Stunning Science Images—from Lobster Hatchlings to Solar Instabilities—Compete for 2026 Ocean Photographer Award

Scientists and photographers have contributed a series of eye-catching images now vying for the Ocean Photographer of the Year 2026 title. At the National Lobster Hatcher in Padstow, juvenile European lobsters are being reared in individual pods to prevent cannibalism, a scene captured in one of the finalist photos. The competition also includes striking shots of an egg-laden shrimp, a chocolate-lined top snail, intricate brain corals, a scorpionfish devouring a lizardfish, and a great hammerhead shark.

Marine biologist Madalena Cabral documented a pregnant giant manta ray using underwater ultrasound, while eclipse shadows were photographed on 12 August across a narrow band from Greenland to Spain. Researchers revealed a novel seven-element alloy formed in Hiroshima fallout, dubbed “hiroshimaite,” and photographer Kouyu Wang illustrated the impact of Starlink satellites on night skies. A Bolivian waterlily set a new record by supporting 102 kg of human weight, and solar physicists presented the first clear view of Kelvin-Helmholtz instability on the Sun’s surface.

Finally, images of European rivers at unprecedented low levels underscore the growing threat of heat-driven water scarcity. Winners will be disclosed in September.