Is it a sign? This picture has won a top photography prize — and captured the hearts of people all over the world.
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The mystical power of a white bear dreaming
Is it a sign? This picture has won a top photography prize - and captured the hearts of people all over the world.
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What's happening?
Nima Sarikhani's picture of a polar bear sleeping on a small iceberg was chosen as the People's Choice category winner of the 2024 Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.
The head of the Natural History MuseumA big museum in London which displays evidence of life in the past, such as dinosaurs. said the photo shows us that our planet is beautiful - but easily broken.
But there is more to it than that. The photo has a power which makes you keep looking at it. Here are some theoriesIdeas that you still need to prove are true. about why the picture moves us so deeply.
Animal symbol For the Tsimshian people of Canada, the white "spirit bear" is a symbol of the link between our world and places of peace and love.
Inuits' knowledge For Eskimo and InuitGroups of indigenous peoples living in the Arctic and subarctic regions. people, the polar bear represents ancientVery old. knowledge.
Find out more
Thinking hard In the 1980s an experimentA controlled test to see if an idea is true. proved that if you try not to think about a polar bear, you will always think of one.
Is it a sign?
Yes! Of course it is. The polar bear, which is struggling to survive due to climate changeLong-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change., is dreaming of a better world. We must dream of a better world too.
No! It is a beautiful photo - but it is just a picture. Humans always want to look for meaning in things, but sometimes we have to understand when there is no extra meaning to be found.
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Keywords
Natural History Museum - A big museum in London which displays evidence of life in the past, such as dinosaurs.
Theories - Ideas that you still need to prove are true.
Inuit - Groups of indigenous peoples living in the Arctic and subarctic regions.
Ancient - Very old.
Experiment - A controlled test to see if an idea is true.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.
The mystical power of a white bear dreaming
Rare bear: Nima Sarikhani spent three days searching in fog for a bear to photograph. Glossary
Natural History Museum - A big museum in London which displays evidence of life in the past, such as dinosaurs.
Theories - Ideas that you still need to prove are true.
Inuit - Groups of indigenous peoples living in the Arctic and subarctic regions.
Ancient - Very old.
Experiment - A controlled test to see if an idea is true.
Climate change - Long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. Human action is a major cause of climate change.