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Mar 14, 2025Lathmar Holi

Strolling through the streets during Holi is like stepping into a kaleidoscope of colours. People of all ages come together, playing with gulal and drenching each other with water. Among the many traditions associated with this festival, one stands out—Lathmar Holi, or the "Holi of sticks," seen in today"s image. This unique celebration takes place in the twin towns of Barsana and Nandgaon in Uttar Pradesh. It is observed the day after Laddu Holi, where women playfully shower men with laddoos. Rooted in the legend of Radha and Krishna, this festival brings an age-old tale to life. As the story goes, Lord Krishna, hailing from Nandgaon and regarded as the son-in-law of Vrishabhanu, wished to drench his beloved Radha and her friends in colours. However, when he and his companions arrived in Barsana, they were met with playful resistance—Radha and her friends chased them away with sticks. This lively tradition continues to this day during Holi.Desktop Version

Oct 14, 2023Ring of fire solar eclipse

Sky gazers and scientists have all been counting down to witness today"s annular solar eclipse which will pass over parts of the Americas. A solar eclipse is nothing more than an alignment of the sun, Earth and moon that has the earth passing through the moon"s shadow. But why is the solar eclipse in today"s image different? It occurs when the moon is farthest from the Earth because of its elliptical orbit. When this happens, it appears smaller, letting the sun"s brilliance peek through and creating a halo—the "Ring of fire". Viewers in specific regions can witness this cosmic show, but please be cautious. This eclipse should not be looked at directly without wearing specialised eye protection.Desktop Version

Oct 27, 2024Polar Bear Week

Polar Bear Week champions one of nature"s greatest hunters, the Arctic"s majestic predator. Established by Polar Bears International, this period highlights the challenges these mammals face due to climate change, particularly the rapid loss of Arctic Sea ice. This event coincides with the gathering of polar bears in Churchill, Canada—the "Polar Bear Capital of the World"—as seen in today"s image. Here, bears wait for Hudson Bay to freeze so they can start hunting for seals, their primary food source.Desktop Version

Feb 29, 2024Leap Day

Are you a "leapling?" No, not like this Eurasian red squirrel; rather, that"s the term for anyone born on leap day! A leap year is a calendar oddity that exists because Earth"s orbit and our usual year count are slightly out of sync. Earth takes 365 days, 5 hours, 48 minutes and 46 seconds, to revolve around the sun. To compensate for those extra 5 hours, February gets an extra day—leap day—every four years. The concept, dating back to the ancient Romans, was refined in the Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII. While the purpose of the day is to keep our year aligned with the solar calendar, it can also serve as an extra day to prepare for spring! Cultures worldwide mark leap days and years with unique customs. In Ireland and Britain, women propose to men, in Greece, marrying during a leap year is said to bring misfortune, and in France, a satirical newspaper is published.Desktop Version

A life-sized snow globe

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Dec 14, 2024Northern hawk-owl, Canada

Featured here is a fascinating species: the northern hawk-owl. This medium-sized owl is found in the boreal forests of North America and Europe. Active only during the day, it has exceptional hearing and can plunge into the snow to capture rodents. With its long, tapered tail and a small head resembling a hawk, the northern hawk-owl is a striking sight. These owls don"t migrate, so they can be spotted year-round. However, in winter they may move south from Canada into the northern United States to find food when it"s scarce in their regular territory.Desktop Version

Apr 14, 2024Bowling Ball Beach, California, USA

Welcome to nature"s bowling alley. Bowling Ball Beach on the Mendocino Coast in California is named after the striking rock formations strewn across the shore. These sandstone balls—a phenomenon known as concretions—formed over millions of years as sedimentary layers built up around a central core of sand and stone held together by mineral cements. Erosion gradually wore away the outer layers to expose the spherical shapes we see today. This created a fascinating spectacle that only appears at low tide. Concretions are rare, and there has been plenty of wild speculation about where they come from, with some believing them to be extraterrestrial debris while others wondering if they are dinosaur fossils. The answer, however, is quite simple: it is the forces of nature at play.Desktop Version

Say hello to these halophytes!

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Mar 18, 2024Elephant Rock, Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia

Over millions of years, the dazzling sandstone formation known as Elephant Rock was carved by nature. Thanks to the wind and water erosion, this 52-metre-high rock near the city of Al-Ula in Saudi Arabia took on the shape of an elephant and has become a prominent landmark in the region. As the sun sets, it casts a warm glow upon the red-hued mammoth and the golden sand of the surrounding desert.Desktop Version

Jun 15, 2024Nazaré, Portugal

Today"s image shows an intrepid surfer riding a wave at Nazaré, Portugal. This town on the Atlantic coast is known for its giant waves, which can reach over 30 metres in height. Thanks to these impressive breakers, several surf records have been broken here, including the biggest wave ever surfed, which was over 26 metres. Surfing involves riding a wave using a board, regardless of the stance. Ancient surfers often rode waves on their belly and knees. Today, surfing typically means riding a wave standing on a surfboard, known as stand-up surfing.Desktop Version

