ultra close-up photography. Not only are the finalists of scientific importance, they are also astonishing to look at.

There is currently a popular vote underway to choose one of the winners of the 2016 competition, which closes on 19 October. The competition winners will then be revealed on Nikon’s Instagram page.  

A close-up section of a red speckled jewel beetle shows the creature’s incredible colours.

(Yousef Al Habshi)

A microscope image of a slime fungus looks like two red trees buffeted in the wind.

(Jose Almodovar)

An ammonite shell has the appearance of a bright green mosaic when viewed up close.

(Norm Barker)

A human HeLa cell is captured midway through the process of cell division.

(Dr Dyland Burnette)

The kaleidoscopic eyes of a zebrafish larvae glow with colour.

(Dr. Chen Chen-Hui)

Delicate filaments span out from a human neural rosette primordial brain cell.

(Dr. Gist F. Croft, Lauren Pietilla, Stephanie Tse, Dr. Szilvia Galgoczi, Maria Fenner, Dr. Ali H. Brivanlou)

Scales overlap on the wing of a butterfly.

(Evan Darling)

A close-up shows the structure of a fossil diatom.

(Frank Fox)

Each minuscule purple hair within a Mullein flower is visible against the yellow petals.

(Karl Gaff)

The luminous shell and bulging eyes of a green bottle fly are visible in perfect clarity.

(Erno Endre Gergley)

Air bubbles pop in a pool of evaporating tequila.

(James Hayden)

Rubber coated with a thin film of glass burns orange at a high temperature.

(James Hedrick)

Beta-alanine and taurine crystals resemble a piece of modern art under the microscope. 

(Matt Inman)

The fat cells of a grizzly bear churn under the lens.

(Dr. Heiko T. Jansen, Jamie Gehring, Kimberly Rigano, Dr. Charles Robbins)

The tail of a shrimp fans out over a dark background.

(Charles Krebs)

A dentate gyrus of a optically-cleared transgenic mouse brain looks like an exploding firework.

(Hei Ming Lai and Dr. Wutian Wu)

A disc of bright red DNA sits inside a bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cell.

(Dr. Talley Lambert)

Miniature leaves on a moss plant twist up the stalk.

(Dr. David Maitland)

Pastel colours twist together in the cells of a willow bark.

(Dr. David Maitland)

Glowing air bubbles form inside melted ascorbic acid crystals.

(Marek Mis)

The leg out a water boatman is covered in microscopic protrusions. 

(Marek Mis)

Tiny branches fan out of a goatsbeard flower seed.

(Dr. Csaba Pintér)

Shards stick out from the edge of an anti-inflammatory drug.

(Adolfo Ruiz De Segovia)

Droplets of water cling to the stamen of a wildlfower.

(Samuel Silberman)

Sticky pads and suckers line the feet of a male diving beetle.

(Dr. Igor Siwanowicz)

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National Geographic's nature photographer of the year - the best animal portraits

These are some of the best animal portraits entered into the 2016 National Geographic nature photographer of the year contest. Mighty buffalo, shivering penguins and hiding owlets all feature in the entries for the 'Animals' category. Photographers have until 4 November to enter the competition and have a chance of winning a 10-day trip for two to the Galápagos with National Geographic Expeditions and two 15-minute image portfolio reviews with National Geographic photo editors.

Water drops

Droplets of melted snow are sprinkled over the face of a monkey in Nagano, Japan. (Hiroshi Tanita/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Side eye

A Cape buffalo peers suspiciously at a yellow-billed oxpecker fluttering in its eyeline. ( Barbara Fleming/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Keeping a look-out

An alligator stays perfectly still, watching the surrounding waters for signs of prey. (Nancy Elwood/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Wrapping up warm

A cluster of baby penguins shield themselves from the biting Antarctic wind behind their parents. (Gunther rRehle/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Now you see me

A baby owlet camouflages itself behind the bark of a tree. ( S. Dere/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Toothy grin

A toothy walrus lounges in the waves. (Mike Korostelev/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Wake up

A lion cub angers his father by waking him for from a kip. (P. Kuhn/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Flamingo paradise

Thousands of penguins congregate in the bright blue water of Bogoria Lake. (Yu Huiping/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Mother hen

A mother ostrich cranes her neck down to the ground to keep a close eye on her chicks. (Yu Huiping/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

Black water

A tripodfish glows dimly in the murky deep waters of the South Atlantic Ocean. (Suzan Meldonian/2016 National Geographic Nature Photographer of the Year)

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These are the happiest countries on Earth

These are the happiest countries in the world, according to the 2016 Happy Planet Index. The report measures how effectively countries' residents use their resources to achieve long and happy lives. Nations are rated according to four factors - ecological footprint, inequality of incomes, life expectancy and wellbeing. Somewhat surprisingly, Western countries with high GDPs fare badly in the list. No European countries appear in the top ten, the UK comes in at 34th place, and America languishes at number 108. Instead the highest ratings go to countries in Asia-Pacific and the Americas, which achieve high life expectancy and wellbeing with low ecological footprints. High levels of inequality of incomes within a country drag ratings down considerably, as the research found that this has a strongly adverse affect on happiness. This is the top 12.

12. Norway

Norway's free education, public pensions and universal healthcare contribution to the country's high levels of wellbeing. (Getty)

11. Jamaica

The Caribbean nation has a relatively low GDP, but a high life expectancy of 75 years and a low ecological footprint. (Getty)

10. Ecuador

Ecuador entered the top ten for the first time in 2016. In 2008 its government adopted a policy of 'Beun Vivir' - good living - as a guiding philosophy. (Getty)

9. Thailand

Low income inequality and high life expectancy combine to give Thailand the ninth best happiness index score in the world. (Getty)

8. Bangladesh

Bangladesh has an extremely low GDP per capita. But the country does a lot with limited resources - it has a very low ecological footprint and a high life expectancy compared to countries with a similar GDP. (Getty)

7. Nicaragua

This Central American country is recovering well from a brutal civil war that ravaged that nation during the '60s and '70s. It scores highly for wellbeing and life expectancy, despite a low GDP. (Getty)

6. Panama

The citizens of the sixth happiest country in the world reported impressively high levels of wellbeing. (Getty)

5. Vietnam

The number of people living in poverty in Vietnam dropped from 58% in 1993 to 11% in 2010. School enrollment is 98% - one of the highest in the world, and the country has an extraordinarily low ecological footprint. (Getty)

4. Vanuatu

A study conducted by Vanuatu's National Statistics Office found that the country's tight-knit social communities, which meet regularly to discuss their local issues - contribute to the inhabitants high sense of wellbeing. (Getty)

3. Colombia

Despite the violent civil war that has battered Colombia since that '60s, its residents experience high levels of wellbeing and a life expectancy of 74. (Getty)

2. Mexico

Wellbeing in Mexico is higher than that of neighbouring America, despite its economy being almost five times smaller. (Getty)

1. Costa Rica

Costa Rica tops the list of the world's happiest countries with a substantial lead. The country entirely abolished its army in 1949, reallocating funds towards education and healthcare. The country spends more on education as a proportion of GDP than the UK and produces 99% of its electricity from renewable sources. (Getty)

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Aerial photos reveal the damage caused by Hurricane Matthew on America's East Coast

Hurricane Matthew hit the east coast of the U.S. last week, destroying homes and infrastructure and leaving thousands without power.

Beaches have been left under a blanket of debris, houses have been ripped apart, entire streets sit under floodwater and a number of key highways have been destroyed.

In America, 18 people were killed, after the devastating storm took 900 lives in Haiti the week before.

Hurricane Matthew was downgraded to a post-tropical cyclone on Sunday morning, and has now moved back out to sea.

Storm damage

A roof is partially torn off after Hurricane Matthew hit Florida. (AP)

Submerged

Floodwater surrounds homes on the coast of Florida. (AP)

Waiting game

Evacuated residents wait on the roadside for clearance to return to their homes. (AP)

On dry land

A boat washed up onto the shore by floodwater sits on top of a dock. (AP)

After the storm

Debris from a destroyed road lines Flager Beach on the U.S.'s East Coast. (AP)

Road to nowhere

This highway in Florida was destroyed by the extreme weather. (AP)

Debris

Debris covers a beach, which was hit by pounding waves during Hurricane Matthew (AP)

Surveying the damage

Workers stand on the damaged roof of a hotel in Daytona Beach. (AP)

Washed away

A street collapses onto the beach below it following the devastating storm (AP Images)

Underwater

Streets are submerged in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew in Florida. (Rex)

Destruction

Wreckage litters a seafront street in Florida. (Rex)

Wreckage

Damage to the Crescent Beach area of Florida is seen from above. (Rex)

Rising Waters

Boats sit in a field, carried there by floodwater. (Rex)

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The world's 15 least powerful passports

These are the 20 passports that are the least powerful, according to Arton Capital's Passport Index. The index ranks every passport according to how many countries it allows the holder to enter without a visa. Owners of powerful passports - Germany and Sweden hold the number one spot jointly - can travel the world generally unhindered by red tape. But a person travelling on one of the least powerful passports will need to obtain a visa before entering a the majority of countries. An Afghan passport - the least powerful globally - permits the holder to enter 24 countries visa-free, whereas a Swedish or German passport holder can enter 158. Restrictions to travel are generally decided by the relationship between countries. A poor relationship between two governments may result in piles of paperwork and fees for citizens wishing to travel between the nations, whereas a political alliance is likely to see citizens welcomed with open arms.

15. Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan passport will allow the holder to enter 39 countries visa-free, including Barbados, Gambia and Ecuador. (Getty)

14. The Democratic Republic of Congo

Politcal unrest in the Democratic Republic of Congo means the government has poor relationships with a number of other nations. 39 countries allow holders of the country's passport to enter without a visa. (Getty)

13. Palestinian Territories

38 countries worldwide allow owners of a passport issued by the Palestinian Territories to enter without a visa. (Getty)

12. Eritrea

Eritrean authorities take breaches of their own visa laws seriously - those who outstay their visas can be detained in the country. Holders of an Eritrean passport can enter 38 countries without a visa. (Getty)

11. Bangladesh

Citizens of 174 nations can enter Bangladesh without a passport, but the country's own residents can only enter 37 other nations visa free. (Getty)

10. Iran

Thanks in part to poor political relationships with a number of other countries, Iran's weak passport allows citizens free access to just 37 countries. (Getty)

9. Libya

Libya only allows citizens of Jordan, Turkey and Tunisia to enter without a visa. Holders of a Libyan passport can enter 37 countries freely. (Getty)

8. South Sudan

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office currently advises UK citizens against all travel to South Sudan. The country's passport offers visa-free access to 36 countries. (Getty)

7. Ethiopia

Ethiopia welcomes citizens of 41 countries visa-free, but its own citizens can only enter 36 countries freely. (Getty)

6. Sudan

Sudan allows citizens of 10 countries, including Yemen and Syria, to enter freely. A Sudanese passport permits visa-free travel to 36 countries. (Getty)

5. Syria

UK citizens are warned against all travel to Syria by the government, due to the ongoing civil war. A Syrian passport is the fifth weakest in the world, and allows free travel to only 31 countries. (Getty)

4. Somalia

Somalia suffers from high levels of terrorism and violence, and its passport allows citizens to travel visa-free to only 31 countries. (Getty)

3. Iraq

Iraq allows visa-free travel to citizens of only one country - Turkey. Its passport means its people can travel freely to 29 countries. (Getty)

2. Pakistan

Pakistan allows holders of passports from nine nations, including Tonga and Samoa, to enter without a visa. A Pakistani passport is the second weakest in the world, allowing travel to 27 countries. (Getty)

1. Afghanistan

Holders of an Afghan passport can enter only 24 countries without a visa, making it the weakest in the world. No foreign citizens can enter the country without a visa. (Getty)

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Pictures of the week: stags, snipers and swings

Our pick of the best images from the last seven days.

Graveyard

Refugees and charities created a 'Lifejacket Graveyard' in Parliament Square as world leaders met at United Nations Migration Summit in New York. The display was made up of 2500 lifejackets, of which 625 were used by children. (Rex)

Dragon dance

Artists and enthusiasts of Yu Opera, also known as Henan bangzi, wear dragon robes to perform at Henan Art Center in Zhengzhou, China. (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

Festival season

Local people occupy temples and rooftops to observe the Indra Jatra festival in the old center of Kathmandu. (Getty Images)

Swimming Pool

Baby turtles swim at a turtle conservation centre in Serangan, Bali, Indonesia. (NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Autumn calling

A stag calls out in Richmond Park on the first day of autumn, also known as the autumn equinox, where night and day are equal lengths. (Getty Images)

All in yellow

A man harvests corn in Shandong Province, China. (Rex)

Taking aim

A sniper from Misrata fires towards Islamic State militant positions in Sirte, Libya. (AP Photo)

Swingers

People ride a swing in front of the St. Paul's church at the 183rd Oktoberfest beer festival in Munich. (AP Photo)

