A shell of many colors Oct 10, 2021

A shell of many colors

We could perhaps fool you and claim you"re viewing a long-lost Jackson Pollock canvas, but it was Mother Nature who painted this blackfoot paua (aka rainbow abalone) shell. And modern art it ain"t: Fossils from similar marine gastropods date back at least 65 million years.

© Lynda Harper/Minden Pictures

palette

Today in History

Oct 10, 2018Space is for everyone
Oct 10, 2019A star blows a bubble
Oct 10, 2020Birds of a feather
Oct 10, 2022Indigenous Peoples Day
Oct 10, 2023Mount Sopris, Colorado
Oct 10, 2024Kochia, Hitachi, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan
Oct 10, 2025Visiting the Mamanuca Islands for Fiji Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 6, 2021Where is this gorgeous peak?
Feb 14, 2023Valentines Day
May 11, 2020A tree amid the Tetons
Feb 17, 2019Flock online for the Great Backyard Bird Count
Jul 8, 2024National Blueberry Day
Dec 3, 2024Amber Fort, Jaipur, Rajasthan, India
Feb 2, 2023Groundhog Day
Jul 30, 2023Palouse farmland, Washington state
Feb 11, 2020Celebrating women in science
Apr 29, 2023Astronomy Day
Jul 16, 2025Temple of Philae, Aswan, Egypt
Jun 30, 2021An impactful day
Oct 14, 2023Ring of fire solar eclipse
Feb 16, 2018Dragon dance performed in Chenzhou, Hunan Province, China
Nov 11, 2020Honoring our veterans
Dec 2, 2025Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act anniversary
May 27, 2023Quiver trees in Namibia
Jan 21, 2019A day of service for Dr. King
Apr 8, 2019Ready, set, read
Nov 12, 2023Diwali
Apr 3, 2025National Find a Rainbow Day
Apr 15, 2021Jackie Robinson Day
Apr 1, 2021Why do elephants hide in trees?
Jan 25, 2018Sami lavvu structures, Finnmark, Norway
Sep 27, 2025Astronomy Day and National Public Lands Day
Apr 7, 2021A willowy welcome to spring
Sep 23, 2025A keel-billed toucan in Costa Rica
Apr 29, 2022Arbor Day
Aug 28, 2019Florentine garden brings generations together
May 9, 2018Longtailed widowbird at Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa