Sand grains magnified 110-250 times reveal each grain is unique.
The tip of a spiral shell has broken off and become a grain of sand. After being repeatedly tumbled by action of the surf this spiral sand grain has become opalescent in character. It is surrounded by bits of coral, a pink shell fragment, a foram (a type of protozoa) and volcanic material. Photo copyright Dr. Gary Greenberg.
A handful of sand grains selected from a beach in Maui and arranged on a black background. Photo copyright Dr. Gary Greenberg.
Every grain of sand in the world is unique when viewed through a microscope.
Sand magnified 250 times. Photo copyright Dr. Gary Greenberg.
Sand Magnified. Photo by Yanping Wang.
Sand magnified 250 times. Photo via Tumblr.
Sand Magnified Around The World
The glacially deposited sands around Lake Winnibigoshish, Minnesota, contain abundant sediments from the igneous and metamorphic minerals of the Lake Superior basin. A sample includes pink garnets, green epidote, iron-rich red agates, black magnetite, and hematite. Photo copyright Dr. Gary Greenberg.
Magnified grains of star sand from Southern Japan, made up of the calcified shells of tiny organisms. Photo by Richard Mouser Williams.
Beautiful Framed Seashell
Neat idea for decorating a beach house, or any space you want a splash of the sea. The frame is 14″x17″, and yes, it’s a real seashell. Sold by Art.com for $119.99.
Magnified grains of Star Sand. Photo by Richard Mouser Williams.
Puffy Stars: Star-Shaped Sand Grains from Okinawa. These tiny foram, a type of protozoa, secrete beautiful star-shaped, calcium carbonate shells, or tests. Photo via sandgrains.com.
Coral sand magnified one-hundred times using transmission electron microscopy, brightfield mode. By Dr. David Maitland, Feltwell, UK, microscopyu.com
Many grains of sand are tiny crystals (shiny, flat-sided solids). Sand from Zushi Beach, Japan, contains what looks like a sapphire crystal. The crystal is larger than the surrounding grains and has survived eroding because of its hardness and quality. Photo copyright Dr. Gary Greenberg.
Fragments of baby sea urchin shells, magnified one-hundred times. Biogenic sand, formed from the remains of marine life, is the major ingredient of many tropical beaches. Via popgive.com. Originally found at “popgive.com/2009/01/tiny-work-of-art-in-each-grain-of-sand.html”
A magnified view of the tropical beach sand from the Caribbean island of St. John (U.S. Virgin Islands). The grains include porous fragments of brightly-colored corals, minute foraminiferan shells, fragments of sea shells and shiny, star-shaped sponge spicules. Originally found at “waynesword.palomar.edu/ww0704b.htm”
Sand Photographer Dr. Gary Greenberg
Every grain of sand is a jewel waiting to be discovered. That’s what Dr. Gary Greenberg found when he first turned his microscope on beach sand. Gemlike minerals, colorful coral fragments, and delicate microscopic shells reveal that sand comprises much more than tiny beige rocks.
Author and photographer Dr. Gary Greenberg is a visual artist who creatively combines art with science. He has a Ph.D. in biomedical research from University College London and holds 17 patents for high-definition 3-D light microscopes. Dr. Greenberg lives in Haiku, Hawaii.
Dr. Greenberg has published two books:
- A Grain of Sand: Nature’s Secret Wonder
- The Secrets of Sand: A Journey into the Amazing Microscopic World of Sand
The Universe Of Sand
Carl Sagan famously remarked “the total number of stars in the universe is greater than all the grains of sand on all the beaches on the planet Earth.” University of Hawai’i researches estimate that the total number of ‘all’ grains of sand on the whole planet could be approximately 75 billion billion. Scientists still believe there are more stars in the Universe.
Speaking of planets: If a grain of sand represented an entire galaxy; so each grain of sand, or galaxy, contains 100’s of billions of stars, you would need to fill six rooms full of sand to contain all the galaxies in the known universe. If you drilled a tiny hole in one of the grains of sand, ‘our Milky Way universe,’ that would be the area that we have been capable of seaching for planets so far. About 2000 planets have been discovered so far.
Sand’s nice. But there’s still one add to it.
There is NO GOD. Silly people.
There is a God … It is infinite intelligent energy which is omnipresent meaning everywhere, in everything, all the time, including above, below, around and inside all human beingss … no exceptions. We humans (Light Energy housed in a form) need to learn more about all-pervasive energy. Energy never dies (neither do humans), it just changes form.
I was absolutely astonished to see the miracle of your work. It brought about a feeling how a tiny speckle of sand can be part of the universe.
With respect and admiration
Sonja
Amazing! Every grain of sand is different from the others. Some are alike, but they are not the same. It is the same with the planets, alike, but not the same. I have long believed that no two human beings are alike and for that reason, the God of Christianity (or any other god) simply cannot be defined. It’s taken me over 70 years to understand a very simple premise. Thanks for this, Mark.
GOD IS INDEED TRULY WONDERFUL. HE IS THE CREATOR AND LORD OF ALL THINGS. HOWEVER, THE WORLD IS NOT MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD AS SUGGESTED. THE WORLD IS RELATIVELY NEW – THOUSANDS OF YEARS OLD.
THANK YOU!
Beautiful pictures. Since much of the sand on beaches have tiny pieces of shells in it, now I’m wondering if the sand in the Sahara desert has shell pieces in it? And if so, how?
These pictures are the true meaning of AWESOME! It is incomprehensible the detail our most awesome GOD went to when he created not only us but the world we live in…and HEAVEN is even better? I can’t even imagine. Hey! Maybe in Heaven we will see all the beauty without needing a microscope! Thank You LORD.
That is truly awesome! Thank you for opening my eyes to the things I never knew existed… Look how creative God is, how he made all of those so unique and special! If our world is so great, just imagine how great heaven will be! all you have to do to go there is confess that Jesus is our Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead to save us from going to Hell (you don’t earn your way into heaven by doing good deeds)!!! The sand is amazing!
P.S. Thank you to the person who said that THE WORLD IS NOT MILLIONS OF YEARS OLD, NO MATTER WHAT PEOPLE SAY!!!! Also, the big bang didn’t exist as well as evolution!
I’m really fired up right now so don’t mind me (even though you can’t hear me)… that doesn’t mean what i’m sayong isn’t true though… IT IS!!!!!
Absolutely amazing!!!!! It goes to prove that what we see in not what it is. How wonderful to share these photos with us.
That is truly remarkable. I had no idea that every grain of sand was unique in nature. I knew that every snowflake is also unique, but not about sand grains. Very interesting video and pictures.
Thank You for sharing these photos with everyone. One never comprehends the differences in all grains of sand.
God’s Universe is truly A Wonder to Behold!
You will be amazed at these pictures…and some of the comments. Sean will like it too.
You will be amazed at these pictures and Sean too.
truly magnificant really beautiful it made my day to see this beauty Thank you for sending this e-mail How great is our God
1.) The earth and the universe are billions of years in age
2.) Evolution is a fact
3.) No evidence has been presented determining the existence of the Christian God. Because of this, believing in the existence of the Christian God is a delusion, as a belief in something for which there is no evidence is the definition of a delusion.
If you disagree with any of the preceding statements, you are wrong, because to disagree with things which are factual is to be wrong.
WOW! nothing else to say.
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God….All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that was made..John 1:1,3
For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible…And He is before all things and in Him all things consist. Colossians 1:16,17
The grains of sand, like snowflakes, speak of the One who created them. Each unique; like us, God’s human creation. Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh. Thanks and glory be to Him for the sand on the seashore.
There are no missing links. There is no proof that the earth is millions of years old – only erroneous theories. To quote King David who did live – ‘The fool hath said in his heart, There is no God.’ You can not prove that there is no God.
Cannot prove the existence of green dragons or purple mermaids either, but I dont wanna!!!
Fantastic and Incredible
What it does show is that the Biblical myth of a 5000 year old universe is another nice story but basic nonsense.
I don’t know how often I have stared into a gran of sand and wished I could see it closer… they are as I imagined, far more beautiful than they look as we walk over them.
So beautiful! I have always wondered what each grain would look like and now I know. Next time I walk on a beach these photos will be with me.
I love the pictures
I have collected sands from beaches and rivers from all over the world. I have over 150 samples. I have not had the opportunity to review them under a powerful microscope but this video has inspired me to try. Thanks
Also, a single drop lof water form a pond will show a host of tiny living creatures interacting in their own universe with all kinds of colors, shapes, and sizes. Is not our God, Jesus Christ a Wonderful creator and Father of our universe and everything in it? YES, HE IS!!!!!
It is amazing that a tiny, taken for granted grain of sand could contain so much beauty.
I’d like to say that Ryan (down below) is a moron. Evolution is NOT A FACT. Look at your body you idiot and see how it’s made. When was the last time to got a cold, cut yourself or broke a bone, then told yourself each waking hour to heal itself. It does that by itself with no help from you. You have two eyes so that you see in three demensions. You have curves in your ears so that you can tell from whense cometh a sound. Look at the fantastic array of creatures and foods on this earth and their abilities that far outdo mans’. Look at the heavens and the millions of galaxies all in perfect order. No Ryan, there is a creator and if you had an ounce of intelligence you’d realize that. ‘The one forming the eye, can he not see and the one forming the ear, can he not hear’?
Je vais regarder ma plage d’une autre façon.
Going through this was really fascinating. I felt the uniqueness of everything upon the universality of all things. Who could have imagined what beauty and magnificence of the things we often pay little attention? Really it affirms the position I have always held that NOTHING is ever insignificant. And more than this, it acclaims to the super intelligence of the Creator of all things, the divine architect of all being, and the unreasonableness of an evolution theory that holds to an infinite regress of all things. There is more to our nature we still cannot comprehend. This, indeed, is a great insight and thanks for sharing.
Going through this was really fascinating. I felt the uniqueness of everything upon the universality of all things. Who could have imagined what beauty and magnificence of the things we often pay little attention? Really it affirms the position I have always held that NOTHING is ever insignificant. And more than this, it acclaims to the super intelligence of the Creator of all things, the divine architect of all being, and the unreasonableness of an evolution theory that holds to an infinite regress of all things. There is more to our nature we still cannot comprehend. This, indeed, is a great insight and thanks for sharing.
A spectacular world! In the notes it states that there are 534 planets that have been found so far…none were known 15 years ago.
Thanks for putting this together. This is artistry hidden from the naked eye. We will be in Maui this summer and I will never look at the sand in the same way.
Phil
Just because you cannot see It, does Not mean It is not there. You are wearing the wrong glasses, the microscope had not been invented,or God is not ready to reveal
to the unbelievers, who have no Faith, after clues have been given to Man. I have not seen the continued Evolution of the fish, that walked out of the water, nor the apes in the trees, turn into hairless beings. Each is as it was created, and nothing else.
That was awesome! Thanks!
We keep discovering that God did a lot more incredible things ‘In the beginning’ than we could ever imagine!!!!
He knows the number of hairs on your head and He calls each star by their name. Infinite and vast is He and yet I am reminded of a quote i love (may not get it exactly right, but you’ll get my gist) ‘We find that great things are made of little things, and little things go lessening until at last comes God behind them.’ Our God reigns and He is coming soon. Our Lord Jesus Rocks!!!!
The wonder of Nature, from the smallest to the wonders of the Universe, you never know in till you stop and look around your self.
Each grain of sand is a piece of unduplicated colorful art of nature which cannot be seen with the naked eye. Makes one wonder what other outstandingly beautiful and wondrous things God has surrounded us with that we cannot see. Mt St Helens in Wa state might be worth scoping out after she blew her stack May 18th,1980. . .wonder what is hidden in all that ash?
Let us love and protect what God has given us. We are the stewards of Earth..STOP BUYING BOTTLED WATER!!
I love all of these pictures, I believe in God who made everything, but you are showing grains that have become after sin came into the world: parts of dead animals and destruction of Satan’s handcraft, I believe there will someday be another world where we will have sand of gems and beauty of another phase…Heavenly grains
Hello Ryan,
The following statements you made are factually incorrect.
Reply #416 on : Sun May 12, 2013, 14:04:31
1.) The earth and the universe are billions of years in age
A.) Yes the universes are billions of year old, but then again the way God measures time is something
Beyond our understanding, as God is eternal, we only have about 75 to 100 years our time before we meet him face to face. Ryan, where is your seat reserved at the great shake and bake? In smoking or non?
2.) Evolution is a fact
B.) Yes this is true, A salamander can evolve into a different kind of salamander, same as a frog,
birds and fish. Science has proven this as fact. But to say a snapping turtle can change into a mallard duck after thousand of years. Alternatively, to say men came from a worm. I thank
you are the one who suffers from a delusion.
3.) No evidence has been presented determining the existence of the Christian God. Because of this, believing in the existence of the Christian God is a delusion, as a belief in something for which there is no evidence is the definition of a delusion.
C.) And what do you base this figment of your imagination on? It is not up to us Christians to prove
to you that there is a God, By the way his name is Jesus Christ. It is up to you to prove beyond
a shadow of a doubt that there is no Christian God by the name of Jesus Christ. Which has never
been done since the beginning of time to the end of time.