Newborn

A six-days-old gorilla baby lies in the arms of its mother Shira at the zoo in Frankfurt. (AP Photo)

Hitching a ride

Chasca the dog rides Illusion the horse close to her home on the Gold Coast, Australia. (Rex)

In protest

A woman displays her hands during a rally and prayer vigil at Marshall Park in Charlotte, U.S. The protestors were rallying against the fatal shooting of Keith Lamont Scott by police in the University City area. (Rex)

Sign of peace

James Hamber, aged 10, from Rowandale Intergrated Primary School places a pledge of peace on a customised tree sculpture to mark the United Nations International Day of Peace the at the former Maze prison site in Lisburn, Northern Ireland. (Getty Images)

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The last meals of 12 death row inmates

These are the last meals eaten by 12 death row inmates before they were given the death penalty. In the 31 American states that employ the use of the death penalty, prisoners are permitted to request a special last meal before they die. No photographs of inmates' actual last meals have ever been published. So Henry Hargreaves, a food photographer from Christchurch, New Zealand, decided to recreate the requests to bring to life the reality of the practice. He told Business Insider: 'I dug into it, went a little deeper and found a public record [of the final meals]. For the first time, these people became humanized. 'I thought it was really powerful that through food I was able to have an understanding of these people as real human beings.' 'You don't know if they’re being served on china plates, or plastic, or eating on their laps, or at a wooden table, so I tried to explore all these variations.'

Victor Fegeur

Victor Fegeur was killed by lethal injection in Iowa in 1963 for kidnap and murder. He was 28. His final meal was a single olive with the pip in it. (Henry Hargreaves)

John Wayne Gacy

John Wayne Gacy committed rape and 33 counts of murder. His last meal consisted of 12 fried shrimps, a bucket of original recipe KFC, fries and a pound of strawberries. He received the lethal injection in 1994 aged 52. (Henry Hargreaves)

Timothy McVeigh

33-year-old Timothy McVeigh murdered 168 people in a terrorist attack. Before the lethal injection was administered in 2001 he requested two pints of mint and chocolate chip ice cream. (Henry Hargreaves)

Ricky Ray Rector

Double murderer Ricky Ray Rector ate steak, fried chicken and Cherry Kool-Aid for his last meal in 1992. He requested pecan pie but didn't eat it, telling a guard he was 'saving it for later'. He was 42 when we was killed. (Henry Hargreaves)

Stephen Anderson

Stephen Anderson was sentenced to death aged 49 after committing burglary, assault, escape from prison and murder. His last meal in 2002 was two grilled cheese sandwiches, a pint of cottage cheese, corn, radishes, peach pie and chocolate chip ice cream. (Henry Hargreaves)

Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy was killed in 1989 aged 43 by electric chair in Florida after committing rape, necrophilia, prison escape and 35 counts of murder. He declined to make a special request, so was given the 'traditional' final meal of a steak, eggs, hash browns, buttered toast and jam, milk and juice. (Henry Hargreaves)

Angel Nieves Diaz

After committing murder, kidnap and armed robbery and being sentenced to death by lethal injection in 2006 aged 55, Angel Nieves Diaz declined a last meal. (Henry Hargreaves)

Ronnie Lee Gardner

Ronnie Lee Gardner ate a lobster tail, steak, apple pie and vanilla ice cream while watching the Lord of the Rings. He committed burglary, robbery and two counts of murder and was killed by firing squad in 2010 when he was 49. (Henry Hargeaves)

Allen Lee Davis

Triple murderer Allen Lee Davis ate a last meal of lobster tail, fried potatoes, fried shrimp and clams, half a load of garlic bread and root beer. He was killed by electric chair in 1999 aged 54. (Henry Hargreaves)

Teresa Lewis

Murderer Teresa Lewis was killed aged 41 by lethal injection in 2002. Her last meal was fried chicken, peas with butter, apple pie and Doctor Pepper.

Fernandino Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti

Fernandino Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzett were both convicted of murder, aged 36 and 39 respectively. Both were killed by electric chair in 1927 and both had soup, meat, toast and tea for their final meal. A judge has since ruled that they were tried unfairly and the case is still open. (Henry Hargreaves)

Ronnie Threadgill

Murderer Ronnie Threadgill ate baked chicken, mashed potato, vegetables, sweet peas, bread, tea, water and punch before receiving the lethal injection aged 40 in 2013. (Henry Hargreaves)