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Hoarding disorder is debilitating, and current treatments aren’t that effective. A new study found that modifying distressing mental images into more positive ones was an effective way of motivating people with the condition to discard their unneeded objects.
Category: Body & Mind
Tags: psychiatry, mental health, cognitive-behavioral-therapy, University of New South Wales
Data from NASA's Curiosity rover collected on Mars is shedding new light on how the Red Planet became uninhabitable in the distant past due to a changing climate that caused the surface water to evaporate or be locked away as ice.
Tags: Curiosity Rover, NASA, Mars
Here's an early look at one of the future's cheapest electric vehicles. Renault officially kicks off the Twingo's next generation with an all-electric prototype debuting at next week's 2024 Paris Motor Show. The endearing little hatchback features a revamped design that smashes together the past and present into an optimistic mini-hatch with a digital twist (and swing and tango, too).
Category: Automotive, Transport
Tags: Renault, Electric Vehicles, Affordable, paris-motor-show-2024
Hurricane Milton is barreling across the Gulf of Mexico toward the west coast of Florida, putting almost 15 million Florida residents under flood watches and prompting the evacuation of millions from the central part of the state.
Earlier today, NASA astronaut and photographer Matthew Dominick shared photos and video of Hurricane Milton through the window of the Crew Dragon Endeavour spacecraft. The spacecraft is currently waiting to undock from the International Space Station to return to Earth.
The National Hurricane Center continued to classify Milton as a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum sustained wind speeds of 265 km/h (165 mph) and warning of "life-threatening inundation from storm surge." However, the view from space belies the terrifying wind and rain on the ground, clearly showing the pinwheel shape of the hurricane with an identifiable eye at its center.
Additionally, Dominick posted a timelapse video from Dragon Endeavour on X, giving a sense of what it's like to pass directly over the hurricane.
Timelapse flying by Hurricane Milton about 2 hours ago.
1/6400 sec exposure, 14mm, ISO 500, 0.5 sec interval, 30fps pic.twitter.com/p5wBlC95mx
In addition to Dominick's posts on X, NASA has shared two videos of the hurricane from the International Space Station that provide different views:
NASA caption: External cameras on the International Space Station captured views of strengthening Hurricane Milton at 10:28 a.m. EDT October 7 as it churned across the Gulf of Mexico. NASA caption: External cameras on the International Space Station captured new views of category 4 Hurricane Milton at 9:37 a.m. EDT October 8.Although Milton may appear serene from space, and maybe even beautiful, it poses a real risk to life and property down on Earth and will impact millions. If you're anywhere in the path of the hurricane, you can visit the National Weather Service's feed on X, where the agency is posting regular updates and information.
Tiny homes don't often have a full suite of smart gadgets, but Massimo Modular rings in all the bells and whistles with the futuristic, nearly completely see-through, tiny E9 smart home.
Category: Tiny Houses, Lifestyle
Tags: Smart Home, Off-grid, Tiny Footprint, Eco-Friendly
The Natural History Museum has announced the winners of its prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. This year, the museum received a record-breaking 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories and granted awards to 100 photos. The two Grand Title winners were selected from 18 category winners.
Celebrating its 60th year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. You can visit the exhibition in person at the museum beginning Friday, October 11, and on tour around the UK and in Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, with more locations to be announced. The exhibition features all 100 winning images, videos showing the impact wildlife photography can have globally, and past Grand Title winners.
Here, we present some of our favorites, including the Grand Title and winners of many award categories.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Grand TitleThe Swarm of Life by Shane Gross, Canada
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Grand Title
Winner, Wetlands: The Bigger Picture
Shane Gross looks under the surface layer of lily pads as a mass of western toad tadpoles swim past. Shane snorkeled in the lake for several hours through carpets of lily pads. This prevented any disturbance of the fine layers of silt and algae covering the lake bottom, which would have reduced visibility. Western toad tadpoles swim up from the safer depths of the lake, dodging predators and trying to reach the shallows, where they can feed. The tadpoles start becoming toads between four and 12 weeks after hatching. An estimated 99% will not survive to adulthood.
Location: Cedar Lake, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Technical details: Nikon D500 + Tokina fisheye 10–17mm F3.5–4.5 lens at 11mm; 1/200 at F13; ISO 640; 2x Sea & Sea strobes; Aquatica housing
Copyright Shane Gross / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Grand TitleLife Under Dead Wood by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, Germany
Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Grand Title
Winner, 15-17 Years
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas rolls a log over to see the fruiting bodies of slime mold and a tiny springtail. Alexis worked fast to take this photograph, as springtails can jump many times their body length in a split second. He used a technique called focus stacking, where 36 images, each with a different area in focus, are combined. Springtails are barely two millimeters long (less than a tenth of an inch). They are found alongside slime molds and leaf litter all over the world. They feed on microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, improving soil by helping organic matter to decompose.
Location: Berlin, Germany
Technical details: Panasonic Lumix G91 + Laowa 25mm F2.8; 2.5–5x ultra macro lens; 1/200 at F4; ISO 200; Nikon SB-900 Speedlight flash; Cygnustech macro diffuser; focus stack of 36 images
Copyright Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner: Urban WildlifeTiger in Town by Robin Darius Conz, Germany
Winner, Urban Wildlife
Robin Darius Conz watches a tiger on a hillside against the backdrop of a town where forests once grew. Robin was following this tiger as part of a documentary team filming the wildlife of the Western Ghats. On this day, he used a drone to watch the tiger explore its territory before it settled in this spot. The protected areas in the Western Ghats, where tigers are carefully monitored, are some of the most biodiverse landscapes in India and have a stable population of tigers. Outside these areas, where development has created conflict between humans and wildlife, tiger occupancy has declined.
Location: Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
Technical details: DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine + 70mm F2.8 lens; 1/15 at F2.8; ISO 400
Copyright Robin Darius Conz / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Behavior: BirdsPractice Makes Perfect by Jack Zhi, USA
Winner, Behavior: Birds
Jack Zhi enjoys watching a young falcon practicing its hunting skills on a butterfly above its sea-cliff nest. Jack has been visiting this area for the past eight years, observing the constant presence of one of the birds and photographing the chicks. On this day, it was a challenge to track the action because the birds were so fast. Should this young peregrine falcon make it to adulthood, tests have shown it will be capable of stooping or dropping down on its prey from above at speeds of more than 300 kilometers per hour (186 miles per hour).
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical details: Sony α9 II + 600mm F4 lens; 1/4000 at F5.6; ISO 640
Copyright Jack Zhi / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Oceans: The Bigger PictureA Diet of Deadly Plastic by Justin Gilligan, Australia
Winner, Oceans: The Bigger Picture
Justin Gilligan (Australia) creates a mosaic from the 403 pieces of plastic found inside the digestive tract of a dead flesh-footed shearwater. Justin has been documenting Adrift Lab’s work for several years, often joining them on beach walks at dawn to collect dead chicks. The team brings together biologists from around the world to study the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems. Studies found that three-quarters of adult flesh-footed shearwaters breeding on Lord Howe Island – and 100% of fledglings – contained plastic. The team, including a Natural History Museum scientist, discovered it causes scarring to the lining of the digestive tract, a condition called plasticosis.
Location: Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia
Technical details: Nikon D850 + 24–70mm F2.8 lens; 1/125 at F11; ISO 400; Profoto B10 + A1 flash
Copyright Justin Gilligan / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Behavior: InvertebratesThe Demolition Squad by Ingo Arndt, Germany
Winner, Behavior: Invertebrates
Ingo Arndt documents the efficient dismemberment of a blue ground beetle by red wood ants. ‘Full of ant’ is how Ingo described himself after lying next to the ants’ nest for just a few minutes. Ingo watched as the red wood ants carved an already dead beetle into pieces small enough to fit through the entrance to their nest. Much of the red wood ants’ nourishment comes from honeydew secreted by aphids, but they also need protein. They are capable of killing insects and other invertebrates much larger than themselves through sheer strength in numbers.
Location: Hessen, Germany
Technical details: Canon EOS 5DS R + 100mm F2.8 lens; 1/200 at F8; ISO 400; Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX flash; softboxes
Copyright Ingo Arndt / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, PhotojournalismDusting for New Evidence by Britta Jaschinski, Germany/UK
Winner, Photojournalism
Britta Jaschinski looks on as a crime scene investigator from London’s Metropolitan Police dusts for prints on a confiscated tusk. Britta spent time at the CITES Border Force department, where confiscated animal products are tested. Newly developed magnetic powder allows experts to obtain fingerprints from ivory up to 28 days after it was touched, increasing the chances of identifying those involved in its illegal trade. The International Fund for Animal Welfare has distributed more than 200 specially created kits to border forces from 40 countries. They have been instrumental in four cases that resulted in 15 arrests.
Location: Heathrow Airport, London, England, UK
Technical details: Leica SL2 + 24–90mm F2.8–4 lens at 62mm; 1/80 at F3.8; ISO 200
Copyright Britta Jaschinski / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, 11-14 YearsAn Evening Meal by Parham Pourahmad, USA
Winner, 11-14 Years
Parham Pourahmad watches as the last rays of the setting sun illuminate a young Cooper’s hawk eating a squirrel. Over a single summer, Parham visited Ed R Levin County Park most weekends to take photographs. He wanted to showcase the variety of wildlife living within a busy metropolitan city and to illustrate that ‘nature will always be wild and unpredictable’. The Cooper’s hawk is a common species across southern Canada, the USA, and central Mexico, where it inhabits mature and open woodlands. These adaptable birds also live in urban spaces, where there are tall trees to nest in and bird feeders that attract smaller birds, which they can prey on.
Location: Ed R Levin County Park, California, USA
Technical details: Nikon D3500 + Sigma 150–600mm F5-6.3 lens at 210mm; 1/400 at F6.3; ISO 800
Copyright Parham Pourahmad / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Animals in their EnvironmentFrontier of the Lynx by Igor Metelskiy, Russia
Winner, Animals in their Environment
Igor Metelskiy shows a lynx stretching in the early evening sunshine, its body mirroring the undulating wilderness. The remote location and changing weather conditions made access to this spot – and transporting equipment there – a challenge. Igor positioned his camera trap near the footprints of potential prey. It took more than six months of waiting to achieve this relaxed image of the elusive lynx. A survey carried out in 2013 estimated the entire Russian lynx population was around 22,500 individuals, with numbers for the Russian Far East, including those in Primorsky Krai, at 5,890.
Location: Lazovsky District, Primorsky Krai, Russia
Technical details: Sony α7 IV + 24–70mm F2.8 lens; 1/500 at F5.6; ISO 100; Scout camera controller + PIR motion sensor
Copyright Igor Metelskiy / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Impact AwardRecording by Hand by Liwia Pawłowska, Poland
Winner, Impact Award
Liwia Pawłowska watches as a relaxed common whitethroat is gently held by a bird ringer. Liwia is fascinated by bird ringing and has been photographing ringing sessions since she was nine. She says that she hopes her photograph ‘helps others to get to know this topic better.’ Volunteers can assist trained staff at bird-ringing sessions, where a bird’s length, sex, condition and age are recorded. Data collected helps scientists to monitor populations and track migratory patterns, aiding conservation efforts.
