Culture Art & Media What's in a Grain of Sand? A Whole Lot More Than You Think By Catie Leary Writer and Photographer Georgia State University Catie Leary writes and curates visual stories about science, animals, the arts, travel, and the natural world. our editorial process Catie Leary Updated June 05, 2017 Share Twitter Pinterest Email Culture History Travel Sustainable Fashion Art & Media Holidays Community All. (Photo: Gary Greenberg) All photos: Gary Greenberg A new perspective on dirt Sand can appear pretty unremarkable to the human eye, but magnify it by several hundred times and suddenly the unique colors, textures and shapes are brought to light. Photographer and scientist Dr. Gary Greenberg uses microscopes to unearth these beautifully bizarre surfaces and landscapes using grains of sand sampled from across the globe. In these meticulously crafted images, viewers discover that this infinitesimal world is filled with remnants of long-dead sea life, including shell fragments, sponge spicules, sea urchin spines and much more. "When we walk along the beach, we are strolling atop millions of years of biological and geological history," Greenberg says. For more gorgeous microphotography by Greenberg, be sure to check out his art book, "A Grain of Sand: Nature's Secret Wonder." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *