Beaded skull ornaments created for celebrations of Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro, Mexico (@ Rodrigo Cruz/Getty Images)

Beaded skull ornaments created for celebrations of Day of the Dead in Patzcuaro, Mexico (@ Rodrigo Cruz/Getty Images)

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• Today, Mexican families will gather to eat, drink and celebrate with those who\ve already left this mortal coil.""What\s the special occasion?
• These beaded skulls come from a city known for its celebrations welcoming the souls of the dead back to the land of the living.""Watch the party unfold
• After the Spanish arrived here, they rescheduled the locals\ holiday honouring the dead so it would coincide with a Christian one.""What is that Christian holiday called?
• These colourful pieces of craftwork are just some of the amazing designs that epitomise this special day.""See more examples of amazing artwork

Gargoyle on building (@ Roger Brooks/Corbis)

Gargoyle on building (@ Roger Brooks/Corbis)

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• Do you think that this spooky statue is a gargoyle or a grotesque?""Find out the difference between the two
• Looking to send shivers down the spine of some terrified bystanders today?""Here\s some super-scary costume ideas
• Where do we get the traditions of Jack-o-lanterns, demons, spirits and the dead returning from beyond the grave?""It all came from an old Gaelic festival
• Alas, the moon won\t be full this Halloween.""The next time we\ll be trick-or-treating under one will be in the year…

Mars (@ Exactostock/Superstock)

Mars (@ Exactostock/Superstock)

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• The Red Planet is home to both the highest known mountain and the largest canyon in the solar system.""Find out more about it
• On this day in 1938, panic struck the USA as radio listeners believed that Earth was being invaded by Martians.""What was really happening?
• \"The chances of anything coming from Mars are a million to one - but they still come!\"""Listen to the amazing musical about a Martian invasion
• What do you suppose would happen if Martians really did attack?""They might come shouting “Ack! Ack!” and expecting a fleet of welcoming of celebrities

A Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) perches at the edge of a table (@ Ryan McGinnis/Getty Images)

A Blue Tit (Parus caeruleus) perches at the edge of a table (@ Ryan McGinnis/Getty Images)

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• These colourful little characters are one of Britain\s most distinctive and recognisable birds.""That\s no reason not to look at more pictures though
• Now is a good time to think about helping British birds stock up for the impending winter.""Fill up the birdfeeder for Feed the Birds Day
• A blue tit has to eat up to a third of its own body weight every day just to survive.""How should dinner be served today then?
• Can\t tell your blue tits from your buzzards? Maybe you just get your binos in a twist a bit too often?""Time for some bird spotting tips

Snow gum trees in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia (@ Rob Blakers/Getty Images)

Snow gum trees in Cradle Mountain-Lake St Clair National Park, Tasmania, Australia (@ Rob Blakers/Getty Images)

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• This unusually hardy eucalyptus tree scoffs at the chilly temperatures that would kill other kinds.""What makes this one so special?
• This place is home to the island\s highest peak and deepest lake.""But you\ll need to take this spectacular 65km hike to see them
• Which classic cartoon character is likely to be gnashing his teeth, stealing your food and getting in a spin around these parts?""Watch him in action
• During the ice age 10,000 years ago, the island that these trees call home was part of the mainland continent.""Discover more about this land down under

Mountain hut in wilderness with stars and moon at night during winter, Finland (@ ajliikala/Getty Images)

Mountain hut in wilderness with stars and moon at night during winter, Finland (@ ajliikala/Getty Images)

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• There are more than 187,000 lakes here and 86% of the land is covered in forest.""See more pictures of this wild wonderland
• A popular pastime in this chilly region doesn\t involve wrapping up warm and building snowmen.""In fact it involves taking all your clothes off!
• Although being larger than the UK, with only 5.4 million people this is Europe\s most sparsely populated country.""The facts don\t ‘Finnish\ there
• When you\re out this far in the open wilderness you might need more than a phrase book to survive.""Learn a bit of the local lingo

Candlelit lanterns are set adrift during the Diwali celebrations in Trafalgar Square, London (@ Darren Lehane/Getty Images)

Candlelit lanterns are set adrift during the Diwali celebrations in Trafalgar Square, London (@ Darren Lehane/Getty Images)

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• These lanterns illuminate an annual festival of lights celebrated by Hindus, Sikhs and Jains all over the world.""What is the special occasion?
• Designs made of coloured sand, jewel-bright saris and special sweets are treasured traditions of this five-day festival.""Find out how they celebrate it in India
• Nearly a million people in the UK will be celebrating the events of the next few days so make sure you don\t miss any of the entertainment.""See what events are happening near you
• These lovely lanterns are made to welcome Lakshmi, who, among other things, is the goddess of light, wealth, wisdom and fertility.""Don\t you think she\s well worth making a little offering to?

