BBC Future

Best science and technology pictures of the week

  • Fly’s-eye view
    A soldier fly, as photographed by Laurie Knight – one of the finalists at the 2012 Olympus BioScapes Digital Imaging Competition. (www.OlympusBioScapes.com)
  • Out to space
    The Soyuz TMA-07M spaceship transported to a launch pad at the Russian leased Kazakh Baikonur cosmodrome before it took off for the International Space Station. (Copyright: Getty)
  • Close call
    A diver dressed as Santa Claus from the Manly SEA LIFE Sanctuary near Sydney, swims with a Grey Nurse shark. (Copyright: Getty Images)
  • Preserving history
    Fragments of the 2000-year-old Dead Sea scrolls. Israel has put 5,000 fragments of the ancient Dead Sea scrolls online in a partnership with Google. (Copyright: Getty Images)
  • Feeling ruff
    Radiologist Anthony Fischetti gives an ultrasound to a sick dog at New York’s Animal Medical Center, which treats up to 40,000 animal visits annually. (Copyright: Getty Images)
  • Stealth launch
    The nEUROn, a European Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle on show at French defence group Dassault’s factory. A combat version will be released in 2015. (Copyright: Getty Images)
  • Apocalypse now?
    A member of the Ukrainian Internet Party in a stormtrooper outfit hands out goods to supposedly save Ukrainians from the end of the world on 21 December. (Copyright: Getty Images)
  • Christmas message
    Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gave a speech from the Ecuadorian Embassy in London, saying he would release a million more documents in 2013. (Copyright: Getty Images)
  • Mapping mountains
    Google Engineering Director Luc Vincent in a snowmobile fitted with cameras to photograph slopes of the Ax-les-Thermes ski resort for Google Street View. (Copyright: Getty Images)
  • Christmas munch
    Aldabra Tortoises receive a special Christmas treat at Taronga Zoo in Sydney, Australia. (Copyright: Getty Images)

HIDE CAPTION

The most amazing pictures from the past seven days – including animals of all shapes and sizes, Christmas treats… and you guessed it… the end of the world.

More stunning image galleries:

Bathing snow monkeys, a tweeting pope and elephant dung coffee.

Architectural giants and a new way of seeing the Moon

Red pandas, Saturn and Nature’s unstoppable forces

The world's largest bloom, the world's largest aquarium and the world's fastest sailing boat

Venice under water, a total eclipse and a pedestrian-avoiding car

Space shuttle, Baumgartner and Hurricane Sandy

 

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