These are 15 of the best photos scientists took in 2017 — and they show the world in stunning ways

2221 Pele's Fire_Sabrina Koehler_Earth science/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
Pele's fire – Honorable mention: Earth Science and Climatology Sabrina Koehler/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

Scientists explore the most unique corners of our world. They survey the frigid waters underneath the edge of Antarctica, watch polar bears circle as they look for a patch of ice to rest on, and gaze up at the stars from the high altitude Chilean desert.

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They're able to capture some pretty stunning photos while they do all that.

Some of the best of these images are showcased in the annual Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition.

Check out a selection of the finalists and winners below.

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In Nahuelbuta National Park, Chile, a tiny acari gets trapped by an elastic bluish thread of a spiderweb.

Acari trapped in spiderweb – Honorable mention: Micro-imaging/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Acari trapped in spiderweb" by Bernardo Segura. Honorable mention: Micro-imaging Bernardo Segura/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

At the current Pu'u O'o eruption site of the active Kilauea volcano in Hawaii's Volcano National Park, the lava flows that created the Big Island still make it grow every year.

2221 Pele's Fire_Sabrina Koehler_Earth science/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Pele's fire" by Sabrina Koehler. Honorable mention: Earth Science and Climatology Sabrina Koehler/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
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A family of olive oil droplets hang from a soft silk thread.

3228 Olive oil_Herve Elettro_Microimaging/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Olive oil drop family hanging together" by Hervé Elettro. Winner: Micro-imaging Hervé Elettro/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

This is a 50-hour old embryo from a tardigrade (aka water bear), a type of tiny invertebrate that is so hardy it can survive in space.

3239 Water bear_Vladimir Gross_Microimaging/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Water bear embryo" by Vladimir Gross. Runner up: Micro-imaging Vladimir Gross/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
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A polar bear near the eastern Greenland coast gazes into the water.

4332 Respiro_Antonia Doncila_Behaviour/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Respiro" by Antonia Doncila. Winner: Behaviour Antonia Doncila/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

These Arctic terns on the island of Svalbard made a clever home on a conveniently placed abandoned shovel.

4377 breeding_David Constantini_Behaviour/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Breeding" by David Costantini. Runner up: Behaviour David Constantini/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
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The small tree frog emerges from the Brazilian semi-arid Caatinga desert to mate and turns from brown to green when the summer rains arrive.

4487 Green tree frog_Carlos Jared_Ecology/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"The rainy season, the green tree frog, and the maintenance of life" by Carlos Jared. Honorable mention: Ecology and Environmental Science Carlos Jared/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

The total eclipse of 2017 seen from the path of totality in Georgia.

4655 Diamond Ring_Wei Feng Xue_Astronomy/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Diamond ring through thin clouds" by Wei-Feng Xue. Runner up: Astronomy Wei-Feng Xue/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
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Russian research vessel Akademik Tryoshnikov rests its bow against the Mertz Glacier in Eastern Antarctica to deploy an underwater drone.

4742 Bow first_Giuseppe Suaria_Earth science/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Bow first" by Giuseppe Suaria. Runner up: Earth Science and Climatology Giuseppe Suaria/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

An Indian roller shows off its scorpion prey by tossing it up into the air.

4751 Toss the scorpion Playing with the  kill_Susmita Datta_Behaviour/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Toss the scorpion - Indian roller playing with the kill" by Susmita Datta. Honorable mention: Behaviour Susmita Datta/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
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The rocky Chilean landscape by the European Southern Observatory is like an otherworldly frame for the cosmic display of the Milky Way.

4783 Within Reach_Adam Hadhazy_Astronomy/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Within Reach" by Petr Horálek. Honorable mention: Astronomy Petr Horálek/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

This photo of a Twin Otter airplane flying over a crevassing ice sheet in Southern Antarctica was shot in 1995 and is now scanned into the British Antarctic Survey.

4889 Icy sugar cubes_Peter Convey_Earth science/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Icy sugar cubes" by Peter Convey. Overall winner and winner: Earth Science and Climatology Peter Convey/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
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Ice crystals suspended in the atmosphere create the image of a light pillar underneath the moon as seen from the South Pole.

4977 Lunar spotlight_ Daniel Michalik_ Astronomy/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Lunar spotlight, South Pole, Antarctica" by Daniel Michalik. Winner: Astronomy Daniel Michalik/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition

Killer whales suddenly emerge in a bay at Subantarctic Marion Island, startling a huddle of King Penguins.

5098_Waiting in the shallows_ Nico de Bruyn_Ecology/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Waiting in the shallows" by Nico de Bruyn. Winner: Ecology and Environmental Science Nico de Bruyn/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
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Pitcher plants secrete nectar along the rim of their pitcher to attract and trap insects, but one very special ant species is able to climb in and out of the pitcher for a snack.

5168 Invincible ants_Thomas Endlien_Ecology/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
"Invincible ants" by Thomas Endlien. Runner up: Ecology and Environmental Science Thomas Endlien/Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition
Environment Photography Nature
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