Compiled by Davide Castelvecchi and published on 1 October 2026, Nature’s latest selection of the year’s most striking scientific imagery spans disciplines from astronomy to archaeology. The compilation highlights both breathtaking celestial observations and significant breakthroughs in biology and engineering.
In the realm of astronomy, Ali Alobaidly claimed top honors in the ZWO Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition with a composite image of the Shark Nebula. By accumulating 28 hours of observation data from the Kuwait desert, Alobaidly captured the dusty region located 200 parsecs, or approximately 650 light-years, from Earth. The competition also recognized Miguel Claro for his capture of sunspot Active Region 4122 in Portugal, and Stefano Pellegrini, who stitched together 340 exposures to depict star trails over Botswana’s Nxai Pan National Park. Petr Horalek won the Our Moon category with a daytime timelapse titled Venusian Pearl, showing the planet Venus transiting the lunar limb, while Radoslav Sviretsov’s The Crown showcased the Aurora Borealis over an Icelandic church.
On the biological front, biologist Paola Nogales-Ascarrunz identified a previously unknown felid, Leopardus tilcayo, on the eastern slopes of the Bolivian Andes. Initially misidentified as an oncilla, genomic analysis confirmed it as a new species—the first scientifically described cat in over a century. Meanwhile, researchers including Agnes Noy from the University of York captured the first atomic-force microscopy images of two DNA double helices pairing together. The study suggests that positive ions such as calcium and magnesium facilitate this interaction despite the molecules’ negative charges, a finding that may shed light on how mutations contribute to cancer.
Archaeological discoveries were also featured, including the unearthing of a monumental funerary platform at Peru’s Chan Chan complex. The site contains the remains of 38 high-status individuals from the Chimú Empire, with one burial displaying an unusual fully extended posture that contrasts with typical seated or curled positions. In environmental science, the use of wool blankets to insulate the Tsanfleuron Glacier in the Swiss Alps was highlighted as an innovative method to slow melting, aiming to replace synthetic tarps and utilize surplus wool.
Technological milestones included SpaceX’s Starship successfully reaching orbit on its first attempt on 28 September. Although the reusable booster experienced engine trouble after separation and one spacecraft engine shut down, the vehicle completed two orbits, deployed Starlink satellites, and reentered the atmosphere before splashing down in the Pacific. The journey lasted three hours, shorter than the planned ten. Looking ahead, the Hyper-Kamiokande neutrino detector, carved 650 meters into Nijuugo Mountain in Japan, is preparing to begin operations in 2028 with 260,000 tonnes of water, aiming to build on the neutrino mass discoveries made at its predecessor, Super-Kamiokande.
The collection also addressed recent tragedies and artistic installations. Scientists linked a catastrophic flood on the China-Nepal border, which killed at least 1,454 people, to a sudden glacier collapse potentially driven by thawing permafrost. Additionally, Luke Jerram’s Pollenarium installation invited visitors to experience the world through more than 100 pinhole lenses, simulating the composite vision of insects to raise awareness about declining pollinator populations. Other images captured marine life interactions, including a crab entangled in a barrel jellyfish during a dive in Greece’s Thracian Sea.
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