© J Nemchinova/Getty Image
Spirals through time. National Fossil Day
How do we know what Earth looked like long before humans appeared? Fossils provide many clues. National Fossil Day celebrates paleontology and the discoveries that help scientists reconstruct past environments, trace the evolution of life, and learn about creatures that vanished millions of years ago. From dinosaurs to tiny marine organisms, these remnants of the past preserve snapshots of ancient worlds that no longer exist.
Village of Oia, Santorini, Greece
'Ring of fire' annular solar eclipse, Doha, Qatar
Sunrise in Alberta, Canada
The Bode Museum during the Festival of Lights
Fall-colored leaves of cotoneaster plant
A tarsier at rest, Bohol Island, Philippines
Izumo-taisha shrine in Izumo, Japan