Bing wallpaper for mobile

Hottest Latest
Springtime in the Mediterranean
Springtime in the Mediterranean
European bee-eaters really do eat bees, and other insects as well. They catch bugs midair and if the bugs have poisonous stingers, they’ll carry them to a perch and pound them to rub out the venom, making them safe to eat. You can find these jewel-toned birds throughout Europe, especially in nature reserves and parks. These two are enjoying the abundant sunshine in the Extremadura region of Spain, one of the best areas for birdwatching on the continent.Desktop Version
A sleeping green giant
A sleeping green giant
We"re looking down on Chu Dang Ya, an extinct volcano that last erupted millions of years ago. Located in Gia Lai province in the Central Highlands of Vietnam, Chu Dang Ya means "wild ginger" or perhaps "tough ginger root" in the local Jarai language. The volcano provides fertile soil for crops such as pumpkins, sweet potatoes, taro, and more. Among the best times to visit this rural gem is at the beginning of the rainy season, in late April and early May, and as the rains wind down in November. That"s when Chu Dang Ya takes it up a notch—its hillsides erupt with sunflower and other wildflower blooms along roadways, dirt paths, and fields.Desktop Version
Celebrating Pie Day is as easy as, well…
Celebrating Pie Day is as easy as, well…
Can these frosty apples be salvaged in time for National Pie Day today? The annual event—a simple celebration of the beloved desserts–was created by the American Pie Council (APC), a group dedicated to ‘preserving America"s pie heritage and promoting America"s love affair with pies.’ According to a survey conducted by the APC in 2008, more Americans prefer apple pie over any other, and it’s that variety which inspired our homepage today. But while many things may be as American as apple pie, it’s generally believed that the pie itself originated in England. In fact, English poet Geoffrey Chaucer penned a recipe in 1381 for a pie that includes apples, spices, raisins, figs, pears, and saffron. If you have a favorite pie, it sounds like today’s a sweet day to celebrate.Desktop Version
Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
Happy birthday to Crater Lake National Park
Roughly 7,700 years ago, give or take 150 years, Mount Mazama erupted and collapsed, creating a massive crater that would become Crater Lake. Fast-forward to this day in 1902, and Crater Lake National Park was established. With a maximum depth of 1,943 feet, equivalent to 3.5 Washington Monuments, Crater Lake is also the deepest lake in the US.Desktop Version
In Sicily, history is everywhere
In Sicily, history is everywhere
Today we"re in Montalbano Elicona on the island of Sicily. The town is known for the very old castle at the crest of the hill, as well as the quaint medieval village below. It"s no wonder that Montalbano Elicona has been called one of the most beautiful towns in all of Italy. The castle itself was built in the early 13th century by medieval power broker Frederick II of Swabia. He wore many hats, including King of Sicily, Holy Roman Emperor, and—as far-fetched as it sounds—King of Jerusalem, a title he claimed after conquering that city during the Sixth Crusade. The castle was originally designed as a fortress, but it also served as a summer residence for Frederick and rulers who followed him.Desktop Version
It s Republic Day in India
It s Republic Day in India
For India"s 70th Republic Day, we"re featuring an uncommon view of the Taj Mahal in Agra. It"s on this day that India celebrates its official beginning as an independent democratic republic after having endured nearly a century of British rule. Republic Day events include presentations of the Padma Awards (national service honors), a Republic Day parade in New Delhi, and other ceremonies.Desktop Version
Celebrating Helsinki’s birthday at the Kiasma Museum
Celebrating Helsinki’s birthday at the Kiasma Museum
Greetings from Helsinki, the capital of the world’s happiest country. Edgy-looking sites like the Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art—shown here—sure make the city look young for its 468 years. This year Helsinki has twice the reason to celebrate, as Finland received a #1 ranking in the 2018 World Happiness Report, a UN publication that ranks countries based on characteristics like income, health, freedom, and social support.Desktop Version
The puffin-rabbit connection
The puffin-rabbit connection
Atlantic puffins spend most of their lives at sea—either flying over the surf as they migrate and search for fishing spots, or diving into the water to gobble up fish. But in spring and summer they come ashore to nest, meet up with their mates, and with any luck, raise a chick or two. Puffins can dig their own burrows, as they prefer to build nests underground atop seaside cliffs. But if there are rabbit warrens around, the puffins have no problem moving into empty burrows. They’re not even above kicking a rabbit out to take over.Desktop Version
Computer science on the page
Computer science on the page
Computer Science Education Week begins today, and because the field can seem daunting to the uninitiated, we’re showing a very relatable document that humanizes the work behind computer science. The notebook in this photo contains equations and ideas crafted by Alan Turing, the British mathematician and early computer scientist who helped the Allies win World War II when he cracked the code of Nazi Germany’s Enigma machine. In 2015, Turing’s notebook, written while he was working on the Enigma code, was sold at auction for more than $1 million.Desktop Version
A bison preserve
A bison preserve
Once 60 million strong, bison were nearly wiped out from the North American plains in the 1800s. Then, in 1893, the owner of Antelope Island in Utah’s Great Salt Lake reintroduced 12 bison to the island as the foundation herd for a hunting operation. But the project failed, and without wolves on the island, the bison had no natural predators, so they thrived. (Incidentally, antelope brought to the island did not survive a similar effort.) Today, a herd of 550 to 700 bison roams here, protected as one of the attractions at Antelope Island State Park. Happy Bison Day!Desktop Version
Happy Father s Day
Happy Father s Day
These lions in southern Africa’s Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park probably aren"t heading out for Father"s Day brunch. Cubs are usually protected by their mothers, while their fathers merely tolerate them in most cases. While stereotypes might suggest that the same holds true for humans, a Pew Research study showed that dads are just as likely as moms to say that parenting is extremely important to their identity, and dads are much more involved in child care than they were years ago. It took dads a while to earn this day. Father"s Day was first celebrated in 1910 in Washington state. While it gained popularity over the years, it didn"t become a national holiday until President Richard Nixon signed a proclamation in 1972. Mother"s Day got a proclamation in 1914, but let"s not get competitive here—today"s about dad.Desktop Version
Perfect timing
Perfect timing
If the first day of daylight saving time doesn"t have you springing for joy, this towering timekeeper might be more your speed. The astronomical clock at Lyon Cathedral in France was built in 1660, centuries before daylight saving time was widely adopted in the 20th century. The clock"s intersecting hands and dials don"t just tell time, they form a flattened model of our planet that tracks the positions of the sun and moon relative to Earth. The zodiac dial, offset to account for the planet"s rotational tilt, shows the star sign currently in season.Desktop Version
Humpbacks return to the Inside Passage
Humpbacks return to the Inside Passage
Humpback whales are found in virtually all the world’s oceans, though they don’t swim in the extra-cold waters of the Arctic. This pod is breaching the surface of Lynn Canal in the Alaska portion of the Inside Passage, where the whales return in summer for the feeding season after sensibly wintering in warmer tropical waters.Desktop Version
In celebration of cats
In celebration of cats
Not that anyone needs an excuse to feature a cat on the internet–but today is both World Cat Day and Scottish Wildcat Day, and that calls for a picture of this rare breed. The Scottish wildcat may resemble an ordinary tabby, but it’s twice the size and said to be virtually untamable. Unfortunately, that means we probably can’t snuggle with one anytime soon. But you can still get your feline fix by browsing cat videos on the web. In fact, we’ll be right back…Desktop Version
A treaty for science
A treaty for science
Twelve nations signed the Antarctic Treaty System on December 1, 1959, establishing the ice-covered continent as a place for scientific study open to all nations and banning any military activity there. Since then, additional countries joined in the treaty—now 53 nations participate in activities at the various research stations there. Our photo shows the northernmost part of Antarctica, the Antarctic Peninsula, south of Chile and Argentina.Desktop Version
Sunburst at Angkor
Sunburst at Angkor
The spring equinox finds us at Angkor Wat, the most famous Buddhist temple in Angkor Archaeological Park. The park is essentially a 154-square-mile collection of historic temples and related holy sites just outside the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia. On the equinox, when the sun rises it aligns with the top of the main tower at Angkor Wat before climbing farther into the sky to usher in longer days and shorter nights. Of course, if this photo is any indication, every sunrise at Angkor Wat is spectacular.Desktop Version
It s Bermuda s big day
It s Bermuda s big day
We"re gazing down at Marley Beach on the southwest coast of Bermuda in honor of Bermuda Day, a public holiday celebrated near the end of May. The event was first established on this British island territory in 1902, to honor Queen Victoria"s birthday the year after her death, but it has evolved into a celebration of the culture. Since 2018, it"s been observed on the last Friday of May. Locals celebrate the end of winter on this day with a swim or boat ride. Today"s holiday also marks the date when islanders transition to a summer wardrobe at work. For the next several months, Bermuda shorts, which hit just above the knee, will be considered appropriate business attire for the island"s most dapper gentlemen.Desktop Version
One giant leap for penguins
One giant leap for penguins
These Adélie penguins are jumping for joy because it"s World Penguin Day. Or maybe they"re just looking for a snack as they dive off this iceberg. Native to the land and surrounding waters of Antarctica, Adélie penguins migrate to their coastal breeding grounds in late October or November. They can dive as deep as 575 feet, and swim as far as 185 miles round trip to find krill, fish, and squid.Desktop Version
The most Instagrammable bird?
The most Instagrammable bird?
Why did German researchers set out to determine the world"s most Instagrammable bird? We"re not quite sure, but once they did, we had to know what it was. And once we saw this cute, fuzzy, kind of angry-looking creature that reminds us of an owl, we had to feature it here. So, who is this we"re looking at? It"s a tawny frogmouth, a nocturnal bird found throughout Australia, including Tasmania. Tawny frogmouths are carnivores, eating nocturnal insects, worms, slugs, and snails, as well as small mammals, reptiles, frogs, and birds. Sometimes confused with owls, they"re more closely related to nightjars.Desktop Version
Let s run em up!
Let s run em up!
Since most large social gatherings have been postponed or canceled, we"re bringing the Armed Forces Day air show to you, courtesy of the US Air Force"s demonstration squadron, the Thunderbirds. In recent weeks, the Thunderbirds have joined with the Navy"s Blue Angels air squadron to conduct formation flights over several American cities as a salute to essential workers and health care personnel on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The two services are flying over some cities together and others separately. In a press release, Air Force Lt. Col. John Caldwell, the Thunderbird commander and lead pilot, said, "We are honored to fly over these cities in a display of national unity and support for the men and women keeping our communities safe."Desktop Version
It s truffle season here in the Dordogne Valley
It s truffle season here in the Dordogne Valley
Perched high above the Dordogne River in France, the Château de Beynac is one of the best-preserved castles of the Périgord Noir region. This 12th-century fortress has been meticulously restored, showcasing for tourists such delights as a dungeon, 13th-century toilets, and magnificent views of the "Valley of the Five Castles" below.Desktop Version
We re gonna need a bigger birdhouse
We re gonna need a bigger birdhouse
You"re more likely to see jabiru storks down on the shores of ponds or on riverbanks, where they hunt for small fish, amphibians, and lizards. They"re the tallest flying bird in South and Central America, with the largest males standing 5 feet. Despite their size, jabiru storks are graceful fliers. Here in the Pantanal, a sprawling tropical wetland in western Brazil, jabiru storks will build a massive nest in late August or September—just as spring is beginning in the Southern Hemisphere. The stork mates in this image may be scouting out a good place for their nest. And once it"s built, the pair will raise anywhere from two to five jabiru stork chicks.Desktop Version
The Sky Over Nine Columns in Venice, Italy
The Sky Over Nine Columns in Venice, Italy
Here in the canal city of Venice, sun and water reflect off artist Heinz Mack’s sculpture called The Sky Over Nine Columns. The piece was on display here in on the island of San Giorgio Magiorre in 2014, during the Venice Architecture Biennale, and later traveled to Istanbul and Valencia. Visitors are encouraged to wander through the pillars as if wandering through a temple connecting the Earth to the sky. A closer look reveals the massive pillars are covered in 850,000 mosaic tiles coated in 24-carat gold leaf.Desktop Version
‘Ciao’ from Varenna
‘Ciao’ from Varenna
Scenic Lake Como in Italy’s Lombardy region is where the rich and famous come to play. The lavish historic villas are home to an increasingly well-heeled cosmopolitan set, including celebrities like George Clooney, who owns a summer house in the lakeside village of Laglio. As it happens, most tourists visit Lake Como in the summer, but we think winter looks magical as well, particularly here on the Riva Grande, the shoreline promenade of Varenna. Como’s picturesque landscape has served as a filming location for many popular movies over the years, including ‘Ocean"s Twelve,’ which Clooney starred in, as well as ‘Casino Royale’ and ‘Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones.’ Even Jedi knights aren’t immune to the region’s charms. In ‘Star Wars: Episode II,’ Lake Como was the site where Anakin Skywalker falls in love with Padmé Amidala.Desktop Version
Eurasian scops owl
Eurasian scops owl
In the owl world, you"re either a member of the Strigidae or Tytonidae. That might sound like two warring houses from "Game of Thrones," but these are the two families of classification that make up the 200+ species of owls around the world. The Tytonidae family includes barn owls, which have distinct heart-shaped facial disks, while the larger Strigidae family consists of true (or typical) owls, most of which have round faces.Desktop Version