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Pictures of the week: Mars, mountains and mass

A round of our favourite pictures from the last seven days.

'The autumn walk'

Incredible ruby red colours glow in this breathtaking photo, taken at Padley Gorge in Derbyshire. This stunning photo is part of Photocrowd’s latest picture competition, celebrating this season’s astonishing beauty. (Image: Stuart Lilley Photography/Photocrowd.com)

The Nine Emperor Gods

Members of a Malaysian ethnic Chinese community perform a prayer during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival in Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Asia. The Nine Emperor Gods Festival is a nine-day Taoist celebration beginning on the eve of 9th lunar month of the Chinese calendar. (Photo by Chris Jung/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Free Fall

Climber Jamie Smith is pictured mid-fall as he attempts a new route on Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa. This image was one of the crowned winners of this year’s adrenaline-charged photo contest held by Red Bull Illume. (Image:Red Bull Illume/Micky Wiswedel)

One Man And His Dog

Ted Houston and his dog Kermit, visited the beach as Hurricane Matthew approached the area in Palm Beach, United States. The hurricane was expected as a category 4 storm but has now weakened to category 3, which states ‘devastating damage will occur’. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Zombie Boy

Rick Genest, also known as ‘Zombie Boy’, was spotted in London this week to celebrate the launch of ‘Platform 15’ - Thorpe Park’s new Fright Nights scare maze, marking the 15th anniversary of the nation’s premiere Halloween event. (Photo: Rex)

Pampered Pooch

Little Lola Sunshine the dog wears Chanel outside Chanel show on day 8 of Paris Womens Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2017, in Paris, France. (Photo by Claudio Lavenia/Getty Images)

River Of Wines

Chinese workers spread steamed sorghum on the ground as they prepare it for the first fermentation to be used in locally made wine called baijiu at the Maopu Health Liquor Co. Distillery in Maotai, on the Chishui River, in Guizhou province, China. (Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty Images)

B-day Bash

Giraffes receiving special gifts at their morning feed during birthday celebrations at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. It’s been 100 years since the Zoo first opened its gates in Mosman on 7 October, 1916. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)

Mission Complete

NASA’s Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN) mission completed one Mars year of science observations. A recent image from the craft shows a two-thousand-mile canyon system appears prominently across the middle of the image as a blue gash. The three tall Tharsis volcanoes appear near the left edge, dotted by white clouds forming as the winds flow over them. (Photo: Rex)

Peeking Pug

Pet owners bring their animals to be blessed at Mass every year on the day of Sao Francisco de Assis, Brazil's patron saint of animals in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (Photo by Cris Faga/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

River Dance

Swimmers perform a dragon dance in the Liu River to celebrate the National Day in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of China. Over 2,000 swimming enthusiasts swam and perform the dragon dance in the Liu River on the second day of 7-day National Day holiday. (Photo by VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

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Embracing autumn: Incredible photography celebrates the changing of the seasons

These deliciously crisp autumn images are part of Photocrowd’s latest picture competition, celebrating this season’s astonishing beauty.

Camera-savvy entrants have submitted their finest photos of autumnal landscapes, showing the last days of summer dwindling away. 

Rusting leaves, wilting forest and sun-dappled scenery all feature in the pictures, which are vying to be named winner in the ‘expert’ and ‘crowd’ categories. 

Take a look at some of the best entries...

'Many ways' 

This image captures the rusty, warm hues of the season against a snowy white sky. (Image: Milan Vopalensky/Photocrowd.com)

'Dancing fairies' 

Illuminated ‘fairies’ flutter in front of a bronzed background. (Image: Erika Eros/Photocrowd.com)

'Into the light' 

A young deer is captured standing very still in the autumn sunshine in Nara, Japan. (Image: Scott Sim/Photocrowd.com)

'Autumn's gift' 

Juicy ripe, red apples hang from pegs, frosted with drops of water. (Image: Ashraful Arefin/Photocrowd.com)

'Reflections' 

Reflections of the bright trees burn in the water of a Canadian lake. (Image: Eva R. Lima/Photocrowd.com)

'Autumn fields' 

A farmer harvests his crops in this peaceful image of rolling hills and illuminated trees in the Czech Republic. (Image: Krzysztof Browko/Photocrowd.com)

'Pathway through foggy park'

Tall trees join at their tips over this leaf covered path in Pula, Croatia. (Image: Tomaz/Photocrowd.com)

'The autumn walk' 

Incredible ruby red colours glow in this breathtaking photo, taken at Padley Gorge in Derbyshire. (Image: Stuart Lilley Photography/Photocrowd.com)

'Fly agaric' 

 Three fly agaric fungus are reflected in muggy waters in a photo taken on a misty autumn afternoon in Wigan, UK. (Image: Mike Hudson/Photocrowd.com)

'Backlit leaves' 

These beautiful and bold autumn leaves were captured on a lightbox and shot with a macro lens. (Image: Ian Gilmour/Photocrowd.com)

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Embracing autumn: Incredible photography celebrates the changing of the seasons

These deliciously crisp autumn images are part of Photocrowd’s latest picture competition, celebrating this season’s astonishing beauty.