Nov 29, 2023New York City, USA

Featured here is Rockefeller Centre, a symbol of New York City"s grandeur, which stands as an architectural marvel in the heart of Manhattan. As December approaches, the city gears up for a sparkling spectacle. Gone are the days of simply plugging in some lights; now this towering Norway spruce, as seen, is adorned with over 50,000 multicoloured LED lights and topped with a Swarovski crystal star. Just wait until the tree—sometimes as tall as 27 metres—is illuminated; it is a full-blown extravaganza with musical performances and celebrity sightings. This mesmerising glow of the tree marks the official arrival of the holiday season in the city that never sleeps, and you definitely don"t want to miss it!Desktop Version

A shiver of sharks on the hunt

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Jan 31, 2024Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa

It"s time for some black-and-white thinking. While all zebras have the iconic black-and-white stripes, there are actually three different species of zebras: plains, mountain and Grévy"s zebras. Today"s snapshot shows Burchell"s zebras, a subspecies of the plains zebra, in Rietvlei Nature Reserve, South Africa. Found across eastern and southern Africa, zebras thrive in savannas, shrublands, woodlands and even mountain regions. They spend most of their time eating—grasses, leaves and shrubs are their favourites—and have been known to travel hundreds of kilometres in search of food and water.Desktop Version

Mar 19, 2024Tree frog on leaf

In some parts of the world, the arrival of spring is announced by the guttural chorus of tree frogs. As their name suggests, these frogs spend most of their lives in trees. Belonging to species within the Neobatrachia suborder, it is characterised by its arboreal lifestyle, spending a significant portion of its life in trees. Despite their diverse origins within Neobatrachia, these tree-dwelling frogs share the common adaptation of inhabiting arboreal environments. They tend to be small and slender since their weight has to be supported by branches and twigs in their habitats. They can be recognised by the sticky discs on the tips of their fingers and toes, which help them cling to surfaces. The American green tree frog is the official state amphibian of both Louisiana and Georgia.Desktop Version

Jan 15, 2025Chital, Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh

Today"s image features a chital in Bandhavgarh National Park, Madhya Pradesh. Also known as the spotted deer or axis deer, this species is native to the Indian subcontinent. From the forests of eastern Rajasthan and Gujarat in the west to the Terai, Sikkim and Bhutan"s valleys, the chital thrives in diverse habitats, favouring elevations below 1,100 metres. The males, larger than the females and adorned with striking three-pronged antlers that can grow nearly a metre long, are a sight to behold in the wild.Desktop Version

The beauty that lies below

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Oct 28, 2023Castilla-La Mancha, Spain

In the town of Consuegra, the echoes of the adventures of Don Quixote—the hero of the Spanish epic novel by Miguel de Cervantes—still linger. This tourist destination in Castilla-La Mancha is famous for a small mountain range, known as Cerro Calderico. The range is crowned with 12 white windmills, perhaps the very same that inspired Cervantes to picture them as an army of giants. With their stone walls and wooden blades, some of these windmills date back to the 16th century. Now, they are living relics of a bygone era when they were used to grind grain.Desktop Version

Feb 5, 2024Monarch butterflies

Monarch butterflies, with their vibrant orange and black wings, are found across southern regions, from coastal meadows to urban gardens. They gracefully descend upon Southern California, gathering in large numbers on eucalyptus trees. The best place to spot these insects is in the city of Goleta, situated in southern Santa Barbara County. Those gathered to see the clumps of butterflies in 30-metre-tall trees might confuse them for clumps of leaves, however, as the sun"s rays gently fall upon the insects, their wings will begin to flutter. Bring your binoculars and take the opportunity to witness these winged wonders huddled together, it"s truly a sight to behold!Desktop Version

Underwater underground

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Sep 15, 2024Annas hummingbird, Santa Cruz, California, USA

Let"s meet Anna"s hummingbird, seen in today"s image. Named after Anna Masséna, Duchess of Rivoli, it"s one of an estimated 366 hummingbird species, and is the most common species on North America"s western coast. With its shimmering emerald feathers and sparkling rose-pink throat, this little bird is a sight to behold. Hummingbirds are known for their incredible speed; they can flap their wings up to 80 times per second, allowing them to hover in place and even fly backward. Emily Dickinson aptly describes their swift movement: "A Route of Evanescence / With a revolving Wheel—." Their high metabolism requires them to eat constantly, so they spend their days flitting from flower to flower, sipping nectar and catching insects.Desktop Version

A pair of high achievers

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Dec 3, 2023Vermilion Cliffs National Monument

Vermilion Cliffs National Monument in Arizona features an array of sandstone rock formations, towering hoodoos, and surreal slot canyons. The monument, established in 2000, was named after the vibrant red hues that dominate the landscape. Once you get a permit to visit this exclusive outdoor excursion, make sure to visit the "Wave." It"s a stunning geological wonder, with flowing layers of rocks that appear frozen like red liquid. Other visual treats include Cobra Arch and the White Pocket formation of sandstone structures, featuring swirling patterns, crossbedding, and a combination of colours, including white, red and orange.Desktop Version

Urban planning never stops

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