If you disagree with any of the preceding statements, you are wrong, because to disagree with things which are factual is to be wrong.
D.) Ryan, I think you are factually wrong, because you speak with out any understanding of the subject. You talk like a puff of smoke here one minute and gone the next. When they put your body into ground to rest, what will be you legacy that you pass on to your children?
Sand is rad. Inspiring photos!
Nature yer ma gurl!
I had no idea sand was satan’s doing! lol the comments on here are re-doh-dicuoius
‘you are showing grains that have become after sin came into the world: parts of dead animals and destruction of Satan’s handcraft’ say wut?
Wes, you have a fundamental flaw in your thinking. The premise that something exists is totally dependent on your ability to show that it does – and that should be based on facts and physical evidence. To say that there is a God (or Jesus Christ) just because you believe there is may give you some sort of spiritual salvation but that is all. We can see these grains of sand therefore not only can we wonder at their beauty but we can also be absolutely confident that they exist. There is not a single piece of actual evidence that God exists, so why should we believe that he does.
Beautiful and special pictures of Earth’s tiniest yet intricate substance.
There is more evidence for a Creator, than there are books in the world. Here’s just a few.
Fact that DNA is an invisible language — in an invisible cell….
Fact that invisible information — words, a complicated code arranged in every living thing AND are unique to that living species — whether leaf, ant, cat, or human….
Fact that DNA is information so complex that it actually can build a rabbit instead of a flower…. and every species is unique
Fact that it is more complicated than any computer, any robot….that we can’t begin to understand HOW DNA builds living things…
Fact that this invisible language actually BUILDS a heart, lungs, thousands of miles of blood vessels, nerve networks, bones, flesh etc – all arranged perfectly, then covered with skin…
FROM WHAT AND HOW? No scientist can explain it!!!!
Fact that every fingerprint on every hand on every human being in every land is unique….
Well I could go on and on, but suffice it to say — God is awesome!
The FACT is: you have to have a MIND to create a language that builds living things! DUH!! Just like a mind is needed to build a watch. If you look at the Presidents’ faces carved in stone, would you say time and weather made them? DUH! Of course someone designed them!! And they’re just stone!! Yet you say NOBODY designed human beings, and the complexity of millions of species of insect, mammal, reptile, bird, bacteria, etc etc — ALL ALIVE? Oh what nonsense. And God gives us the choice to be stupid.
Choosing NOT to believe is proof of how much God loves us. He doesn’t force anyone to love Him. He said, here’s the proof, look around, you choose.
There are thousands of books — scientific proof of God’s existence! But most unbelievers simply CHOOSE not to READ them!
It’s US who lose when we refuse to believe because we become cynical, rebellious, arrogant, rude, prideful, angry – to name a few.
We have rooms FULL of evidence, but for those who choose to believe, no evidence is necessary, and for those who choose NOT to, no amount of evidence is sufficient.
Isn’t it truly amazing the things we do not know. God is awesome and beyond anything our finite minds can comprehend. I’m sorry for those of you who choose not to believe, but I won’t argue with you. So you don’t believe?!!? You will!
For those of you that say there is no God and you believe in evolution – Do you know what a hybrid is??? A mule??? Maybe a salamander can ‘adapt’ to better it’s surroundings but it cannot ‘evolve’ into another creature. A mule is a cross between a horse and a donkey, however, if you breed two mules you will not get another mule. It will revert back to either a horse or a donkey. Same with hybrid plants. I know I tried. We can play around but God has an order in this here earth and universe and if you REALLY think this all happened by chance – you are only fooling yourself! God bless and I pray you see the light. Oh, and I agree with the earth is NOT millions and billions of years old either and if you think God couldn’t have done all this in thousands of years vs millions – your God is too small. Check out Christian scientists – Did dinosaurs exist with humans.
never would have imaged,that just a grain of sand is that beautiful Carole
With better eyes, we could See how beautiful Everything is – – from the tiniest of tiny things right at our feet – to the largest faraway galaxies.
Marvelous beautiful universe; and we ‘re a part of it All.
Chrysara
Thank you for the wonderful pictures. In the Winter I over look the beach and the ocean. I sit there for hours just looking at the wonder of it all….the ocean. Now I can look out and think about the wonders of the sand. This Planet Earth is so much more than we can ever imagine. Don’t you just love a good mystery?
There is a bit of scripture that reads, ‘ ….. Worlds without number ….’ and ‘scientests say they know so very much, no, they know so very little and keep proving it all by themselves.