16 stunning photos of scientific phenomena in action

The winners of this year’s Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition do not disappoint.

Sara Chodosh
December 20, 2019

The Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition champions images that depict scientific phenomena, as captured by scientists themselves. Out of hundreds of entries, judges narrowed it down to a single winner in each of five categories along with a few runner ups. This gallery rounds them all up for a truly stunning experience.

lunar halo
Lunar halos like this one, captured in Mogilev, Belarus, appear only when there’s substantial numbers of ice crystals in the atmosphere. Most often they’re from very thin cirrus clouds hovering at or above 20,000 feet. All those hanging bits of moisture refract light from the moon (or the sun, in a solar halo), making it appear as if there’s a halo around it.Mikhail KapychkaThis year we had three supermoons in quick succession, but this one aligned with the equinox which made it more special for some folks. Supermoons are only 14 percent bigger than normal, which is too small to really be able to tell with the naked eye—but it sure makes for some beautiful photos. This one comes from Quadra Island in British Columbia, looking out across the Georgia Strait.

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