Winners of WSC23: General category

The following post list the winners of WSC 2023.

The winning submission of General category shows us bioluminescence in the adhesive web of predatory larvae of fungus gnats. It was made by DmytroLeontyev.

Comment from the author:

I am a professor from Ukraine, PhD, DrSci, specializing in mycology, evolutionary and molecular biology. I am the author of around 400 scientific publications, as well as popular books on the history of art.

Photography has been a lifelong passion of mine, though I see it not as a separate art but rather as a way to share my impressions about the beauty of the world. As a professional, I often photograph my scientific subjects using macro photography, light, and even electron microscopy. For pleasure, I capture architecture, classical art, and living things around me. During a scientific expedition to Australia in March 2023, I was fortunate to find chains of glowing droplets in a deep niche of a rocky cliff.

I already knew they were one of the wonders of Australian fauna, the traps of predatory fungus gnat larvae, and I tried to take a good photograph. However, the fact that this particular photo received such high recognition came as a huge surprise to me, since capturing it did not require significant effort. Nonetheless, these creatures are truly stunning!.

Comment from the jury:

This image of the bioluminescent larval stage of Arachnocampa richardsae, invites us to explore the hidden wonders of our planet. It showcases nature’s extraordinary beauty and delicate balance, revealing artistry that often goes unnoticed. This scene intrigues viewers and encourages them to learn more, at the crossroads of many disciplines, from geography to biology to physics.

Runners-up:

View of a human skull with roots in orbits and nasal cavities. Romina Clara from Argentine.
Omocestus viridulus, known as the common green grasshopper. Jordanoska ana1 from Republic of North Macedonia.
Icebreaker against the ice in Antarctica. Giuseppe Suaria from Italy.
An intense cloud-to-ground lightning strike near Goldendale, Washington. Phiteros from USA.
Hektoen enteric agar plate on which a stool sample has been cultured, exhibiting both lactose fermentation (orange) and hydrogen sulfide production (black). Mediocreclementine from USA.
Mount Merapi’s glowing lava slide. Mamoxfwidayat from Indonesia.

Files were published under CC BY 4.0 license.