2017 in pictures: One of the best science images of the year A spectacular total eclipse

The spectacular total solar eclipse that swept the United States dominated headlines as it delighted scientists and the public alike in August 2017 (the composite image above shows the event’s progression as seen from Perryville, Missouri). The year also brought innovations in spaceflight and surprising insights into species past. Here are the striking shots from science and the natural world that caught the eyes of Nature’s editors.

I give Credit to: David Klutho/Sports Illustrated/Getty

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-017-08492-y

Credit: Teresa Zgoda/Nikon Small World

WORM FROM HELL: This nightmarish creature is the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, captured at ×200 magnification. The image was a finalist in Nikon’s Small World photography competition.!

THE ONLY WAY IS UP! The arrow-shaped relief on this calcite crystal, imaged by a scanning electron microscope, is governed by a protein that binds to the crystal surface and patterns it as it grows.!