15 of The Best Science Pics From Our Instagram Page in 2016

2016 has been one hell of a year. Gravitational waves were detected, the 'impossible' EM Drive passed peer review, and it's set to be the hottest year on record.

Now, as 2016 finally comes to a close, it's time to look back at some of the most incredible images it dished up, plus the facts that made us stop and think, and the jokes that helped us procrastinate at work (ILU multiverse memes).

The ScienceAlert Instagram page is full of weird facts, great science jokes, and amazing pictures - here are some of our favourites from 2016:

 

A few weeks ago, Graziani Reptiles Inc. hatched these two pythons. It's apparently the first time they've had twins with two different phenotypes, and we kind of love them. ?? ?: Graziani Reptiles Inc. #science #snakes #sciencealert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Oct 10, 2016 at 12:30pm PDT

How is this even possible:

 

Photographer Francisco Negroni captured this ridiculous pic of the Cordon Caulle Volcano exploding with volcanic lightning back in 2009. Volcanic lightning occurs when electrical charge builds up inside ash plumes close to the ground, creating one of the most awesomely horrific sights in nature. ? ?: Francisco Negroni #Volcanoes #Lightning #ScienceAlert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Oct 25, 2016 at 5:32am PDT

;D 😀

 

Pretty much us after we eat lunch, too. ? ?: HappyPsych0/Imgur #Lizards #Animals #ScienceAlert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Dec 15, 2016 at 4:31pm PST

Our hero:

 

When you and your mates leave the lab to start a rockband. ?: The Science Explorer #science #sciencealert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Jul 14, 2016 at 1:08am PDT

 

? Amazing ?: Laurence Murphy #ocean #blue #beautiful #science #sciencealert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Aug 6, 2016 at 12:36pm PDT

What a shot! (And before digital cameras took off…):

 

Lenticular clouds form under special conditions, and look completely out of this world! This photo shows the clouds over Mount Hotaka in Japan in 1994. ☁️ ⛰ ?: Alpsdake/Wikimedia #science #clouds #sciencealert #amazing

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Nov 23, 2016 at 4:37am PST

Sassy:

 

That caiman crocodile was probably pretty salty that day. ? . . ?: Mark Cowan #animals #butterfly #science #sciencealert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Sep 18, 2016 at 6:10pm PDT

You got this!

 

Seems legit. ? ?: babaBC #science #sciencealert #funny

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Nov 5, 2016 at 4:59pm PDT

 

The episodes typically last minutes but can last up to several hours. ☹ ?: NeriumOleander/Reddit #science #crazy #autoimmune #sciencealert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Dec 16, 2016 at 11:31pm PST

 

This particular shape is a defence mechanism - but it still looks so weird!✨ ?: Arabinda Pal #science #sciencealert #cosmos #space

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Oct 28, 2016 at 5:19pm PDT

We want to go:

 

Las Coloradas Yucatan has pink water on one side, due to plankton and brine shrimp changing the colour - and compared to the regular green water it looks spectacular! ?: Mike Corey/Youtube #science #sciencealert #amazing

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Nov 13, 2016 at 11:21am PST

Owl puns FTW:

 

"Sorry officer, I don't know 'hoo' you're talking about." ? ? : Animal Memes #dadjokes #puns #science #owls #sciencealert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Nov 9, 2016 at 10:36am PST

 

This awesome picture of Mt. Etna errupting in December 2015 was taken by photographer Giuseppe Mario Famiani, and it just won best nature photo at the Siena International Photo Awards! ?: Giuseppe Mario Famiani #Volcanoes #Nature #ScienceAlert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Nov 7, 2016 at 4:32am PST

So shiny:

 

Check out this white-lipped python! These beautiful reptiles call New Guinea home, where they can grow to become 2 metres (6.5 feet) long! They look like they sort of have dragon scales, too. ? ?: Christopher Ng #Reptiles #Snakes #ScienceAlert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Dec 13, 2016 at 11:32pm PST

Four beautiful seasons:

 

This picture shows the changing of the seasons. ??❄️ Reddit user tylercasson undertook this year-long project in 2011-2012 at Lake Springfield, Illinois. ?: tylercasson #seasons #spring #winter #autumn #fall #science #sciencealert

A photo posted by ScienceAlert (@sciencealert) on Aug 27, 2016 at 1:37am PDT

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Happy Holidays, everyone!