Location: Rgielsko, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Technical details: Nikon Coolpix P900; 1/400 at F5; ISO 100
Copyright Liwia Pawlowska / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Impact AwardHope for the Ninu by Jannico Kelk, Australia
Winner, Impact Award
Jannico Kelk illuminates a ninu, with the wire grass and shrubs behind it providing a frame against the darkness. Jannico spent each morning walking the sand dunes of a conservation reserve, searching for footprints that this rabbit-sized marsupial may have left the night before. Finding tracks near a burrow, he set up his camera trap. The greater bilby has many Aboriginal names, including ninu. It was brought to near extinction through predation by introduced foxes and cats. Within fenced reserves where many predators have been eradicated, the bilby is thriving.
Location: Arid Recovery, Roxby Downs, South Australia, Australia
Technical details: Canon EOS 60D + 24mm F2.8 lens; 1/80 at F9; ISO 320; 3x Nikon SB-28 Speedlight flashes; Camtraptions PIR motion sensor
Copyright Jannico Kelk / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Behavior: Amphibians and ReptilesWetland Wrestle by Karine Aigner, USA
Winner, Behavior: Amphibians and Reptiles
Karine Aigner recognizes the skin of a yellow anaconda as it coils itself around the snout of a yacaré caiman. The tour group Karine was leading had stopped to photograph some marsh deer when she noticed an odd shape floating in the water. Through binoculars, Karine quickly recognized the reptiles and watched as they struggled with each other. Caimans are generalist feeders and will eat snakes. As anacondas get larger, they will include reptiles in their diet. It’s hard to determine who is the aggressor here. On the snake’s back are two tabanids, blood-sucking horseflies that are known to target reptiles.
Location: Transpantaneira Highway, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Technical details: Sony α1 + 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 lens; 1/400 at F16; ISO 800
Copyright Karine Aigner / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Animal PortraitsOn Watch by John E Marriott, Canada
Winner, Animal Portraits
John E Marriott frames a lynx resting, with its fully grown young sheltering from the cold wind behind it. John had been tracking this family group for almost a week, wearing snowshoes and carrying light camera gear to make his way through snowy forests. When fresh tracks led him to the group, he kept his distance to make sure he didn’t disturb them. Lynx numbers usually reflect the natural population fluctuations of their main prey species, the snowshoe hare. With climate change reducing snow coverage, giving other predators more opportunities to hunt the hares, hare populations may decline, in turn affecting the lynx population.
Location: Yukon, Canada
Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + 100–400mm fF.5–5.6 lens at 400mm; 1/800 at F9; ISO 1250
Copyright John E Marriott / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Photojournalist Story AwardDolphins of the Forest by Thomas Peschak, Germany/South Africa
Winner, Photojournalist Story Award
‘Among the Trees’: The Amazon river dolphin is one of two freshwater dolphin species living in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Only this species has evolved to explore the seasonally flooded forest habitat.
Portfolio Story: Thomas Peschak documents the relationship between endangered Amazon river dolphins, also known as botos or pink river dolphins, and the people with whom they share their watery home. The Amazon river dolphin’s relationship with humans is complex. Traditional Amazonian beliefs hold that the dolphins can take on human form, and they are both revered and feared. Others see them as thieves who steal fish from nets and should be killed. Thomas took these images in areas where local communities are creating opportunities for tourists to encounter the dolphins. This brings another set of problems: when they’re fed by humans, the dolphins become unhealthy, and younger individuals don’t learn to hunt for themselves.
Technical details: Nikon Z9 + 14–30mm F4 lens at 16mm; 1/320 at F6.3; ISO 1250
Location: Brazil and Colombia
Copyright Thomas Peschak/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Rising Star Portfolio AwardThe Serengeti of the Sea by Sage Ono, USA
Winner, Rising Star Portfolio Award
‘Rubies and Gold’: These tube-snout fish eggs will fade in color as the embryos develop. But for now, they sparkle like gems next to the kelp’s gold, glowing, gas-filled buoyancy aids. The green serrated edges of the kelp fronds complete the simple composition.
Portfolio Story: Sage Ono explores the abundant life around the giant kelp forests in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Inspired by the stories told by his grandfather, a retired marine biologist, and by a photograph of a larval cusk eel, Sage acquired a compact underwater camera and decided to take up underwater photography. After university, he moved to the coast near the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to pursue his interest. Here, it’s the submerged world of the bay’s forests of giant kelp – the biggest of all seaweeds – and the diversity of life they contain that have captured his imagination.
Technical details: Nikon D850 + 60mm F2.8 lens; 1/160 at F14; ISO 250; Nauticam NA-D850 housing; 2x Sea & Sea YS-D2J strobes
Location: California, USA
Copyright Sage Ono / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
The Natural History Museum has announced the winners of its prestigious Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition. This year, the museum received a record-breaking 59,228 entries from 117 countries and territories and granted awards to 100 photos. The two Grand Title winners were selected from 18 category winners.
Celebrating its 60th year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum, London. You can visit the exhibition in person at the museum beginning Friday, October 11, and on tour around the UK and in Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, with more locations to be announced. The exhibition features all 100 winning images, videos showing the impact wildlife photography can have globally, and past Grand Title winners.
Here, we present some of our favorites, including the Grand Title and winners of many award categories.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Grand TitleThe Swarm of Life by Shane Gross, Canada
Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Grand Title
Winner, Wetlands: The Bigger Picture
Shane Gross looks under the surface layer of lily pads as a mass of western toad tadpoles swim past. Shane snorkeled in the lake for several hours through carpets of lily pads. This prevented any disturbance of the fine layers of silt and algae covering the lake bottom, which would have reduced visibility. Western toad tadpoles swim up from the safer depths of the lake, dodging predators and trying to reach the shallows, where they can feed. The tadpoles start becoming toads between four and 12 weeks after hatching. An estimated 99% will not survive to adulthood.