Camera-savvy entrants have submitted their finest photos of autumnal landscapes, showing the last days of summer dwindling away. 

Rusting leaves, wilting forest and sun-dappled scenery all feature in the pictures, which are vying to be named winner in the ‘expert’ and ‘crowd’ categories. 

Take a look at some of the best entries...

'Many ways' 

This image captures the rusty, warm hues of the season against a snowy white sky. (Image: Milan Vopalensky/Photocrowd.com)

'Dancing fairies' 

Illuminated ‘fairies’ flutter in front of a bronzed background. (Image: Erika Eros/Photocrowd.com)

'Into the light' 

A young deer is captured standing very still in the autumn sunshine in Nara, Japan. (Image: Scott Sim/Photocrowd.com)

'Autumn's gift' 

Juicy ripe, red apples hang from pegs, frosted with drops of water. (Image: Ashraful Arefin/Photocrowd.com)

'Reflections' 

Reflections of the bright trees burn in the water of a Canadian lake. (Image: Eva R. Lima/Photocrowd.com)

'Autumn fields' 

A farmer harvests his crops in this peaceful image of rolling hills and illuminated trees in the Czech Republic. (Image: Krzysztof Browko/Photocrowd.com)

'Pathway through foggy park'

Tall trees join at their tips over this leaf covered path in Pula, Croatia. (Image: Tomaz/Photocrowd.com)

'The autumn walk' 

Incredible ruby red colours glow in this breathtaking photo, taken at Padley Gorge in Derbyshire. (Image: Stuart Lilley Photography/Photocrowd.com)

'Fly agaric' 

 Three fly agaric fungus are reflected in muggy waters in a photo taken on a misty autumn afternoon in Wigan, UK. (Image: Mike Hudson/Photocrowd.com)

'Backlit leaves' 

These beautiful and bold autumn leaves were captured on a lightbox and shot with a macro lens. (Image: Ian Gilmour/Photocrowd.com)

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These 12 stunning travel photos will change the way you see the world

This jaw-dropping photography is taken from the latest edition of Lonely Planet’s voyage bible - The Travel Book.

The huge tome is filled with information about every country in the world, and features more than 800 beautiful pictures of our Planet Earth. 

Each country is listed from A-Z - starting with Afghanistan and ending with Zimbabwe - and the book’s pages are filled with facts and photography celebrating the world’s diversity.

Here are 12 of the most incredible images, from the glassy surface of a Canadian lake to the dancing tendrils of the Northern Lights over Finland. 

Crystal clear

The calm water of a lake glows aquamarine in the Rocky Mountains of Alberta, Canada. (©Ron Caimano/500px)

Over the rainbow

A perfectly formed rainbow curves around the side of the mountain as a stream of water thunders towards earth in the background at Seljalandsfoss in Iceland, Europe. (©Gary Latham/Lonely Planet)

Misty mountains

Puffs of cloud hang over Machu Picchu in Cusco, Peru. (©Bérenger Zyla/500px)

Up, up and away

Colourful hot air balloons soar over wrinkled mountains in Turkey. (©Fatma Barlas Özkavalcıoğlu/500px)

Dancing lights

Illuminating green strobes of the Aurora Borealis dance over Finland, Europe. (©Nicholas Roemmelt/Getty Images/Vetta)

Citrus infusion

A farmer stands among mounds of oranges in the process of drying in Taiwan, Asia. (©Fifi Lan/500px)

Rocky waters

Basalt columns reaching out into the iron sea are pictured at sunset at Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland. (©Greg Sinclair/500px)

Overflow

The water of the Maletsunyane Falls is pictured spilling over the lip of a cliff in Lesotho, Africa. (©Leksele/Shutterstock)

Morning sunrise 

The stone formation dubbed 'Ring Of Brodgar' is captured as sun rises over Scotland. (©Justin Foulkes/Lonely Planet)

Mountainous horizons

A road runs through sparse, dry land beneath the contrasting ice-blue mountains of Mt Cook. (©Matt Munro/Lonely Planet)

Desert dry

A lonely road runs through the stunning Salvador Dali Desert in Bolivia, South America. (Hanson/Getty Images/Moment Open)

On the edge

A small village community perches on the green mountainside in Fontainhas, Cape Verde, Africa. (©photography by Ulrich Hollmann/Getty Images/Moment Open)

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Spectacular images reveal the the world's last-remaining tribes

These are the twelve winning images from Survival International’s 2016 picture contest, showing the extraordinary lives of the world’s last self-sufficient tribes.

The charity - that advocates for the rights of tribal people globally - holds the annual competition in order to celebrate photography as a powerful medium for raising awareness of these people.

The winning photographs have been made into a 2017 calendar titled  ‘We, the People’, featuring tribespeople in their home environments. 

Stephen Corry, Director of Survival said: “Powerful images have always been at the heart of our fight for tribal peoples’ rights. 

“We are delighted to have had so many strong entries this year, and hope that they will help energize people to get behind our mission.”

You can buy the calendar here for £12.99.

January

Members of the K'iche Maya tribe in Guatemala sit by the fire dressed in thick material to keep them warm. (Image: Robert Studzinski)

February

A young Yanomami boy from Brazil gently holds on to a small, yellow bird. (Image: Luigi Repetto)

March

A woman from the Dong tribe in China is harvests her crop against a dramatic backdrop. (Image: Nacho Alvarez)

April

Decorative drawings mark the legs of the Tucano tribespeople in Brazil. (Image: Mathias Spaliviero)

May

A member of the Dani tribespeople is pictured peeping through his hands in West Papua. (Image: Magda Zelewska)

June

A young boy from the Muravi Asurini tribe flings himself into the water in Brazil - his body is decorated in ornate blue ink markings. (Image: Alice Kohler)

July

Women from the Afar tribe do their daily chores in the dry heat of Ethiopia. (Image: Paolo Ronc)

August

Two members of the Suri tribe in Ethiopia are submerged under the water wearing hats made of a shell and feathers. (Image: Paolo Ronc)

September

A couple from the Brokpa tribe pack their cow with a heavy load in Bhutan. (Image: Tessa Bunney)

October

An elderly lady from the H’Mong tribe sits sewing in Vietnam. (Image: Nguyen Van Long)

November

Bushmen congregate around a fire in Botswana under the bright illumination of the many stars. (Image: Forest Woodward)

December

A young child from the Nenets tribe nestles inside a thick fur coat and boots, pictured in Siberia. (Image: Simon Morris)

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The ten spectacular winners from Red Bull’s adrenaline-fueled photo contest

These mind-blowing images were the crowned winners of this year’s adrenaline-charged photo contest.

Chosen from more than 36,000 entrees, the top 55 from the Red Bull Illume 2016 Awards, were revealed at the Art Institute of Chicago this week, including the overall winners in each category.

A panel of 53 esteemed judges whittled down the submissions, leaving just one winner, German photographer Lorenz Holder, who received a £34,000 (€40.000) voucher as well as some top of the range camera equipment.

Each of the winning images and top 55 submissions, are now on display in illuminated lightboxes as part of the Red Bull Illume Exhibit Tour 2016, and will move around the world for the next two years.

Seasonal Scenes

In this incredible image, Senad Grosic rides his bike over a bridge in an vivid autumnal Gablenz, Germany which was the overall winning image. (Image:Red Bull Illume/ Lorenz Holder)

Hiding Behind Hands

In this image colour is not important, contrast is and this black and white beauty claimed first prize in the close up category. (Image:Red Bull Illume/Denis Klero)

Making A Splash

Surfer Renan Faccini is set against a huge swell in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in this page which focuses on the power of nature which claimed first prize in the Energy category. (Image:Red Bull Illume/Luke Shadbolt)

Free Ride

This fun shot of Aaron Chase riding his mountain bike on the windshield of a NYC cab won the New Creativity category. (Image:Red Bull Illume/Ale Di Lullo)

Dramatic Displays

The Flying Bulls pilots take part in a risky move as they fly over the Czech Republic, in this winning image for the Sequence by Sony category. (Image:Red Bull Illume/Daniel Vojtêch)

Surrounded In Support

This stunning image captures kayaker Josh Neilson being supported by fellow paddlers after a bad landing off Matze’s Drop, Storulfossen, Norway, which won the Spirit category. (Image:Red Bull Illume /Dean Treml)

One Direction

This mesmerizing image shows the photographer’s brother Ken MacDonald, sitting atop a train during their adventure through the Sahara Desert in this image which won the Lifestyle category. (Image:Red Bull Illume/Jody MacDonald,

Tough Terrain

New for 2016 was the Mobile category which was won by this breathtaking image of  three explorers in Hakuba, Japan. (Image:Red Bull Illume/Vegard Aasen)

Free Fall

Climber Jamie Smith is pictured mid-fall as he attempts a new route on Table Mountain, Cape Town, South Africa. (Image:Red Bull Illume/Micky Wiswedel)

Black On White

A cliff diver Jonathan Paredes, is pictured jumping from the 28 meter platform on the roof of the Copenhagen Opera House, during the Red Bull Cliff Diving World Series of 2013 in New Zealand. This image won the Enhance category. (Image:Red Bull Illume/Dean Treml)

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Boo! Hilarious haunted house pics capture tourists’ moments of terror

These photos capture the hilarious moment petrified patrons of a horror theme park, came face-to-face with terror inside the attraction.

The Nightmares Fear Factory in Ontario, Canada, is a popular tourist attraction that claims to be the 'scariest haunted house' in the region.

After opening it’s doors a number of decades ago, thrill-seekers from all over the region keep coming back to discover the attraction’s terrifying secret.

While Nightmares Fear Factory has mostly kept what terrifies its visitors under wraps, it has been posting snaps of their moment of terror online since 2010.

And the results are hilarious…

Terror-Stricken

The Nightmares Fear Factory in Ontario, Canada, dubs itself as the ‘scariest haunted house’ in the region. (Image: Caters)

Stomach-Grabbing

Two girls latch onto each other in terror as the camera snaps the perfect image of their hilarious reactions. (Image: Caters)

Eye-Popping

The petrifying attraction opened decades ago, but still lures in thrill-seekers who want to uncover the dark secret for themselves. (Image: Caters)

Knee-Locking

One woman literally jumps into another's arms to get away from the terrifying thing lurking in front of them. (Image: Caters)

Hair-Raising

Customers who scream 'nightmares' at any point during the 15-minute experience will be escorted out of the maze and added to the establishment's infamous 'Chicken List,' which includes over 140,000 'scaredy-cats'. (Image: Caters)

Hand-Clamping

Nightmares Fear Factory, located near Niagara Falls, Canada, has a spooky history as it was originally used as a coffin factory. (Image: Caters)

Mouth-Widening

Visitors are only allowed to enter with their own friends and family to avoid strangers latching onto each other in panic... just as well! (Image: Caters)

Panic

The brave souls who manage to make it without being escorted out, get to take home a hilarious photo souvenir of their terrifying experience.

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London from above: Brilliant bird’s eye snaps give unique perspective of capital

Over the course of an hour, high-flying Jeffrey Millstein managed to capture these stunning aerial shots of London’s most iconic landmarks.

Jeffrey Milstein documented the capital from a hovering helicopter, snapping the likes of St Paul’s Cathedral, the British Museum, 20 Fenchurch Street, known as ‘the Walkie Talkie’ and Buckingham Palace. MORE: Quiz! Can you name these world famous landmarks from above?

Take a look...

Piccadilly Circus

(Image: Rex)

London Eye

(Image: Rex)

Buckingham Palace

(Image: Rex)

London And The Thames At Night

(Image: Rex)

St Paul's Cathedral

(Image: Rex)

Central London County Court

(Image: Rex)

Waterloo Station At Night

(Image: Rex)

Covent Garden

(Image: Rex)

Trafalgar Square

(Image: Rex)

Somerset House

(Image: Rex)

Royal Exchange

(Image: Rex)

Gherkin

(Image: Rex)

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Pictures of the week: Pandas, Paris and Prince George

Our round-up of the best pictures from the last seven days.

Ello

An Emu that strayed into Saperon Ki Dhaani in Jaipur, India, was rescued by the residentsand is being guarded and fed by them in an empty plot. (Photo: Getty Images)

Light up

12,000 roses made of LED lights lit up a senior villa area transforming it into a sea of roses during an art exhibition in Shanghai, China. (Photo: Getty Images)

The Prince and his bubbles

Prince George of Cambridge plays with bubbles at a children's party for military families during the Royal Tour of Canada in Victoria, Canada. (Photo: Getty Images)

A symbol of the struggle

A seagull stands on the seawall on Redcar seafront in Redcar, United Kingdom. One year on since the SSI steel making plant at Redcar was mothballed, the town continues to feel the impact following the closure and the local economy struggles with the loss of so many well paid jobs. (Photo: Getty Images)

