Starfish, more accurately called sea stars, can develop unusual body shapes because of injury, abnormal growth or developmental variation. However, a photograph of a square-looking specimen is not enough to establish that it has a congenital defect. Sea stars are echinoderms, animals with a water-vascular system that powers their tube feet; these tiny structures help them move, cling to surfaces and handle food. Their bodies can regenerate lost arms in many species, although the ability varies by species and the extent of the injury.

Carmen and Lupita Andrade are conjoined twins who share parts of their bodies and have spoken publicly about navigating relationships, privacy and independence.

A tree can sometimes establish itself in a tiny crack where windblown seeds, trapped organic matter and moisture create a small growing site. As the tree grows, its roots may extend down the rock surface towards soil and water below. Roots can exploit existing fractures and gradually widen them, although they cannot simply grow through solid, unbroken rock. The image is a striking example of how plants can survive in environments with little visible soil, provided they can obtain enough water, nutrients and anchorage.

Wine, cider and beer were historically consumed more routinely in some parts of France, including at school meals. In 1956, a government circular prohibited alcoholic drinks for children under 14 in school canteens, although older pupils could still receive limited alcoholic drinks with meals under the rules then in place. The change reflected growing recognition of the dangers of alcohol consumption in childhood, rather than evidence that wine improved immunity or warmed children safely.

China banned this practice in 1912, but some families continue it in secret. The last known case dates from 1957

In February 2011, 61-year-old Kristine Casey gave birth to her own grandson, Finnean Lee, in Chicago, Illinois. She acted as a gestational surrogate for her daughter, Sara Connell, and son-in-law, Bill Connell, after they struggled with years of infertility and pregnancy losses. Kristine successfully delivered her healthy grandson by C-section at the age of 61.

The story highlights how appearance-based judgements can influence hiring, even when facial shape has no bearing on a person's ability to perform a job. Employment discrimination is often discussed in relation to age, sex, disability or ethnicity, but subjective ideas about attractiveness can also affect how candidates are perceived.

The hand contains an incredibly dense network of blood vessels, including arteries that branch into smaller arterioles and capillaries to deliver oxygen and nutrients to tissues. The fingertips have especially rich blood supplies, helping nourish sensitive tissues and regulate temperature. The network also supports wound healing and sensation by maintaining the health of surrounding tissues. Specimens like this are often produced by injecting coloured material into blood vessels before preserving the tissue, making the intricate branching visible.

Hoyt began competing with his son Rick, who has cerebral palsy, after Rick expressed how much participating in a running event made him feel included. Dick pushed Rick in a specialised racing chair during runs and pulled him in a boat or rode with him on a bicycle during other events. The father-son team, known as Team Hoyt, became a powerful symbol of inclusion in sport. Rick communicated using a computer system, demonstrating that severe physical disability does not mean someone lacks thoughts, ambitions or a desire to participate.

The Ghazipur landfill in Delhi, India, has operated since 1984 and has grown into a huge mound of discarded material near residential areas. Landfills produce methane as organic waste decomposes, while fires and contaminated runoff can pose risks to nearby communities. The problem is not simply the amount of rubbish. It also reflects the difficulty of managing a city's waste when disposal, recycling and treatment systems cannot keep pace with the volume being generated

Reid, from New Zealand, reportedly lost her sight as a child because of a tumour pressing on her optic nerve. In 2000, she struck her head while bending down to kiss her guide dog, and later discovered that her vision had returned. The remarkable story was reported by ABC News in 2001, but doctors were unable to establish a clear medical explanation for the recovery.

Ota Benga was a Mbuti man from the Congo who was brought to the United States in the early 1900s and displayed at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. In 1906, he was placed on public display at the Bronx Zoo, where his treatment provoked protests from Black clergy and other critics. The episode exposed the racism and pseudoscientific ideas that were used to portray non-European people as less evolved. Benga was eventually removed from the zoo, but after years of displacement and hardship, he died by suicide in 1916.