Location: Cedar Lake, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Technical details: Nikon D500 + Tokina fisheye 10–17mm F3.5–4.5 lens at 11mm; 1/200 at F13; ISO 640; 2x Sea & Sea strobes; Aquatica housing
Copyright Shane Gross / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Grand TitleLife Under Dead Wood by Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas, Germany
Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year: Grand Title
Winner, 15-17 Years
Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas rolls a log over to see the fruiting bodies of slime mold and a tiny springtail. Alexis worked fast to take this photograph, as springtails can jump many times their body length in a split second. He used a technique called focus stacking, where 36 images, each with a different area in focus, are combined. Springtails are barely two millimeters long (less than a tenth of an inch). They are found alongside slime molds and leaf litter all over the world. They feed on microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi, improving soil by helping organic matter to decompose.
Location: Berlin, Germany
Technical details: Panasonic Lumix G91 + Laowa 25mm F2.8; 2.5–5x ultra macro lens; 1/200 at F4; ISO 200; Nikon SB-900 Speedlight flash; Cygnustech macro diffuser; focus stack of 36 images
Copyright Alexis Tinker-Tsavalas / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner: Urban WildlifeTiger in Town by Robin Darius Conz, Germany
Winner, Urban Wildlife
Robin Darius Conz watches a tiger on a hillside against the backdrop of a town where forests once grew. Robin was following this tiger as part of a documentary team filming the wildlife of the Western Ghats. On this day, he used a drone to watch the tiger explore its territory before it settled in this spot. The protected areas in the Western Ghats, where tigers are carefully monitored, are some of the most biodiverse landscapes in India and have a stable population of tigers. Outside these areas, where development has created conflict between humans and wildlife, tiger occupancy has declined.
Location: Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu, India
Technical details: DJI Mavic 3 Pro Cine + 70mm F2.8 lens; 1/15 at F2.8; ISO 400
Copyright Robin Darius Conz / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Behavior: BirdsPractice Makes Perfect by Jack Zhi, USA
Winner, Behavior: Birds
Jack Zhi enjoys watching a young falcon practicing its hunting skills on a butterfly above its sea-cliff nest. Jack has been visiting this area for the past eight years, observing the constant presence of one of the birds and photographing the chicks. On this day, it was a challenge to track the action because the birds were so fast. Should this young peregrine falcon make it to adulthood, tests have shown it will be capable of stooping or dropping down on its prey from above at speeds of more than 300 kilometers per hour (186 miles per hour).
Location: Los Angeles, California, USA
Technical details: Sony α9 II + 600mm F4 lens; 1/4000 at F5.6; ISO 640
Copyright Jack Zhi / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Oceans: The Bigger PictureA Diet of Deadly Plastic by Justin Gilligan, Australia
Winner, Oceans: The Bigger Picture
Justin Gilligan (Australia) creates a mosaic from the 403 pieces of plastic found inside the digestive tract of a dead flesh-footed shearwater. Justin has been documenting Adrift Lab’s work for several years, often joining them on beach walks at dawn to collect dead chicks. The team brings together biologists from around the world to study the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems. Studies found that three-quarters of adult flesh-footed shearwaters breeding on Lord Howe Island – and 100% of fledglings – contained plastic. The team, including a Natural History Museum scientist, discovered it causes scarring to the lining of the digestive tract, a condition called plasticosis.
Location: Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia
Technical details: Nikon D850 + 24–70mm F2.8 lens; 1/125 at F11; ISO 400; Profoto B10 + A1 flash
Copyright Justin Gilligan / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Behavior: InvertebratesThe Demolition Squad by Ingo Arndt, Germany
Winner, Behavior: Invertebrates
Ingo Arndt documents the efficient dismemberment of a blue ground beetle by red wood ants. ‘Full of ant’ is how Ingo described himself after lying next to the ants’ nest for just a few minutes. Ingo watched as the red wood ants carved an already dead beetle into pieces small enough to fit through the entrance to their nest. Much of the red wood ants’ nourishment comes from honeydew secreted by aphids, but they also need protein. They are capable of killing insects and other invertebrates much larger than themselves through sheer strength in numbers.
Location: Hessen, Germany
Technical details: Canon EOS 5DS R + 100mm F2.8 lens; 1/200 at F8; ISO 400; Canon Macro Twin Lite MT-24EX flash; softboxes
Copyright Ingo Arndt / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, PhotojournalismDusting for New Evidence by Britta Jaschinski, Germany/UK
Winner, Photojournalism
Britta Jaschinski looks on as a crime scene investigator from London’s Metropolitan Police dusts for prints on a confiscated tusk. Britta spent time at the CITES Border Force department, where confiscated animal products are tested. Newly developed magnetic powder allows experts to obtain fingerprints from ivory up to 28 days after it was touched, increasing the chances of identifying those involved in its illegal trade. The International Fund for Animal Welfare has distributed more than 200 specially created kits to border forces from 40 countries. They have been instrumental in four cases that resulted in 15 arrests.
Location: Heathrow Airport, London, England, UK
Technical details: Leica SL2 + 24–90mm F2.8–4 lens at 62mm; 1/80 at F3.8; ISO 200
Copyright Britta Jaschinski / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, 11-14 YearsAn Evening Meal by Parham Pourahmad, USA
Winner, 11-14 Years
Parham Pourahmad watches as the last rays of the setting sun illuminate a young Cooper’s hawk eating a squirrel. Over a single summer, Parham visited Ed R Levin County Park most weekends to take photographs. He wanted to showcase the variety of wildlife living within a busy metropolitan city and to illustrate that ‘nature will always be wild and unpredictable’. The Cooper’s hawk is a common species across southern Canada, the USA, and central Mexico, where it inhabits mature and open woodlands. These adaptable birds also live in urban spaces, where there are tall trees to nest in and bird feeders that attract smaller birds, which they can prey on.
Location: Ed R Levin County Park, California, USA
Technical details: Nikon D3500 + Sigma 150–600mm F5-6.3 lens at 210mm; 1/400 at F6.3; ISO 800
Copyright Parham Pourahmad / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Animals in their EnvironmentFrontier of the Lynx by Igor Metelskiy, Russia
Winner, Animals in their Environment
Igor Metelskiy shows a lynx stretching in the early evening sunshine, its body mirroring the undulating wilderness. The remote location and changing weather conditions made access to this spot – and transporting equipment there – a challenge. Igor positioned his camera trap near the footprints of potential prey. It took more than six months of waiting to achieve this relaxed image of the elusive lynx. A survey carried out in 2013 estimated the entire Russian lynx population was around 22,500 individuals, with numbers for the Russian Far East, including those in Primorsky Krai, at 5,890.
Location: Lazovsky District, Primorsky Krai, Russia
Technical details: Sony α7 IV + 24–70mm F2.8 lens; 1/500 at F5.6; ISO 100; Scout camera controller + PIR motion sensor
Copyright Igor Metelskiy / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Impact AwardRecording by Hand by Liwia Pawłowska, Poland
Winner, Impact Award
Liwia Pawłowska watches as a relaxed common whitethroat is gently held by a bird ringer. Liwia is fascinated by bird ringing and has been photographing ringing sessions since she was nine. She says that she hopes her photograph ‘helps others to get to know this topic better.’ Volunteers can assist trained staff at bird-ringing sessions, where a bird’s length, sex, condition and age are recorded. Data collected helps scientists to monitor populations and track migratory patterns, aiding conservation efforts.
Location: Rgielsko, Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland
Technical details: Nikon Coolpix P900; 1/400 at F5; ISO 100
Copyright Liwia Pawlowska / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Impact AwardHope for the Ninu by Jannico Kelk, Australia
Winner, Impact Award
Jannico Kelk illuminates a ninu, with the wire grass and shrubs behind it providing a frame against the darkness. Jannico spent each morning walking the sand dunes of a conservation reserve, searching for footprints that this rabbit-sized marsupial may have left the night before. Finding tracks near a burrow, he set up his camera trap. The greater bilby has many Aboriginal names, including ninu. It was brought to near extinction through predation by introduced foxes and cats. Within fenced reserves where many predators have been eradicated, the bilby is thriving.
Location: Arid Recovery, Roxby Downs, South Australia, Australia
Technical details: Canon EOS 60D + 24mm F2.8 lens; 1/80 at F9; ISO 320; 3x Nikon SB-28 Speedlight flashes; Camtraptions PIR motion sensor
Copyright Jannico Kelk / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Behavior: Amphibians and ReptilesWetland Wrestle by Karine Aigner, USA
Winner, Behavior: Amphibians and Reptiles
Karine Aigner recognizes the skin of a yellow anaconda as it coils itself around the snout of a yacaré caiman. The tour group Karine was leading had stopped to photograph some marsh deer when she noticed an odd shape floating in the water. Through binoculars, Karine quickly recognized the reptiles and watched as they struggled with each other. Caimans are generalist feeders and will eat snakes. As anacondas get larger, they will include reptiles in their diet. It’s hard to determine who is the aggressor here. On the snake’s back are two tabanids, blood-sucking horseflies that are known to target reptiles.
Location: Transpantaneira Highway, Mato Grosso, Brazil
Technical details: Sony α1 + 200–600mm F5.6–6.3 lens; 1/400 at F16; ISO 800
Copyright Karine Aigner / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Animal PortraitsOn Watch by John E Marriott, Canada
Winner, Animal Portraits
John E Marriott frames a lynx resting, with its fully grown young sheltering from the cold wind behind it. John had been tracking this family group for almost a week, wearing snowshoes and carrying light camera gear to make his way through snowy forests. When fresh tracks led him to the group, he kept his distance to make sure he didn’t disturb them. Lynx numbers usually reflect the natural population fluctuations of their main prey species, the snowshoe hare. With climate change reducing snow coverage, giving other predators more opportunities to hunt the hares, hare populations may decline, in turn affecting the lynx population.
Location: Yukon, Canada
Technical details: Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + 100–400mm fF.5–5.6 lens at 400mm; 1/800 at F9; ISO 1250
Copyright John E Marriott / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Photojournalist Story AwardDolphins of the Forest by Thomas Peschak, Germany/South Africa
Winner, Photojournalist Story Award
‘Among the Trees’: The Amazon river dolphin is one of two freshwater dolphin species living in the Amazon and Orinoco basins. Only this species has evolved to explore the seasonally flooded forest habitat.
Portfolio Story: Thomas Peschak documents the relationship between endangered Amazon river dolphins, also known as botos or pink river dolphins, and the people with whom they share their watery home. The Amazon river dolphin’s relationship with humans is complex. Traditional Amazonian beliefs hold that the dolphins can take on human form, and they are both revered and feared. Others see them as thieves who steal fish from nets and should be killed. Thomas took these images in areas where local communities are creating opportunities for tourists to encounter the dolphins. This brings another set of problems: when they’re fed by humans, the dolphins become unhealthy, and younger individuals don’t learn to hunt for themselves.
Technical details: Nikon Z9 + 14–30mm F4 lens at 16mm; 1/320 at F6.3; ISO 1250
Location: Brazil and Colombia
Copyright Thomas Peschak/ Wildlife Photographer of the Year
Winner, Rising Star Portfolio AwardThe Serengeti of the Sea by Sage Ono, USA
Winner, Rising Star Portfolio Award
‘Rubies and Gold’: These tube-snout fish eggs will fade in color as the embryos develop. But for now, they sparkle like gems next to the kelp’s gold, glowing, gas-filled buoyancy aids. The green serrated edges of the kelp fronds complete the simple composition.