Squirrel hiding in a tree (@ Norihisa Inomata/Photolibrary)

Squirrel hiding in a tree (@ Norihisa Inomata/Photolibrary)

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• Across the world, nearly all countries (except notably Australia) have their own indigenous version of this creature.""Discover more about them
• Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, obviously it is a squirrel.""So how do these majestic mammals fly?
• Not all animals were born to be this adorable.""Let\s just stick to more cuddly pictures of this one then
• Squirrels come in all sizes, from the tiny, 13cm nose-to-tail long African pygmy squirrel, to the enormous Indian giant squirrel.""See pictures of this huge, metre-long monster!

A grass spider’s web with raindrops (@ Don Johnston/Age Fotostock)

A grass spider’s web with raindrops (@ Don Johnston/Age Fotostock)

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• Spider web is so light that if it were spun once around the Earth it would weigh only as much as a bar of soap.""Scour the web for more amazing facts
• Being only 19mm long and with tiny fangs, the spider that made this web is completely harmless to humans.""On the other hand, here are some of the world\s deadliest animals
• “Little Miss Muffet, Sat on a tuffet, Eating her curds and whey; Along came a spider, Who sat down beside her and frightened Miss Muffet away”""Now why would she have run off like that?
• If you get bitten by a spider the trick is not to panic, especially if it is a radioactive one.""It might even come with a few added benefits

Interior of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky, USA (@ Walter Bibikow/Age Fotostock)

Interior of the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Kentucky, USA (@ Walter Bibikow/Age Fotostock)

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• This spectacular hallway is part of the fourth capitol building that this US state has had.""Where is it?
• This state is famous for horse races, chicken and 4,500 tons of gold bullion buried underground.""Can you guess where it is?
• This state is the home of the distinctive sound of American bluegrass music.""Watch the world\s fastest banjo player strum one of its tunes
• The people of this state are known for producing a distinctly American libation.""It\s the main ingredient of this cracking cocktail

Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, island of Borneo, Malaysia (@ Richard Ashworth/Photolibrary)

Deer Cave, Mulu National Park, Sarawak, island of Borneo, Malaysia (@ Richard Ashworth/Photolibrary)

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• This cave got its name from the animals that come to lick its salty rocks.""See inside the world\s second-largest known cave passage
• Millions of bats live in these depths and when they all go out for a snack it is quite the spectacle.""Watch them all go on a pre-dinner dance
• The amazing caves and karsts that fill this national park have been creating incredible sights here for five million years.""Where is this amazing place?
• If you fancy releasing your inner troglodyte but can\t afford the trip out this far then help is at hand.""Try exploring one of the UK\s many great caves and join a potholing club

Sitka, Alaska, USA (@ Daryl Pederson/Age Fotostock)

Sitka, Alaska, USA (@ Daryl Pederson/Age Fotostock)

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• Known as ‘The Last Frontier\, the least densely populated US state is larger than all but 18 sovereign countries.""Perfect for amazing landscape photos then
• It was in this day in 1867 that the US flag was first raised over the state of Alaska.""Which country did it belong to before then?
• Strangely enough, this city of fewer than 9,000 people is technically the second-largest incorporated city by area in the US.""Where is it?
• Doesn\t this mountain peak remind you of a peculiar pudding that is warm on the top and chilly in the middle?""Find out how to make it

Blenny in Portofino, Italy (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

Blenny in Portofino, Italy (@ SIME/eStock Photo)

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• This type of little fish is just one of the 833 species within the suborder Blennioidei.""Find out more about the fish known as blenny
• Being a fish out of water isn\t necessarily a bad thing as one of this species has made that Darwinian leap.""Maybe that\s how it got its unusual name
• This distinctive-looking swimmer has cousins who bear such colourful names as flametail, lawnmower and even stigmata.""See more pictures of the extended family
• Not that this little chap would notice but the water he\s swimming in is often teeming with celebrities.""See more pictures of this top celeb-spotting shore

Volcanic landscape after the 1991 eruption on Mount Pinatubo, Philippines (@ Philippe Bourseiller/Getty Images)

Volcanic landscape after the 1991 eruption on Mount Pinatubo, Philippines (@ Philippe Bourseiller/Getty Images)

