See all 10 of the top photographs and find out how perseverance—and a ton of patience—got Karthik Subramaniam the grand-prize-winning shot. on.natgeo.com/3kA41OY

Spanning the globe from Afghanistan to Texas, these imagemakers tell the important stories of humans, nature, and how they intersect. on.natgeo.com/3IFNfGb

The Apostle Islands, surrounded by the notoriously treacherous waters of Lake Superior, are home to thick forests, diverse wildlife, and the spiritual center of the Ojibwe people. on.natgeo.com/3Zy9QLw

Native to the Scottish Highlands, these color-changing mammals thrive in tough winter conditions. But now there’s less snow. on.natgeo.com/3ZbnYL8

At long last, cultural treasures are being returned to former colonies. Richard Barnes traveled the world to document their journeys home. on.natgeo.com/3YdfLF1

These intimate portraits of arachnids show how unique, beautiful, and even charming they are. on.natgeo.com/3Zu6YPV

From substances like artificial vanilla and vitamin C, a photographer creates a realm of enchantment. on.natgeo.com/3EOddX3

From Amelia Earhart to Percy Fawcett’s expedition to the Lost City of Z, the fate of these five explorers remains mysterious. on.natgeo.com/3Z8PyZm

Obsessed with a treasure city, conquistador Francisco Pizarro captured the Inca emperor Atahualpa. on.natgeo.com/3meWGVJ

Curators are realizing that returning looted artifacts isn’t closing museums—it’s opening new doors. on.natgeo.com/3IIIviW

First thought to belong to an English lady-in-waiting, the lavish silk clothing from a 17th-century Dutch vessel is just one of many mysteries surrounding the last voyage of the Palmwood Wreck. on.natgeo.com/41o4B2Z

Two farm cats sit amongst a stack of wooden stock crates.

Craig Cutler only had three chances over three days to get this image of the prototype that may someday help detect signs of life in the universe. on.natgeo.com/3IP7lPF

Fancy, feathered, and fascinating, these birds surprised portrait photographer Alex ten Napel with their beauty and charisma. on.natgeo.com/3IPhFam

Lion cubs play together in Serengeti National Park, Tanzania.

National Geographic photographers captured moments of resilience, levity, and victory to commemorate the challenges we faced in 2021. on.natgeo.com/3YUMH6t

A small horned flying lizard sits on a branch in the Bornean rainforest.

On a mission to explore biodiversity in South America, Renan Ozturk hiked nearly 60 miles, then climbed to the top of a stone plateau, or tepui—where he took the shot on Nat Geo's April 2022 cover. on.natgeo.com/3Sa49AZ

An adult and juvenile horse cast shadows on a wooden shed in Montana, US.

The remains from nine individuals apparently stashed in a cave by hyenas is just one example of recent finds that reveal new details of Neanderthal life. on.natgeo.com/3KgeN7F