The world is full of hidden wonders, and sometimes, the most extraordinary things are the ones we can't see with the naked eye. For 50 years, Nikon's Small World competition has been shining a light on the beauty and complexity of the microscopic world. It's where cutting-edge science and captivating artistry collide, revealing breathtaking images captured through the lens of a light microscope.
Related: Micro-Color: The Colorful Life of Little Critters!
This year, over 2,100 entries poured in from across the globe, showcasing the incredible talent of scientists and hobbyists alike. Each image was carefully judged by a panel of experts, taking into consideration its originality, its informational value, its technical skill, and its visual impact. Scroll down for 15 of the best entries from the 2024 competition.
Cross section of European beach grass (Ammophila arenaria) leaf.
These Microscopic Living Robots Have Memory!
The Xenobot 2.0 is the upgraded version of the first living, self-healing robot in history. This tiny living robot could save millions of lives one day!
13 Bizarre & Beautiful Microscope Pics That Look Unreal
This photo collection features some unreal images of common things that have been put under the lens of a microscope.
The Tiniest Marvels: Enter Willard Wigan's Miniature World
Enter the fascinating world of Willard Wigan, the master of micro-sculpting.
See the World From Up Close - 17 Fascinating Macro Photos
Seeing ordinary objects like honey, paracetamol, and snow through a microscopic lens teaches us how beautiful and intricate they really are!
Have You Seen a Predator as Tiny and Adorable as This?
The Fennec Fox is the world’s smallest fox. Want to know more about this cute animal? Watch this video.
Tiny Frogs With Tiny Props - Adorable Photos!
These adorable little animals use leaves and flowers as miniature umbrellas - how cute!
These 18 Amazing City Squares Look Fit for the Gods
When I think of great cities, and wonder what makes them so beautiful, it seems so obvious: it is their amazing piazas, or squares. These are the 18 best!
These Buildings Are Marvels of Human Creation!
Skyscrapers are the wonders of man-made construction technology and in the following article, you'll see 11 stunning buildings that will truly astonish you.
These Fountains are Some of the Most Stunning in the World
This stunning collection will show you the most remarkable fountains in the world. From world record breakers to ancient landmarks, be sure to take a look.
10 Award-Winning Images That Capture the Spirit of Travel
Marvel at the incredible winners of The Independent Photographer‘s Travel Photo Awards.
What Did the Earliest Photographs Look Like?
Nowadays everyone has a camera, but take your mind back the time when photography was just a fantasy and imagine the thrill of seeing the first photos!
In Pictures: 2024 Black & White Photo Contest Winners
Check out the exceptional winners of the 2024 Black & White Photo Contest.
15 Rare Construction Photos That Capture History in Action
These are some of the most interesting photos from history.
In Photos: 15 Gorgeous Cities from Around the World
We have curated a collection of 15 stunning photographs that capture the essence of these cities or showcase their breathtaking sights in a single frame.
Rare Photos From Decades Gone By Show What Life Was Like
Take a look at a collection of rarely seen photos from decades gone by. These photo show how far mankind has progressed.
Up Close and Personal With Nature: 17 Award-Winning Photos
Here are some of the amazing winners of the Close-Up Photographer of the Year 2023 awards.
Some Photos Are Worth Much More Than Words
Amazing photos of fantastic moments in time, captured for posterity. They don't need descriptions, they just are.
These Photos Have Amazed the World...
From the epic majesty of our galaxy to the pure, simple beauty of a tortoise interacting with a butterfly, these photos are wonderful.
Time Changes Everything - 22 Amazing Before & After Photos
Click to discover some special before and after transformation photos.
Taj Falaknuma Palace: The Most Opulent Oriental Beauty
Taj Falaknuma Palace is one of the most fabulous gems in all of India, with plenty of fascinating stories to tell from the age of the British Empire.
Some Photos Require No Explanation Whatsoever!
Here are 16 photos, all of which speak more than a thousand words by themselves.
Have You Seen These Beautiful Churches?
Churches are beautiful and peaceful places that always manage to put me in a relaxed state of mind. Perhaps it is their beauty or their design, but this amazing feeling is even more powerful at these 22 most iconic and majestic of churches.
Now That's What I Call Perfect Timing!
Each of these photos was taken with perfect - almost supernatural - timing!
20 Stunning Photos Captured at the Perfect Moment
Take a look at these perfectly-timed photos that will undoubtedly take your breath away.
Let These Wonderful Photos Fill Your Day with True Joy
These pictures tell some beautiful stories, and all of them unite to make you feel that life is a joy!
Magical Scottish Landscapes: 16 Award-Winning Images
Check out the amazing winners from the Scottish Landscape Photographer of the Year 2024.
These Designers Did SUCH a Great Job! 19 Handy Innovations
These creative design innovations should be more popular than they are, as they are so very clever and useful!
These Brilliantly Clever Adverts Turned Heads - 15 Pics
Now this is how you make an ad!
INTERACTIVE: These Buildings Become Gorgeous at Night...
These structures aren't just beautifully designed - come nightfall, they take on a stunning transformation.
These Incredible Photos Will Take Your Breath Away!
Enjoy some of the most spectacular photos from the Smithsonian Magazine's 15th annual contest.
Singapore Bursts Into Color in These Gorgeous Photos
Singapore is a success story - it's the city-state that took its citizens from the third world into the first in a generation. View its incredible architecture.
The Breathtaking Views of The Polish Tatra Mountains!
Wait until you see how gorgeous the mountains look during the spring season! Here are 16 extraordinary images of the Tatra Mountains.
These Unconventional Buildings Will Make You Look Twice!
You haven't seen such bizarre buildings before!
Here Are 15 Rare Sights You Won't See More Than Once!
Here are 15 rare sights that you're practically guaranteed to never see more than once in your lifetime!
See Just How Much Women's Fashion Changed In 200 Years
Fashion changes all the time, but how much it does change is even more remarkable when viewed from the perspective of centuries. Take a look.
15 Remarkable Winners of Past World Nature Photo Awards
If you love animals and nature, these award-winning nature and wildlife photos are something you simply must see!
These Extreme Engineering Projects Will Leave You in Awe
The world is already full of amazing structures that leave us in awe, but as the following recent projects show, we always want something bigger and better!
This Man Took 18 Breathtaking Photos of Icy Greenland
This article invites you to check out 18 of the amazing photos brought back from Greenland and learn a little about this incredible place.
The Great Wall of China as You’ve Never Seen It Before
High definition drone capture of the Great Wall of China
One Photographer is Capturing the Ocean In a Whole New Way
Australian photographer Matt Burgess rises early each morning in the hope of capturing the perfect ocean shot. Take a look at 11 of his best pieces of work.
Create 17 Wonderful Objects from Your Old Kitchen Tools
We all have quite a few unused kitchenware, and the following 17 ideas will let you take them out of the closet and use them in very original ways.
These Might Be the Most Unusual Doors I've Ever Seen!
I can’t believe these doors actually exist!
20 Poignant Photos You Don’t Want to Miss!
These photos may not fit one specific topic, but there’s one overarching characteristic that unites them all - they’re all absolutely fascinating!
16 Rare, Historic Photographs Everyone Should See
These photographs will show you some of the rare scenes in human history. The pictures are worth volumes of books, but hardly anyone has seen them before.
25 Pictures That Will Make You Take a Second Look
These quick photographers have managed to get some pretty nifty shots of some truly amazing and bizarre things in this world.
From an Unsightly Tree Stump to a Garden's Centerpiece!
If you have a tree stump in your garden that you can't get rid of, why not turn it into something beautiful?