Research photos: Impressive shots from the world of scientists
The photo competition of the science magazine "Nature" shows the researchers in sometimes extreme situations that they encounter at work.
(Image: Emma Vogel / Nature / dpa)
The #ScientistAtWork photo competition organized by Nature magazine offers an insight into the fascinating world of science. Every year, a jury selects particularly impressive images of researchers at work. This year, six winning images were selected from over 200 entries. The winning picture shows biologist Audun Rikardsen in a Norwegian fjord, fitting whales with transmitters. These are intended to collect data on the animals' behavior. Photographer Emma Vogel, a doctoral student at the University of Tromsø, describes the situation as incredible, as you could hear the whales before you saw them.
Spectacular details
In the winning photo, an orca appears in the background, a detail that initially escaped the jury's attention. Vogel and Rikardsen track the whales' movements using satellite tags that collect information about their whereabouts and diving behavior. Sometimes they also take tissue samples to monitor the health of the animals.
More winning pictures
Another picture shows Kate Belleville from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife with tiny frogs that have been treated with an antifungal solution. These frogs glow under black light to distinguish them from untreated specimens. Here they are released back into the wild. A photo documents life in the polar region. Aman Chokshi shows the telescope at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, surrounded by auroras. He had to remove the snow from the telescope every day at minus 50 to minus 70 degrees, walking around a kilometer through the snow.
Patience and isolation
Lionel Favre and his team waited almost a month for clouds to form on Mount Helmos in Greece to study them with their measuring instruments and a weather balloon. Chinese scientist Hao-Cheng Yu stands under the starry sky in Siberia. Yu researches geological profiles around gold deposits and works in a remote area without a mobile phone network.
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The Nature photo competition impressively shows how scientists carry out their work with passion and perseverance despite adverse conditions. The images are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also tell stories of discoveries and challenges in the world of science. Here is an overview of the top 6:
Der Fotowettbewerb von des Wissenschaftsmagazins Nature #ScientistAtWork 2025 (6 Bilder)
6 – Geruchsverlust
Aman Chokshi / Nature / dpa
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