Portfolio Story: Sage Ono explores the abundant life around the giant kelp forests in Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary. Inspired by the stories told by his grandfather, a retired marine biologist, and by a photograph of a larval cusk eel, Sage acquired a compact underwater camera and decided to take up underwater photography. After university, he moved to the coast near the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary to pursue his interest. Here, it’s the submerged world of the bay’s forests of giant kelp – the biggest of all seaweeds – and the diversity of life they contain that have captured his imagination.
Technical details: Nikon D850 + 60mm F2.8 lens; 1/160 at F14; ISO 250; Nauticam NA-D850 housing; 2x Sea & Sea YS-D2J strobes
Location: California, USA
Copyright Sage Ono / Wildlife Photographer of the Year
While battery-electric ferry boats may be more eco-friendly and require less maintenance than their diesel-burning counterparts, they're still not perfect. That's why scientists are now looking into powering small ferries using nothing but compressed air.
Category: Environment, Science
Tags: Compressed Air, Electric Boats
Ebikes designed for commuting are often rather heavy, dumpy-looking things with no real sense of "fun." Specialized is apparently out to change that, with its just-announced line of carbon-fiber-framed Turbo Vado SL 2 Carbon city bikes.
Tags: ebikes, Specialized Bikes, Cycling, Carbon Fiber
Learning to play piano is a hard slog, and many people – myself included – tend to start well, and then lose momentum before giving up entirely. Roli is hoping to keeping students engaged with a gesture-tracking AI teacher called the Airwave.
Category: Music, Consumer Tech, Technology
Tags: ROLI, Learning, Tracking, MIDI, Keyboard, Piano, Artificial Intelligence, Digital music, Gestures
Panasonic has announced an update to its Lumix Lab app, along with a slew of firmware updates for the Lumix S9, S5II, S5IIX and G9II. The S9's 1.1 update, in particular, adds quite a few new features that make it a more powerful video camera, but all the cameras should be getting a decent bump in usability.
Lumix Lab updatesLet's dive into the Lumix Lab app first since it involves all the cameras above, which is actually the first big change. When Panasonic launched the app alongside the S9, it was only compatible with that camera and the GH7. Owners of other cameras had to continue using the older Lumix Sync app, as did S9 or GH7 owners who wanted to use features like remote shooting or shutter control.
That's no longer the case: Lumix Lab now supports the S5II, S5IIX, and G9II and has shutter remote control and remote shooting features. The remote shooting mode even lets you change whether you're using the P, S, A, or M exposure modes without touching the dial on the camera; of course, when you disconnect the app, it reverts back to the setting on the dial.
The updated Lumix Lab app will let you remotely control your camera via Wi-Fi, or use your phone as a remote shutter over Bluetooth.The update also lets you use your camera to select which images to send to the app, instead of waiting for the app to download all the thumbnails from the camera, then using it to select which ones to pull onto your phone.
S5II, S5IIX, and G9II owners can now also use the LUT features in the Lumix Lab app, creating their own looks or downloading ones from creators to send to their cameras. Panasonic says that when it launched the app earlier this year, it had 80 LUTs in the community tab; it says there are over 100 now.
Lumix S9 updatesThe 1.1 update for the S9 mainly focuses on video features but also adds support for two new subjects to the subject-tracking autofocus system. The update will let the S9 recognize trains and planes, and users can determine whether they want to prioritize the driver's cabin or nose, respectively, versus the entire train or plane. The update also adds part priority to the S9's existing motorcycle and car tracking modes, letting you ask the system to focus on a driver or rider's helmet versus the vehicle as a whole.
You can now target specific parts of vehicles. The ability to target trains and planes at all, as well as their cockpits, is altogether new to the S9.Panasonic has also addressed a major complaint video creators had with the S9 by letting you bypass the video record time limits. Initially, you could only record up to 15 minutes of 4K video and 10 minutes of 6K video, which Panasonic says was a bid to avoid the camera ever overheating and displaying a cooldown message. Now, it's adding a video record limit setting, and flipping it off makes the camera record until it reaches its temperature limit.
Once that happens, you won't be able to record again until the camera has sufficiently cooled down – you also won't have access to certain features while it's overheated, though it does helpfully list which features are currently disabled on the screen. The company does recommend that you use a tripod if you flip the limit off, as the camera can get quite warm to the touch.
The update also adds the ability to have multiple frame markers if you plan on delivering a video in several aspect ratios. Originally, the S9 let you have a single one, but with the 1.1 update, you can have up to three color-coded markers. There are also presets for four new aspect ratios: 17:9, 9:17, 7:6 and 6:7.
You can have up to three frame guides, each set to its own color. You can also mask out areas not captured by any of your selected aspect ratios.Depending on your settings, you can adjust the frame markers from the live view screen. Tapping on them will let you resize and reposition each marker you have activated. The feature can also be used in conjunction with frame masks, which can darken or black out the areas outside your frame markers; when adjusting your markers, the mask updates in real-time.
Lumix S5II, S5IIX and G9II updatesPanasonic is releasing firmware update 3.1 for the S5II, 2.1 for the S5IIX, and 2.2 for the G9II. Beyond adding compatibility for Lumix Lab, it also lets you use Panasonic's XLR adapter with the cameras and assign the Real Time LUT feature to function buttons.
The updates also add support for 5Ghz Wi-Fi, in regions where the standard is allowed. The S5II and IIX technically already had support for 5Ghz Wi-Fi when using the Frame.IO integration, but now you can use it with the Lumix Lab app to transfer images and photos to your phone faster than you can with 2.4Ghz Wi-Fi.
The S5II and S5IIX are also getting the Leica Monochrome photo style that debuted with the G9II
Panasonic says that the features added to the S9 in version 1.1, such as the new autofocus subjects and multiple framing guides, will be coming to the Mk. II cameras, but that they're not included in this round of updates.
The updates also add compatibility with the 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 lens the company also announced today. If the lens is retracted, the cameras will pop up a message saying that it needs to be extended before you can use it.
