National Geographic's Best News Photos of the Year

1. Python Devours Live Sheep

It is not surprising that a python can swallow a rat or a bird alive, but in Malaysia, a large python was found to have swallowed a pregnant ewe!

According to local media reports, this 6-meter-long python was discovered in the village of Kamip Nong Jaber near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. After swallowing this astonishing meal, its belly swelled into a large round ball, leaving it unable to move. The firefighters effortlessly captured it. Relevant personnel discussed how to handle the python, which weighed 90 kilograms when discovered. They had two options: either send it to the zoo or release it back into the wild.

It is reported that pythons are known for their "big stomachs" in the animal world and often make wrong judgments, thinking they can swallow certain things. In July, a Burmese python accidentally swallowed an oversized electric blanket, and subsequently, doctors performed surgery on it.

2. 'Flaming' Rainbow Appears Over Idaho

The rainbow over Idaho looked as if it were on fire, a phenomenon known in meteorology as a circumhorizontal arc. This occurs only when the sun's position in the sky forms an angle greater than 58 degrees with the horizon. Local media reported that this flaming rainbow covered hundreds of square miles of the sky and lasted about an hour.

3. Giant Jellyfish Attack Japan

Last summer, Japanese waters began to suffer from attacks by a type of giant marine creature - jellyfish. The jellyfish living in Japanese waters can grow up to 2 meters wide and weigh up to 220 kilograms. In some parts of Japan's seas, the number of jellyfish has increased hundreds of times, seriously threatening local fisheries development. Researchers say that global warming may be one of the reasons for the massive reproduction of jellyfish.

4. New Species Discovered in Indonesia's 'Lost World'

This rare golden mantled tree kangaroo was discovered at the end of 2005 by scientists from the United States, Australia, and Indonesia on an isolated island in Indonesia. Researchers said that this is the most beautiful kangaroo in the world and also the most precious marsupial living in forested areas. It is the first time scientists have discovered this mammal in Indonesia.

In February this year, the expedition team also discovered a large number of new species in the tropical rainforest of Papua Province in Indonesia, which could be called Earth's "lost world." This pristine forest, never before stepped upon by humans, contains at least 40 new species and many rare species. There are many new types of birds, frogs, butterflies, and palm trees here, all of which clearly retain their primitive appearance. Expedition members said that this might be the most pristine ecosystem in the entire Asia-Pacific region.

5. Flies Wearing Glasses

From March 20 to 25, a scientific image exhibition will be held at the Olympia Shopping Center in Munich, Germany. With the help of special laser technology, scientists managed to put glasses on a fly whose head is only 2 millimeters in size.

Micreon Company, headquartered in Hanover, used ultra-speed laser micro-processing technology to create these glasses for the fly. The company stated that this technology can produce objects with a precision of one-thousandth of a millimeter.

6. House Cat Forces Black Bear Up a Tree

In New Jersey, USA, a bear was chased up a tree by a small cat. This little cat named Jack weighs only 14 pounds, and the news that it forced the bear into the yard spread quickly, greatly surprising its owner and neighbors.

Initially, the couple saw a black bear curled up in one of their trees with Jack the kitten looking up. They thought Jack was just curious, but soon realized that the bear was actually afraid of the roaring cat. About 15 minutes later, the bear dared to come down from the tree to escape, but Jack pounced, scaring the bear onto another tree. Dick, who heard the news, worried that Jack would get hurt, so he quickly called Jack home. The bear took the opportunity to slip into the woods.

7. Pyramid Found in Bosnia?

On April 19, Bosnian researchers uncovered the first evidence of an ancient pyramid hidden beneath a large mountain: a series of geometrically regular stone slabs, which may have been used to pave the pyramid’s slopes.

Archaeologists discovered some huge stone slabs while excavating a mysterious large mountain near the small town of Visoko in Bosnia. Archaeologists believe these slabs are the outer layer of the pyramid. Previously, archaeologists had claimed that this 650-meter-high mountain overlooking the town of Visoko is actually a pyramid, which would be the first pyramid discovered in Europe. The discovery on April 19 strongly supported this theory. Archaeologists believe that this structure is 220 meters high, making it one-third taller than Egypt's Great Pyramid of Giza.

8. Beauty Robot Debuts in South Korea

The world's second beauty robot was born in South Korea. She is the latest female humanoid robot launched by the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology (KITECH) after Japan introduced the female robot ACTROID in 2003. This beauty robot is named "EveR-1". Scientists said that it cost over $300,000 to develop "EveR-1", whose overall image resembles a 20-year-old Korean woman, with height and weight similar to a real Korean girl - 1.60 meters tall and weighing 50 kilograms.

The lower body of this South Korean beauty robot is fixed to a chair and cannot move fully yet, but her upper body and hands can move, and she can express four facial expressions - joy, anger, sorrow, happiness - through 15 miniature power devices and can speak 400 words. Most interestingly, she can adjust her mouth shape according to the pronunciation characteristics of each word while speaking, and she also has realistic eyes.

Scientists at the Korea Institute of Industrial Technology said they plan to launch "EveR-2" by the end of this year. "EveR-2" will not only be able to stand completely but will also have perfect facial expressions and vivid eyes. Scientists hope that their Eve series robots will not only work as guides in shopping malls and museums but also play with children.

9. Greedy Python Swallows Electric Blanket

A 3.5-meter-long Burmese python in the United States swallowed an entire electric blanket during lunchtime. The electric blanket was originally used by the snake's owner to keep this 27-kilogram snake warm, but the snake ate both the electric blanket and the rabbit intended as its meal. Veterinarians then performed a two-hour surgery on the python, leaving a 46-centimeter-long incision on its body. The veterinarian performing the surgery had never operated on a snake before, fortunately receiving expert guidance on-site.

10. Duck X-ray Reveals Alien-Like Image

The California Avian Society discovered an injured mallard duck and sent it to the hospital. The veterinarian took an X-ray to check if its wing was broken. Unexpectedly, an alien-like face appeared in the duck's abdomen, leaving many people amazed.

The image shown is the X-ray of the duck, revealing a pattern faintly visible in the lower right part of the abdomen, resembling an alien's face upon closer inspection. This X-ray has been placed online for auction, with the proceeds donated to avian conservation organizations.