Fireflies glowing above a stream, Okayama Prefecture, Japan Jul 3, 2026

In Okayama Prefecture, when humid air settles over a stream, hotaru—Japan"s fireflies—begin signalling. On warm, windless evenings, they often start glowing about two hours after sunset under favourable conditions, inviting silence beside water.

© tdub303/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Hot enough to howl
Meet an expert on the dog days of summer
Jul. 3, 2024World Meerkat Day
Jul. 3, 2025Rainbow River, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

How can we help at-risk animals?
Jul. 1, 2025Happy Canada Day!
Spring is coming
Best views tower
Jun. 10, 2025Everglades National Park, Florida, United States
Oct. 3, 2025Glen Brittle, Isle of Skye, Scotland
Jan. 3, 2024J.R.R. Tolkien Day
Nov. 1, 2024Vineyards in Varnhalt, Black Forest, Germany
Big rocks, big heads, still counting?
Blurring the lines with wearable art
Oct. 1, 2024Yosemite National Park, California, USA
Sep. 10, 2025Hay bales in North Yorkshire, England
Nov. 29, 2024Mont-Saint-Michel, Normandy, France
Sep. 2, 2024Milky Way over the Elbow River in southern Alberta
Jan. 25, 2026Burns Night in Scotland
Nov. 18, 2025Male hooded merganser, Oregon, United States
Zebras enjoying their day
A day for the worlds Indigenous populations
Nov. 9, 2024Aït Benhaddou, Morocco
Mar. 20, 2024Cave Dale and Peveril Castle, England
Sep. 11, 2024Red fox mother kissing her baby
Oct. 3, 2023Whitehaven Beach, Whitsunday Islands, Australia
Aug. 2, 2025Petroglyphs near Fruita in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah, United States
Keep practicing, little guy
Aug. 10, 2025World Lion Day
Jul. 28, 2024Colourful bathing huts on the beach in Skåne County, Sweden
Oct. 8, 2025World Octopus Day
Sep. 8, 2023International Literacy Day
Apr. 27, 2025Coastal redwoods in Redwood National and State Parks, California, United States
Giddy family fun