The company is also releasing an update for the original Lumix S5, though it's substantially smaller. It adds 'improved operational stability,' as well as the 'extend lens' message for the 18-40mm.
Press Release:
Panasonic Announces New Firmware Updates for its LUMIX S and G Series Cameras: S9, S5II, S5IIX, G9IINewark, N.J. (October 8, 2024) – Panasonic has announced a host of new firmware updates for its full frame mirrorless LUMIX S9, S5II, S5IIX cameras and Micro Four Thirds mirrorless G9II camera that improve the shooting experience and enhance functionality.
In line with LUMIX’s continuous commitment to supporting creators, the latest firmware updates will be available to download free of charge from the LUMIX Global Customer Support website on 9th October 2024. Firmware updates include:
LUMIX S9 Firmware Version 1.1
LUMIX S5II Firmware Version 3.1 and LUMIX S5IIX Firmware Version 2.1
*1 - The recording time varies depending on the environment and operating conditions.
Recording will stop automatically if the internal temperature gets too high, even when set to unlimited recording mode.
*2 - 32 Bit Float recording is not available on the S5II, S5IIX or G9II
*3 - Depending on the region, local regulations, etc. may prohibit you from using the 5GHz frequency band outdoors. If this is the case, when outdoors, connect to the smartphone using [2.4GHz] for the Wi-Fi connection.
Panasonic is launching the 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 lens that it teased with the launch of the Lumix S9 earlier this year. It claims the new lens is the smallest and lightest interchangeable zoom with autofocus for full-frame mirrorless cameras. While that's quite a few caveats, it is undoubtedly compact: the lens weighs 155g (5.5oz) and is 40.9mm (1.6") long when retracted.
Despite being an extending lens, Panasonic claims it's dust, splash, and freeze resistant and can be used in temperatures down to -10°C (14°F). The front element also has a fluorine coating for dirt and oil resistance.
While the lens is far from being a macro – it offers a maximum magnification of 0.28x at 21mm – it still has relatively close-focusing abilities and can focus on a subject at 15cm (5.9") in its 18-21mm focal range. Fully zoomed in, its closest focusing distance goes up to 35cm (13.8").
Image: PanasonicThe 18-40mm is made up of 8 elements in 7 groups and features 3 aspherical elements, 2 ED elements and a UHR element. It accepts 62mm filters.
Panasonic is making this lens the new kit lens for the S9. The creator-focused camera originally launched with the company's 20-60mm f3.5-5.6 as the kit lens, which has greater reach and brighter max aperture at the cost of being double the weight of the 18-40mm. Given the S9's focus on being a small, portable full-frame camera, it seems likely the trade-off will be worth it for at least some of the audience Panasonic is targeting with the S9.
S9 w/ 18-40mm lens
$1,797 at B&H $1,799 at Amazon $1,799 at AdoramaS9 users take note: while the lens may have some level of weather sealing, the camera itself does not.
The new colors round out the S9 lineup.
Image: Panasonic
The company is also announcing two new colors of the S9: a mint green and 'sakura' pink model will be available in the US, in addition to the existing black, blue, olive, and red models.
On its own, the lens will be $499, and the S9 kit that includes it will cost $1,799, the same as the 20-60mm kit. That may make the kit a slightly worse value, depending on how you look at it; purchased by itself, the 20-60mm costs $100 more than the 18-40mm. The lens, along with the new S9 colors, will be available in mid-November.
Panasonic has also announced new software updates that bring some substantial changes to the S9; you can read our coverage of them here.
Click to see our 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 sample gallery
Buy now:
$499 at Amazon.com$497 at B&H Photo$499 at AdoramaPress Release:
Panasonic introduces the World’s Smallest and Lightest* Zoom Lens: LUMIX S 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 (S-R1840)Newark, N.J. (October 8, 2024) – Panasonic is pleased to announce the new LUMIX S 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 lens based on the L-Mount system standard.
The new LUMIX S 18-40mm is the world’s smallest and lightest* zoom lens, weighing approximately 155g/0.34lb, and is designed to be a compact and lightweight addition to the LUMIX S Series full frame lens line up. This lens covers focal lengths from an ultra-wide angle of 18mm to a standard 40mm, with a closest shooting distance of 0.15m/0.49ft, allowing for the flexibility to capture expansive landscapes and buildings or portrait shots in a natural perspective.
In addition, the lens incorporates the high-quality video performance expected from LUMIX with effective focus breathing suppression.
Main Features
1. The World's Smallest and Lightest* Zoom LensThe LUMIX S 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 (S-R1840) will be available for purchase in Mid-November 2024 at valued channel partners for $499.99 USD for the lens and $1799.99 for the N Kit (S9 body + 18-40 lens).
In addition, LUMIX is announcing two new colors to the S9 assortment – Sakura Pink and Mint Green, which will be available for purchase Mid-November. All six colorways will also be available in a new kit that features the S9 body and the S 18-40mm lens, offering the perfect travel partner for creators on the go.
*As of October 8, 2024. Among AF compatible interchangeable zoom lenses for full-frame mirrorless cameras.
**The world's thinnest at just 40.9mm when retracted.
Lumix S 18-40mm F4.5-6.3 Specifications: Principal specificationsLens typeZoom lensMax Format size35mm FFFocal length18–40 mmImage stabilizationNoLens mountL-MountApertureMaximum apertureF4.5–6.3Minimum apertureF22–32Aperture ringNoNumber of diaphragm blades7OpticsElements8Groups7Special elements / coatings3 Aspheric, 2 ED, 1 UHRFocusMinimum focus0.15 m (5.91″)Maximum magnification0.28×AutofocusYesMotor typeStepper motorFull time manualNoFocus methodInternalDistance scaleNoDoF scaleNoPhysicalWeight155 g (0.34 lb)Diameter68 mm (2.68″)Length41 mm (1.61″)SealingYesColourBlackZoom methodRotary (extending)Power zoomNoFilter thread62 mmTripod collarNoIn a world first, an autonomous electric ferry began commercial operation in Stockholm last year, transporting up to 25 passengers between islands in the region. Now the vessel has been remotely operated from 600 km away.
Tags: Autonomous, Electric Boats, Remote
It's Prime Big Deals Days, Amazon's pre-holiday sales event, and DPReview has been keeping a close eye on camera prices from top brands. To help you navigate the hype, we're highlighting some of our recent Gold and Silver award-winning cameras on sale during the event. In some cases, it's not the first time these products have been priced this low, but these are still some of the best prices we've seen.
Similar deals may also be available from other retailers like B&H Photo and Adorama, as well as from manufacturers' own websites.
Gold Award winners Canon EOS R5: $2899 (save $1000)Although there's been a lot of hype over the new EOS R5 II in recent months, the original Canon EOS R5 is still a solid 45MP camera that can deliver incredible image quality.
Read our Canon EOS R5 review.
Buy now:
$2899 at Amazon Canon EOS R6 II: $1999 (save $500)The EOS R6 II is Canon's enthusiast-level workhorse camera. This 24MP full-frame camera includes features like 40fps burst shooting, Raw burst mode with pre-capture, and 4K/60p video capture that's oversampled from 6K video.
Read our Canon EOS R6 II review.
Buy now:
$1999 at Amazon Nikon Z8: $3496 (save $500)The 45MP Nikon Z8 is one of the most impressive mirrorless cameras we've tested, delivering most of the features found in Nikon's flagship Z9 model in a smaller body.
Read our Nikon Z8 review.
Buy now:
$3496 at Amazon Sony a7R V: $3498 (save $400)The a7R V is Sony's flagship high-resolution camera body, delivering 61MP of resolution, impressive detail, excellent dynamic range, and a powerful AF system.
Read our Sony a7R V review.
Buy now:
$3498 at Amazon Sony a7 IV: $2298 (save $200)The Sony a7 IV is an enthusiast-level camera with a 33MP full-frame sensor that delivers excellent dynamic range, captures 10-bit 4K video, and features an autofocus system that works well in both modes.
Read our Sony a7 IV review.
Buy now:
$2298 at Amazon Sony a7R IV: $2998 (save $200)Sony's a7R IV is a few years old and lacks some of the updated features found on the newer a7R V, but its 61MP sensor matches the quality of the newer model. If you want a camera that can deliver high-quality, high-resolution images and aren't worried about missing out on some of the newer features, the a7R IV offers a lot of bang for the buck.
Read our Sony a7R IV review.
Buy now:
$2998 at Amazon Sony a7S III: $3198 (save $300)Sony's video-focused a7S III is the third generation of Sony's a7S line. It produces outstanding video and can capture 4K video at frame rates up to 120p.
Read our Sony a7S III review.
Buy now:
$3198 at Amazon Silver Award winners Canon EOS R8: $1299 (save $200)The EOS R8 is an entry-level full-frame camera from Canon. Although it doesn't have some of the advanced features found on Canon's more expensive models, it's built around the same 24MP sensor found on the EOS R6 II and can deliver excellent image quality.
Read our Canon EOS R8 review.
Buy now:
$1299 at Amazon Nikon Z7 II: $1996 (save $1000)The Nikon Z7 II is a high-resolution full-frame camera featuring a 45MP image sensor. This model has been around for a few years, but if you're looking for a high-resolution Nikon body and don't need the updated features in the newer Z8, it can still deliver outstanding image quality that won't disappoint.
Read our Nikon Z7 II review.
Buy now:
$1996 at Amazon Nikon Z6 II: $1596 (save $400)The enthusiast-oriented Nikon Z6 II may have been overshadowed by the hype surrounding its recently launched successor, the Z6III. However, like several other models on this list, it can still deliver excellent image quality if you don't need the updated features found on the latest and greatest models.
Read our Nikon Z6 II review.
Buy now:
$1596 at AmazonSeeking to improve the tokamak fusion reactor known as ITER, researchers have found a way to stop rogue tungsten atoms from shearing off the walls and messing with the plasma. The finding is another important milestone on fusion's road to success.
Category: Energy, Technology
Tags: Nuclear Fusion, fusion engineering, Tokamak reactor, Princeton University, Plasma, Stellarator
Swedish company NoviOcean has tested a third-gen prototype of its combination wind/solar/wave energy platform, a floating platform rated for up to 1 megawatt of consistent clean energy around the clock thanks to a fascinating buoyancy-driven mechanism. Next step: a full-scale pilot.
Category: Energy, Technology
Tags: Wind Power, Wave Power, Solar Power, Floating offshore wind, Floating, Renewable Energy, Clean Energy
ESA's Hera spacecraft designed to assess NASA's experiment to deflect an asteroid has launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. At 14:52 GMT, the robotic probe lifted off atop a Falcon 9 rocket to begin its three-year mission.
Tags: ESA, NASA, Asteroid Redirect Mission, Asteroid
Giving psilocybin to rats made them more optimistic in the longer term, suggesting that the psychedelic substance could have great potential in treating a core symptom of depression in humans.
Category: Body & Mind
Tags: Psychedelic Medicine, psilocybin, Depression, Monash University
One picture taken every day of the year starting September 2023 through to September 2024 provides a pretty fascinating perspective of the twilight zone transit due to the Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt as it orbits around the Sun.
Tags: Earth, Calendar, International Space Station, Satellite, Weather
Even if you don't usually carry a multitool, there are times when a pen, a craft knife or a screwdriver could just be super handy. The Ti-ONE gives you these and more at a super-compact size small enough to hang off a keychain or necklace.
Tags: Multitools, Titanium, Kickstarter, Crowdfunding
