This week: Mesmerizing tornadoes on the surface of the sun and fireflies dancing in New York City. Plus, seldom seen photos from World War II.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY MIGUEL CLARO

Astrophotographer Miguel Claro has spent years photographing the chromosphere, a thin layer of plasma between the Sun's visible surface, the photosphere, and its outer corona. Thousands of solar tornadoes swirl above the sun’s surface at any given moment, and these remarkable photos give us a glimpse at these stunning cosmic phenomena.

PHOTOGRAPH BY EXPLORER SRIRAM MURALI

You don’t have to travel to the deep woods or open prairie to experience these otherworldly insects. In fact, several firefly species can be found quietly blinking in the heart of some of the United States’ largest cities. Read more to find out how photographer and Explorer Sriram Murali managed to capture these insects despite intense light pollution.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY BRITTA JASCHINSKI 

Gorillas have unique palm- and fingerprints. Specimens like this one at London’s Natural History Museum are helping forensics experts practice how to collect and catalog the differences among live gorillas in Africa. That way, if one gets poached, its prints can offer a clue to where the crime occurred. It’s part of a host of CSI-type tactics law enforcement are putting to work to stop poaching.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JODY MACDONALD

The wild is a sanctuary

In the stillness of Oregon's backcountry, National Geographic photographer Jody MacDonald finds sanctuary—thanks to the ability to get away and stay awhile.

Photograph by the U.S. Navy 

FROM THE ARCHIVE: Seldom seen photographs from World War II include this shot of crewmen of a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier work to get rid of post-battle nervous strain by taking a swim in the warm waters of a lagoon in the Marshalls.

Thanks for reading today’s newsletter, which was edited and curated by William O'Connor. It was produced by Amanda Petty. Did someone forward this to you? Sign up here to catch next week’s Photo of the Week newsletter.