FROM ICE bubbles to boiling lava, these photographs highlight the stunning shapes and patterns found in nature. The series of extraordinary images were taken by German software engineer Thorsten Scheuermann after he decided to examine his surroundings. A trip to the city of Kalapana in Hawaii, home to the Kilauea Volcano, provided Thorsten with the setting for his lava picture, while a visit to the Columbia River Gorge in Oregon offered him the opportunity to photograph ice bubbles up-close. The 37-year-old, now of Washington, USA, said: 'These are sights that can gain greater significance and have their beauty exposed when excluding everything else around them.'
STANDING on its hind legs, a nosey polar bear presses its paws against the window of a truck and takes a peek at the tourist inside .
SOARING through the air, this is the moment a hungry tawny owl arrives home with dinner .
WITH A wide smile plastered across his face, this little gecko is ready for his close up .
A panic stricken kitten that got her head stuck in a car tyre has been freed by quick thinking RSPCA staff .
This starling and prairie dog will not back down an inch as they have a fearsome stand-off over who gets to eat a nut .
A mum-of-one was left looking like a ‘monster’ after suffering a horrific allergic reaction to hair dye while pregnant .
A woman who had three botched nose jobs finally feels pretty after forking out £8 .
An intrepid photographer travelled to the abandoned ghost town of Bodie in northern California to capture the historic buildings that are trapped in time .
A puppy bit off more than he could chew when he stole a six inch Chinese spare rib from his owner and swallowed it WHOLE, Cheeky Staffordshire bull terrier Rossi had his life SPARED when he underwent a life-saving operation to remove the bone from his stomach after swiping part of the takeaway meal .
A transgender woman has beaten the bullies after spending £25K on surgery to become a beauty pageant queen .
A brave praying mantis makes an unusual friend in an Oriental garden lizard .
Villages on the Somerset Levels have faced weeks of flooding with no respite from the conditions in sight .