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• It\s ‘snow\ joke, this really isn\t a wild wintery wonderland, in fact it doesn\t even snow at all here.""So what is it that is covering the floor?
• Before 15 July 1991, this volcano had no recorded eruptions in all its history.""What happened next was the second-largest eruption of the 20th century
• More than 7,000 islands make up this country and the volcano that dropped all this ash was on the most populated of them.""Think you can name this usually verdant land?
• A volcano is classified as extinct if it has not erupted in recorded history but that doesn\t necessarily mean it won\t pop at some point.""On the other extreme here are the world\s most active

Tallinn, Estonia (@ Bharat Ranjan)

Tallinn, Estonia (@ Bharat Ranjan)

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• This city has been named a European Capital of Culture for 2011.""Where is it?
• Although much of the city was bombed by the Soviets in WWII, the Old Town survived.""See more of this beautiful part of the city
• You might not be able to understand the words but thousands of smiling faces translate into any language.""Watch them sing a popular local folk song
• Adventurous visitors can look forward to tucking into jellied pork, stewed sauerkraut or blood sausage.""You might have worked up enough hunger to eat that after all there is to do here

Enthusiasts participate in the annual Battle of Hastings re-enactment, Battle, England (@ Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

Enthusiasts participate in the annual Battle of Hastings re-enactment, Battle, England (@ Matthew Lloyd/Getty Images)

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• On this day in 1066 one of the most famous battles in all of Britain\s history took place.""It was the last successful invasion of the island
• It is believed the English king, Harold, was killed on the battlefield with an arrow through his eye.""Here\s how the victors spun the tale
• If donning armour, shining your sword and drawing you bow sounds like a blast then maybe you should join in with this merry bunch.""There are plenty more battles for you to sink your teeth into
• So despite the name, the battle that took place in 1066 didn\t even happen in Hastings.""See how far they had to travel to the (now appropriately named) site

Berlin Cathedral with artful illumination during the Festival of Lights in Berlin, Germany (@ Axel Schmies/Age Fotostock)

Berlin Cathedral with artful illumination during the Festival of Lights in Berlin, Germany (@ Axel Schmies/Age Fotostock)

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• For 12 days every October this city becomes a shining example of how creative you can be with a bit of light work.""See more pictures from the Berlin Festival of Light
• When not being swathed in illuminations this baroque cathedral takes pride of place in the heart of Germany\s capital.""See where it is
• Due to its divisive history there are two zoos here, making it the city with the most zoo animals in the world.""Find more fascinating facts about this place
• One of the most creative photography techniques involves long exposures and painting with light.""You have to see it to believe how this incredible technique works

Monument to Christopher Columbus at Port Vell, Barcelona, Spain (@ Rafael Campillo/Pixtal/Age Fotostock)

Monument to Christopher Columbus at Port Vell, Barcelona, Spain (@ Rafael Campillo/Pixtal/Age Fotostock)

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• In this part of the world you\ll want to greet the day with a hearty “Bon dia.”""A little Catalan goes a long way in this city
• Locals are celebrating Fiesta Nacional today, honouring the man who returned to this spot in 1493 with tales of a new world.""Who was he?
• This statue is perched at the end of a long boulevard known for its colourful characters.""See them in action
• The architectural style Modernisme is common in this city.""Whose work is the best known example of it?

Fairy basslet fish dart among blooms of lettuce coral near the Phoenix Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia (@ Paul Nicklen/National Geographic/Getty Images)

Fairy basslet fish dart among blooms of lettuce coral near the Phoenix Islands, Kiribati, Micronesia (@ Paul Nicklen/National Geographic/Getty Images)

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• This Unesco heritage site is thought to be where the American pilot Amelia Earhart was lost.""Find out more
• All members of this fish species are born female but some become male later.""No wonder their name hints at magical powers
• Sadly, these islands could be joining the fish underwater by the end of the century.""Sea levels are a rising problem for these shallow islands
• Delicious as it sounds, you wouldn\t want to take a bite out of this lettuce.""But there is no harm feasting your eyes on it

Hamersley Gorge, Karijini National Park, Australia -- Alessandra Sarti/Photolibrary

Hamersley Gorge, Karijini National Park, Australia -- Alessandra Sarti/Photolibrary

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• These gentle falls have carved out a space that is known to some as nature\s greatest spa.""See more pictures of it
• While wandering through this part of the Outback you might encounter cute kangaroos, wonderful wallaroos…""Oh yes, and a 2 metre carnivorous reptile
• This remote area is two days\ drive from the nearest big city.""See what it is like to visit this beautiful, distant wilderness
• When you\re this far away from civilisation a neighbour or two might be handy.""They may even become good friends…