Dressed to impress

Riders prepare for ‘The Distinguished Gentleman's Ride’ through London to raise awareness and help fund a cure for prostate cancer. More than 50,000 smartly dressed gentlefolk in over 550 cities around the world straddled the saddles of their classic motorcycles to take part. (Photo: Getty Images)

Oopsie

A panda baby takes a tumble while on display to the public at Chengdu Research Base, China. (Photo: Getty Images)

‘Suspicious minds’

Elvis tribute artist Des Perenara relaxes in a cafe between performances during 'The Elvies' in Porthcawl, Wales. 'The Elvies' is an annual gathering of Elvis fans and tribute artists which takes place every September. (Photo: Getty Images)

Pink lady

The Eiffel Tower is illuminated with a pink light, as part of the 'Ruban Rose' event in Paris, France. (Photo: Getty Images)

Surf’s up

A surfing-savvy pooch rides a wave during the Surf Dog Competition in Huntington Beach, California. Dogs owners and their pets attend the competition from as far as Florida, Australia and Brazil. (Photo: Getty Images)

Scenes from Russia

Calming waters stream over the rocky terrain in this stunning image taken of the Baksan River in Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia. (Photo: Getty Images)

Risky business

A squirrel leaps forward during the 9th round of the FootGolf Italian Championship at Castel d'Aviano Golf Club in Italy. FootGolf is a sport played on golf courses, where players kick a soccer ball into a hole in as few shots as possible. (Photo: Getty Images)

Bed of flowers

A giant flower carpet stretched across the earth in Yanling County in Xuchang, Henan Province of China. The carpet takes up an area of 2,480 square meters, consisting of nearly three million flowers including carnation, asparagus myrioeladus and myosotis. (Photo: Getty Images)

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Airbnb is offering a one-night-only sleepover in Abbey Road Studios

Airbnb is offering four lucky guests a free, one-night sleepover in the iconic Abbey Road studios… with Mark Ronson.

This uptown-funk’y townhouse in St Johns Wood, North London, will be turned into a temporary bedroom for the lucky competition winners to enjoy on October 15.

London-based musician and producer Mark Ronson will play host for the evening, dishing out glasses of Champagne to the guests upon arrival.

An ‘all-access’ tour will be given of the studios, including a chance to play on The Beatles’ piano, to mix a track on the world’s largest mixing board, and to record a song with the help of Ronson.

They will also be treated to dinner, snacks, beverages, and two nights in a nearby Airbnb before or after their stay.

The house rules simply state guests must ‘leave your mark’ and ‘turn it up to 11 – we’ve got sound-proofing.’

Ronson said: "I was born and grew up 'round the corner from Abbey Road Studios, one of the greatest studios ever.

"Over the years working at Abbey Road, I’ve gotten to know many of the engineers there and hearing the legendary stories of recording albums is one of the great perks of being in the building."

Fancy kipping in this musical mecca? Click this link and tell Airbnb what song you wish you could have witnessed being record at the famous Abbey Road studios….

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These are the 15 countries where people have the longest life expectancy

These are the 15 countries where people live the longest in the world according to the World Economic Forum (WEF)'s recently released Global Competitiveness Survey.

The survey looked at the health of populations of different countries around the world and - as you might expect - the locations where people have the longest life expectancy are in the most developed areas.

What’s at number one?

15. Norway

The beautiful Scandinavian nation comes in at 15th on the survey, with its population reaching age of 81. (Image: Getty Images)

14. Sweden

This popular Scandinavian country has an average life expectancy of 82 years. (Image: Getty Images)

13. Canada

Canada is the second largest country in the world, and has an average life expectancy of 82 years. (Image: Getty Images)

12. Iceland

Iceland is one of the healthiest countries in the world with an average life expectancy of 82.1 years and low levels of infant mortality and pollution. (Image: Getty Images)

11. Republic of Korea (South Korea)

With an average life expectancy of 82.2 years, the Republic of Korea is rising on the global scale.  (Image: Getty Images)

10. Luxembourg

The average life expectancy in Luxembourg is 82.2 years. The country has a very small population, and its people have easier access to better healthcare and diets. (Image: Getty Images)

9. Israel

Israel has a pretty impressive average life expectancy of 82.2 years, and the men have the longest life span in the world. (Image: Getty Images)

8. Australia

With an average life span of 82.3 years, Australia comes in at number eight. (Image: Getty Images)

7. France

France has an impressive life expectancy of an average 82.4 years. (Image: Getty Images)

6. Singapore

The average life expectancy in this country is 82.6 years, which has increased over the last 30 years, thanks to its pioneering healthcare. (Image: Getty Images)

5. Italy

Italy has an average life expectancy of 82.7 years. Medical journal The Lancet puts this down to a small poverty gap in the country. (Image: Getty Images)

4. Switzerland

This breathtaking country in Europe has an average life expectancy of 82.8 years. The oldest women to live and die in Switzerland was an incredible 113 years old. (Image: Getty Images)

3. Spain

Spain has an average life expectancy of 83.1 years and is famous for its ‘Mediterranean Diet’ which doctors say it can help promote a long and healthy life. (Image: Getty Images)

2. Japan

Japan dropped to from first place last year to second place in the rankings with an average life expectancy of 83.6 years. (Image: Getty Images)

1. Hong Kong

At number one is Hong Kong, with an average life expectancy of 84 years.(Image: Getty Images)

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These incredible pictures will change the way you look at science

The winners and shortlisted entries of the Royal Photographic Society’s International Images for Science competition have been revealed - and they’re truly spectacular.

From computer chips to pictures of the moon, 2,500 amateur and professional photographers submitted their finest work depicting ‘science with a story’.

The competition, supported by Siemens, is part of the Curiosity Project, a three-year programme aiming to engage young people with science and engineering.

The five winners and another 95 shortlisted entries are now open for public viewing during a five-week-long exhibition at The Crystal, London.

This is science like you’ve never seen before...

‘Camping stove heat plume’

A Schlieren image of the heat plume from a camping stove reveals the invisible turbulence of rising hot air. It took the gold medal and the top cash prize of £1,000 in the 26 and over category. (Image: RPS/Phred Petersen)

‘Warrior of the grassland’

This is a male fan-throated lizard, a species found on open ground and in sparse forests across the Indian subcontinent. The image took the silver medal in the 26 and over category. (Image: RPS/Anup Deohar)

‘Bridge to infinity’

A long exposure on a bridge draws the eye to the distance, the stars of the Milky Way, and the infinity of space in this incredible shot that took the bronze medal in the 26 and over category. (Image: RPS/Alex Class)

‘Obelia hydroid’

This confocal microscope image of polyps from a colony of Obelia sp. hydrozoans took the gold medal in the 18 to 25 category. (Image: RPS/Teresa Zgoda)

‘Swarms of Pacific sea nettles’

These beautiful jellyfish occasionally grow to more than a metre in diameter in the wild. For humans their stings are often irritating, but rarely dangerous. This awe-inspiring image won the under 17s’ category. (Image: RPS/Jessica Chatburn )

‘Sawfly larvae’

Hungry larvae cling to this leaf as they munch away, causing their bodies to fold as they hang upside down. (Image: RPS/Anthony Cooper)

‘PPM in a Kurzhaar dog’

This detailed close-up of a dog’s eye shows strands of tissue latched onto the dog’s pupil, formally known as Persistent Pupillary Membranes. (Image: RPS/Pier Luigi Dodi)

‘Paint dancing to music’

An electric and vibrant puddle of paint bounces to the vibrations of music, making this energetic image really come to life. (Image: RPS/Richard Beech)

‘Family group’

Superimposed images of a family of gorillas have been layered over each other to show the connection of each member and their stage of life. (Image: RPS/Pedro Jarque)

‘Cast of a woody angiosperm’

Angiosperms are vascular seed plants, and the basic angiosperm form is woody or herbaceous. Woody forms (generally trees and shrubs) are rich in secondary tissues - and they’re beautiful. (Image: RPS/Norm Barke)

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The world’s first three-parent baby has been born

(Image: Getty Images)

The world's first baby has been born using a new ‘three person’ fertility method, the New Scientist has revealed.

The five-month-old boy has the DNA from both his mum and dad as well as a third bit of genetic code from an outside donor.

(Image: Getty Images)

In the breakthrough method, U.S. doctors broke conventional techniques in order to ensure the baby would be free from a genetic condition passed on from his Jordanian mother.

They repaired the mitochondria - a tiny part of a cell that converts food into energy - in the mother’s egg, and then fertilised it with the father’s sperm in a laboratory. 

0.1% of the baby’s DNA comes from the donor, with the rest coming from his parents. 

The team carried out the controversial process in Mexico, where there are no laws prohibiting its use. 

Specialists have said that the move ‘heralds a new era in medicine’ and could help to prevent genetic disorders being passed down to new lives in the future.

But they have also warned that the practice, known as ‘mitochondrial donation’, needs to be subject to rigorous checks. 

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Destination dreamland: Haunting images from Japan’s abandoned ‘Disneyland’ theme park

These are the latest images taken by Parisian photographer, Romain Veillon, on his journey to uncover the most fascinating abandoned locations from around the world.

Nara Dreamland is known for being Japan’s ‘most famous’ abandoned theme park and is still home to many of its once beloved amusements.

It was built in 1961 as Japan's answer to Disneyland, but the park struggled with low visitor numbers and eventually closed in 2006.

The keen-eyed photographer posts many of his explorations on his Instagram account and has published a book detailing his incredible journey of urban exploration.

Romain said: ‘It was an incredible feeling to be able to explore this place during an entire day and imagine how it was to be on the roller coaster or just to wander in the little streets of this paradise.’

Welcome to Dreamland

A once inviting sign is now derelict and decaying. (Image: Romain Veillon)

Castle of dreams... or nightmares

A fairytale-like castle stands tall as vegetation grows around it. (Image: Romain Veillon)

At a standstill

Rides at this abandoned park stand unused and unloved after the park was forced to close due to a lack of visitors. (Image: Romain Veillon)

Motionless

This once vibrant park is now slowly fading, with falling debris and broken machinery making up much of what’s left. (Image: Romain Veillon)

Warped

Disappearing between the growing trees, a rollercoaster ride is pictured lifeless and deteriorating. (Image: Romain Veillon)

Time for tea

Many families would have visited the park with young children, who would have enjoyed spinning around on the park’s daintily decorated teacups. (Image: Romain Veillon)

Colourful cars

The colours of these cable cars glow against the dull and decaying surroundings. (Image: Romain Veillon)

Lone Martian

A small children’s ride is captured in this chilling image with the park’s roller coaster in the background. (Image: Romain Veillon)

Enter at your own risk

This spooky image shows the entrance to an amusement, covered in graffiti and with haunting sculptures of monsters with spooky grimaces looking down on those who dare enter. (Image: Romain Veillon)

Watching over

2016 marks the 10th year since the park was closed back in 2006. (Image: Romain Veillon)

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Wonderful wildlife: The winners of the ZSL Animal Photography Prize 2016

These are the stunning entries in the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)'s fifth annual wildlife photography competition.

Chosen for their dazzling ability to depict raw animal instincts, the shots include an incredibly timed image of a rhino roaring at sunset and a bird catching a fish.

Achieving these shots is not a quick job, as overall winner Pratik Pradhan proved in his photograph of a fan-throated lizard, which took a staggering three years to capture.

More than 3,000 entries from adult and junior photographers were submitted into six categories including ‘Weird and Wonderful’ and ‘Catch Me If You Can’.

ZSL's director general, Ralph Armond said: ‘The ZSL Animal Photography Prize encourages photographers to capture the very essence of the animal kingdom and all its beauty, and the diversity of wildlife portrayed in the entries we’ve received has been so inspiring.’

‘Ready Set Go’

This perfectly timed image was the overall winner of this year’s ZSL animal photography competition, entered into the Weird and Wonderful category. (Image: ZSL/Pratik Pradhan)

‘Kingpin’

Standing out from the crowd, this snap of a king penguin among a horde of females claimed runner up in the Weird and Wonderful category, captured in Salisbury Plain, South Georgia. (Image: ZSL/Mickie Reyfman)

‘In-flight Fight’

This striking image was taken on the Isle of May, Scotland, capturing the moment two birds engaged in combat. (Image ZSL/Alicia Hayden)

‘Baby Baboon’

A very chilled looking monkey rests against a car tyre in this photo, which was Highly Commended in the adult photographers category. (Image: ZSL/Oskan Ozmen)

‘Flash Of Azure’

This vibrant image of common kingfisher shot mid-hunt in Leeds was crowned winner of the adult photographers category. (Image: ZSL/Alexander Holden)

‘Catching The Sun’

This highly recommended image from the adult photographers category of this year’s ZSL competition shows the mesmerising moment a huge hippo opens its jaws against the backdrop of glowing sun. (Image: ZSL/Jeremy Cusack)

‘Emerging’

This detailed shot of a common frog was snapped by a junior photographer in East Sussex, claiming the winning title for the ‘Deep and Meaningful’ category. (Image: ZSL/Gideon Knight)

‘Spread Your Wings And Fly’

This picture of a European eagle owl in Reading took the junior runner’s-up place in this year’s ZSL picture contest. (Image: ZSL/ Omri Feldberg)

‘Underside Madness’

Taken in the Verdugo Mountains, California, a talented young photographer pictured this ring necked snake. (Image: ZSL/ Nicholas Hess)

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Turner Prize 2016 exhibition including 16ft-sculpture of giant buttocks unveiled at the Tate Britain

The Turner Prize 2016 exhibition is now open at the Tate Britain, unveiling quirky contemporary British art including a giant sculpture of a man’s buttocks, a brick suit, and a train. 

Michael Dean, Anthea Hamilton, Helen Marten and Josephine Pryde are the four shortlisted artists exhibiting their work, in hope of clinching the winning cash prize of £40,000.

The Turner Prize, now in its 32nd year, is one of the best known prizes for the visual arts in the world, and attracts a diverse mix of artists and concepts each year.

This year’s winner will be announced by a jury of esteemed industry experts on Monday, December 5, at an awards ceremony broadcasted live on the BBC.

Find out more about this year’s shortlisted artists.

Project for a Door (After Gaetano Pesce)

This 10-metre high bottom-shaped doorway was created as part of a series of physical realisations of images taken from the artist’s archive. (Image: Turner Prize 2016/ Anthea Hamilton)

Brood and Bitter Pass

Helen Marten’s intriguing sculptures bring together a range of handmade and found objects, including cotton buds and fish skins, to create poetic visual puzzles. (Image: Turner Prize 2016/ Helen Marten)

Sic Glyphs

Working primarily in sculpture, Michael Dean starts his process with writing, which he then gives physical form. (Image: Turner Prize 2016/ Michael Dean)

United Kingdom Poverty Line For Two Adults And Two Children

This installation consists of £20,436 in pennies. When installing the work Michael Dean removed one coin, so that the money you see before you represents one penny below the UK poverty line for a family four. (Image: Turner Prize 2016/ Michael Dean)

The New Media Express in a Temporary Siding (Baby Wants To Ride)

Tagged by graffiti artists from the cities in which it has previously been exhibited, this train is elevated on a platform, awaiting its next move. (Image: Turner Prize 2016/ Josephine Pryde)

Brick Suit

While rooted in the history of sculpture, Anthea Hamilton’s work engages the viewer by her humour and unexpected combinations of images. (Image: Turner Prize 2016/ Anthea Hamilton)

Lichen! Libido! (London!) Chastity!

Anthea Hamilton uses her research into subjects as diverse as lichen, disco and design history to create works that have a surrealist or pop culture aesthetic. (Image: Turner Prize 2016/ Anthea Hamilton)

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The spectacular winners of the 2016 Rough Guides photography contest

These breathtaking images have made it onto the shortlist for Rough Guides’ first photography competition.

From an eerie shipwreck to a farmer herding his camel, amateur snappers sent in their finest photos to be judged by a team of travel experts in categories including landscapes, wildlife  and portraits.

Entries from India, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond were then whittled down to the strongest 20 photographs with one winner coming out on top.

A young girl having green make up applied to her face for a festival by Somenath Mukhopadhyay was the overall winner, defeating several fantastic images, which took the runners-up positions.

Click this link to view more of the shortlisted images.

The winner

A young girl glances upwards while she has her face painted for a festival, a look of deep concentration on her face. (Image: Rough Guides/Somenath Mukhopadhyay)

Face value

This image shows a young girl clutching her head scarf as she stands in front of a line of women in traditional costume. (Image: Rough Guides/ Swarna-Susan-Anil.jpg)

Watching over

This striking aerial shot shows worshipers as they pray in a mosque in Varanasi, Uttarpradesh, India. (Image: Rough Guides/ Sirsendu-Gayen)

Follow the leader

A haze of dust covers the desert track as a camel herder leads his animals. (Image: Rough Guides/ Debdatta-Chakraborty)

Reflections

A fisherman walks across the salt flats in this image, in which his reflection makes it seem as though he us walking on water.(Image: Rough Guides/ Debkumar-Dutta)

Shipwrecked

A scuba diver ventures towards a decaying vessel deep on the sea bed in this black and white image. (Image: Rough Guides/ Matt-Jacobs)

Cruising 

A little boy cautiously looks back over his shoulder as the camera clicks, capturing a snapshot of a waterway at sunset. (Image: Rough Guides/ Santanu-Kumar-Das)

Birds flying high

A huge flock of birds fly overhead as the gentle glow of the sun oozes in from the far corner of the picture. (Image: Rough Guides/ Puru-Sharma)

Follow the leader

A moose followed by her two calves trudges through a pond near Nordegg, Alberta in Canada. (Image: Rough Guides/ Kirsten-Quist)

The boys

Three boys are linked arm-in-arm as they stand proudly in their tribal wear amongst the long shrubbery of Ethiopia. (Image: Rough Guides/ Priyanka-Shah)