The pilot-wave theory, first proposed by French physicist Louis de Broglie in 1927 is not something that is easy to wrap your head around. In a very broad sense, it theorises that quantum particles are simultaneously waves and particles, but today is not a day for physics lessons. Instead, it is one for marvelling at the incredible power of photography to capture the scientific world at its best.
And that is what this picture of silicone oil droplets does, picking up the Royal Society Publishing Photography Competition 2019 in the process.
![Overall Winner, Micro Imaging, Quantum Droplets (Labuda) Quantum Droplet © Aleks Labuda](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Overall-Winner-Micro-Imaging-Quantum-Droplets-Labuda-926815a.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
“These silicone oil droplets are bouncing indefinitely above a vibrating pool of silicone oil at 15 Hz,” said winning photographer and physicist Dr Aleks Labuda, who used a petri dish on top of a loud speaker to capture the wave-particle effects. “The surface waves generated by the droplets are analogous to quantum mechanical waves that guide the dynamics of quantum particles. While the droplets move like quantum particles, they behave like quantum waves.”
If you want to know more about the weird world of quantum physics, we have a couple of excellent articles explaining the weird world of teleportation, tardigrades and entanglement and why we need to rethink quantum physics, but until then, just admire these beautiful award-winning photos from the Royal Society photography competition.
Astronomy
Winner
![Astronomy, Winner, Halo (Kapychka) Halo © Mikhail Kapychka](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Astronomy-Winner-Halo-Kapychka-5de9b6d.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Runner-up
![Astronomy, Runner Up, Taranaki Stars (Orr) Taranaki Stars © James Orr](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Astronomy-Runner-Up-Taranaki-Stars-Orr-b4b880b.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Honourable mention
![9543 Merrill Equinox Astronomy HM Equinox Supermoon Over the Coast Range © Loren Merrill](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/9543-Merrill-Equinox-Astronomy-HM-62c86c8.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
See more out of this world astrophotography pictures:
Behaviour
Winner
![Behaviour, Winner, Mudskippers (Field) Behaviour, Winner, Mudskippers (Field)](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Behaviour-Winner-Mudskippers-Field-010baad.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Runner-up
![Behaviour, Runner Up, Jellyfish (Sampaio) Jelly-Fish association © Eduardo Sampaio](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Behaviour-Runner-Up-Jellyfish-Sampaio-010baad.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Honourable mention
![Fight Club © Alwin Hardenbol Fight Club © Alwin Hardenbol](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/9174-Hardenbol-Fight-Club-Behaviour-HM-815d28a.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
See more amazing wildlife photography:
- Cheeky lion pic tops 40-strong Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards 2019 shortlist
- 14 amazing photos from the BMC Ecology Image Competition 2018
Earth Science and Climatology
Winner
![Earth Science, Winner, Twister (Marchant) Twister in the Yukon © Lauren Marchant](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Earth-Science-Winner-Twister-Marchant-69349a4.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Runner-up
![Earth Science, Runner Up, Fizzy Sea (Shlesinger) Fizzy Sea © Tom Shlesinger](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Earth-Science-Runner-Up-Fizzy-Sea-Shlesinger-7e516da.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Honourable mention
![Mammatus on Fire © Cándido R. Vicente Calle Mammatus on Fire © Cándido R. Vicente Calle](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/9454-Calle-Mamatus-on-Fire-Earth-Sci-HM-62c86c8.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Honourable mention
![The Child of Krakatoa Awakes © James DP Moore The Child of Krakatoa Awakes © James DP Moore](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/9431-Moore-Krakatoa-Astronomy-HM-095e733.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Ecology and Environmental Science
Winner
![Ecology, Winner, Bennett-Smith Fade to White © Morgan Bennett-Smith](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Ecology-Winner-Bennett-Smith-a37aac9.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Runner-up
![Ecology, Runner Up, Vigilant Soldier (Bayani) A Vigilant Soldier © Abhijeet Bayani](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Ecology-Runner-Up-Vigilant-Soldier-Bayani-f648e46.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Honourable mention
![Abstract water gallery © Daniela Rapavá Abstract water gallery © Daniela Rapavá](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/9619-Rapava-Abstract-Ecology-HM-4c060ab.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
See some of the best underwater photography from the last few years:
- 39 stunning photos from the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 competition
- Beautiful winners from the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2018 competition
Micro-imaging
Winner/Overall winner
![Overall Winner, Micro Imaging, Quantum Droplets (Labuda) Quantum Droplet © Aleks Labuda](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Overall-Winner-Micro-Imaging-Quantum-Droplets-Labuda-926815a.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Runner-up
![Magnetostatic Spawn © Aleks Labuda Magnetostatic Spawn © Aleks Labuda](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Micro-Imaging-Runner-Up-Magnetostatic-Spawn-Labuda-9957388.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Honourable mention
![Micro Imaging, Runner Up, Stitched up (Weston) Completely stitched up © Anne Weston](https://c02.purpledshub.com/uploads/sites/41/2019/12/Micro-Imaging-Runner-Up-Stitched-up-Weston-63c0dcc.jpg?webp=1&w=1200)
Take a deeper look into the macroscopic world: