Every year the contest produces exceptional results and 2022 is no different.

Their years contest received almost 1,300 entries from 72 countries.

Thanks to his work, we’re able to see the complexity of the gecko.

Embryonic hand of a Madagascar giant day gecko

Embryonic hand of a Madagascar giant day gecko (Phelsuma grandis), 1st Place, Grigorii Timin & Dr. Michel Milinkovitch, University of Geneva, Department of Genetics and Evolution, Confocal, 63X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Each image was judged not only for its scientific technique, but also its artistry.

In this way, Nikon Small World recognizes that photomicrography is an intersection of science and art.

Scroll down for the top 15 images from this year’s competition and see all the winnershere.

A fly under the chin of a tiger beetle

A fly under the chin of a tiger beetle, Murat Öztürk, 10th Place, Ankara, Turkey, Image Stacking, 3.7X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Unburned particles of carbon released when the hydrocarbon chain of candle wax breaks down

Unburned particles of carbon released when the hydrocarbon chain of candle wax breaks down, 6th Place, Ole Bielfeldt, Macrofying, Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, Brightfield, Image Stacking, 2.5X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Photo of Moth Eggs Under a Microscope

Moth eggs, Ye Fei Zhang, 11th Place, Jiang Yin, Jiangsu, China, Image Stacking, 10X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Macro Photo of Slime Mold

Slime mold (Lamproderma), 5th Place, Alison Pollack, San Anselmo, California, USA, Image Stacking, Reflected Light, 10X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Long-bodied cellar/daddy long-legs spider

Long-bodied cellar/daddy long-legs spider (Pholcus phalangioides), 4th Place, Dr. Andrew Posselt, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), Department of Surgery, Image Stacking, 3X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Growing tip of a red algae

Growing tip of a red algae, Dr. Nathanaël Prunet, 8th Place, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Department of Biology, Confocal, 10X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Blood vessel networks in the intestine of an adult mouse

Blood vessel networks in the intestine of an adult mouse, 3rd Place, Satu Paavonsalo & Dr. Sinem Karaman, University of Helsinki, Individualized Drug Therapy Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, Confocal, 10X (Object Lens Magnification)

Breast tissue showing contractile myoepithelial cells wrapped around milk-producing alveoli

Breast tissue showing contractile myoepithelial cells wrapped around milk-producing alveoli, 2nd Place, Dr. Caleb Dawson, WEHI, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Department of Immunology, Confocal, 40X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Human neurons derived from neural stem cells

Human neurons derived from neural stem cells (NSCs), Dr. Jianqun Gao & Prof. Glenda Halliday, 7th Place, University of Sydney, Central Clinical School / Professor Glenda Halliday’s Lab, Confocal, Fluorescence, 20X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Autofluorescence of a single coral polyp

Autofluorescence of a single coral polyp (approx. 1 mm), Brett M. Lewis, 12th Place, Queensland University of Technology, Department of Earth and Atmospheric Science, Fluorescence, Image Stacking, 20X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Agatized dinosaur bone

Agatized dinosaur bone, Randy Fullbright, 13th Place, Fullbright Studio, Vernal, Utah, USA, Image Stacking, 60X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Differentiated cultured mouse myoblasts with lysosomes

Differentiated cultured mouse myoblasts with lysosomes (cyan/green), nuclei (yellow), F-actin (magenta), Nadia Efimova, 14th Place, Amicus Therapeutics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Confocal, 40X (Objective Lens Magnification)

Cross sections of normal human colon epithelial crypts

Cross sections of normal human colon epithelial crypts, Dr. Ziad El-Zaatari, 15th Place, Houston Methodist Hospital, Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Brightfield, 20X (Objective Lens Magnification)