A beetle dances on a pin, nanotubes glow like a microscopic sun, drugs yield crystal rainbows, and more in the top ten micro-photos of the year.

A red deer stag roars during mating season, a rescued penguin returns to the sea, and more in our weekly update of animal photos.

A Russian rocket carries an American space tourist, the Hubble Space Telescope discovers a "Cosmic Eye," and more in our weekly update of space photos.

Hundreds of fruit species flourish in the Amazon region, but relatively few--like antioxidant-rich acai, a wild palm fruit --ever reach international markets. Experts say fruits are a vital part of the Amazon's wealth and may provide important alternatives to timber.

The first ever photo of a live Sumatran muntjac is also the first record of the species in 80 years and establishes the muntjac as a "new" species, exerts say.

The Western Wall, the Queen Elizabeth 2, Iceland's financial meltdown, and more are featured in our picks of the week's news photos.

A "hairy" crab, spiky sea stars, and a bright red shrimp are among the 274 new species found during a research survey of Australia's deep ocean.

Hundreds of penguins march seaward, a European tree frog sits on a zoo keeper's finger, and more in our weekly roundup of animal photos.

NASA gets a close look at Mercury, massive young stars drive stellar birth, and more in our weekly roundup of space photos.

Hundreds of hot air balloons prepare for flight, firecrackers explode at a vegetarian festival in Phuket, and more in our weekly update of culture photos.

Roughly 38 percent of the world's known species are near extinction, according to a comprehensive survey done to create the 2008 Red List of Threatened Species.

A lion mounts a horse, a skull is knifed, China celebrates its first space walk, and more in our picks of the week's news photos.

The entire planet comes into stunning focus using a new technique that removes atmospheric distortion.

A southern white rhino learns fighting skills from its father, a man frees a rehabilitated eagle, and more in our weekly roundup of animal photos.

The ESA's Jules Verne spacecraft reenters Earth's atmosphere, the Circinus galaxy appears in a composite image, and more in our weekly roundup of space photos.