While we as humans continue to try (and fail) to live in peace and harmony, it is worth remembering that the world around us is a brutal, unforgiving place.

We have tamed our lives to such an extent that it is easy to turn a blind eye to the horrors of nature, sure, we as a species are far more damaging to our planet than all others put together, but let’s not pretend that it’s all sweetness and light out there!

This list, compiled by Bored Panda, is a reminder that we live in a scary world. Some of these things are simply wonders of nature that we may not like the look of, like spiders and centipedes. Some show the raw power of the elements, while others illustrate the horrific things that other creatures to do each other in order to survive. All of these things are awe-inspiring examples of nature, something not to be feared, but to be respected. Scroll down below to check them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

#1 Wrap Around Spider, Named For Its Ability To Flatten And Wrap Its Body Around Tree Limbs

#2 Seaweed In The Waves

#3 Spiderbro Guarding Me From Malaria Outside My Window

#4 Xylaria Polymorpha, Commonly Known As Dead Man’s Fingers, Is A Saprobic Fungus

#5 The Skeleton Of A Puffer Fish Is Pretty Metal

#6 Rome Yesterday

#7 Damn Nature, You Scary…

#8 My Mum’s Toilet After A Recent Flood

#9 Snapdragon Seed Pods Look Like Skulls

#10 This Is A Hammerhead Bat And Is By Far The Creepiest Animal I’ve Seen

#11 The Clathrus Archeri Fungus Resembles Some Pretty Metal Tentacles Sprouting From An Alien Egg When It Blooms

#12 Currently Renovating Our Floors. Seems Everyone Has Come Out Of Hiding

#13 Articulated Cobra Skeleton

#14 This Hornets Nest Looks Kind Of Like A Hornet’s Head

#15 The Lamprey Fish

#16 A Jungle Perch With A Surprise

#17 When Mozilla Freezes

#18 The Giant Isopod, Found In The Deep Seas And Is An Example Of Deep-Sea Gigantism