People take part in the annual World Conker Championships, near Oundle, Northamptonshire (@ Emma Wood/Photolibrary)

People take part in the annual World Conker Championships, near Oundle, Northamptonshire (@ Emma Wood/Photolibrary)

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• Get ready for a smashing time near Oundle, Northamptonshire today.""The World Conker Championships are taking place
• The competition was first held in 1965 by a group whose plans to go fishing were scuppered by poor weather.""It\s now a ‘whacky\ annual event, as these pics show.
• Don\t be fooled: all but one of these ‘nuts\ are not nuts at all – can you guess which one?""Horse chestnut, pistachio, cashew, pecan, pine nuts
• Conkers is a cracking game to play in the playground but as you get older you might want to raise the stakes a little.""Let\s see how the boys from Top Gear would do it…

Dubrovnik, Croatia (@ SIME / eStock Photo)

Dubrovnik, Croatia (@ SIME / eStock Photo)

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• Just 20 years ago this pristine piazza was under siege in a three-month bombardment.""It has now been fully restored to reclaim its title as the Pearl of the Adriatic
• In the 15th and 16th centuries these streets were filled with wealthy merchants and traders in a city that rivaled Venice.""Find out more about the Republic of Ragusa
• Although not a big city, with only around 44,000 residents, it swells to take in more than a million tourists every year!""It\s not hard to see why
• This region\s dandy fashion accessory is named after a corruption of the native name for the country, Hrvat.""Can you guess what it is?

Pink dragon fruit (@ Asia Images Group/Photolibrary)

Pink dragon fruit (@ Asia Images Group/Photolibrary)

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• They may look hard and spikey on the outside but these fruits are deliciously soft and squishy underneath.""See more pictures
• Although exotic fruits are becoming easier to find in the shops, they don\t half cost a pretty penny.""Why not try growing your own?
• If you fancy yourself as a dragon slayer then you\re going to have to know what to do with it when you\ve finished the job.""How about making it into a tasty pudding?
• Although native to central America, most of these fruits now come from a cactus that grows in the far corners of Asia.""And they\re not the only dragons you\re likely to see there…

Chameleons (@ Exactostock/SuperStock)

Chameleons (@ Exactostock/SuperStock)

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• The name of these animals comes from Ancient Greek meaning ‘ground lion\.""Find out more about these colourful creatures
• These are formidable predators - with tongues longer than their body which can flick out in the blink of an eye.""You\ll be tongue-tied after seeing it in action
• It is believed these animals originated on an island where most of the creatures are endemic to it.""See more pictures of this unusual place
• Chameleons famously change colour but it is actually for social signalling rather than camouflage.""Here\s another signal they give that is a lot more human

International Space Station over the Pacific Ocean (@ StockTrek/White/Photolibrary)

International Space Station over the Pacific Ocean (@ StockTrek/White/Photolibrary)

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• On this day in 1957 the first man-made satellite, Sputnik 1, was launched into orbit.""That\s why we\re celebrating World Space Week
• This extraordinary image is of a space station that has been continually inhabited for more than 10 years.""Where is this mobile home that travels at nearly 28,000kph?
• If the thought of drifting off to sleep takes your fancy, it takes a whole new meaning up here.""See what life is like on a space station
• How do you suppose we could be catching a lift up here in the future?""There is a literal option…

The raw materials traditionally used by Peruvian Indians to dye wool in subtle colours (@ Nigel Pavitt/Aurora Photos)

The raw materials traditionally used by Peruvian Indians to dye wool in subtle colours (@ Nigel Pavitt/Aurora Photos)

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• This wool is being dyed by using natural ingredients to give its delicate hue.""See the colourful clothes they will one day turn into
• This soft and luxurious wool has been spun by the locals here for thousands of years.""What creature does it come from?
• If you can understand what k2tog tbl or sk2p means then no doubt you\ll be enjoying the next few days.""It\s National Knitting Week
• If your collection of knitwear goes only as far as the jumper your grandma made you for Christmas, maybe it\s time to try your hand at it.""Here are a few tips to get you started

An illuminated Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China (@ Christian Kober/Corbis)

An illuminated Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing, China (@ Christian Kober/Corbis)

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• There are three performance halls in this glass and titanium building known locally as The Egg.""What is it?
• This spectacle lies in the heart of the city with other amazing sites such as the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square.""Find out where it is
• This futuristic city has been around for nearly 3,000 years but there is a resident who is even older.""He\s believed to be more than 700,000 years old!
• Want to know what the folk get up to inside this big golden egg?""Here\s a tasty sample