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Did you know that only two hundred years ago, countries in Europe did not only have different times but different days too? When we travel from Britain to France, New York to California, Saudi Arabia to Dubai, we change the time on our watches. Two hundred years ago, people changed the day too. Time seems so easy, but, in fact, it has been – and still is – a huge problem. Read all about it here! (1,190 words)

When Catherine the Great was born in 1729, Russia was not one of the most important countries in Europe. But, when she died in 1796 after thirty-five years at the head of her government, it was one of the strongest and also a centre for art and ideas. Catherine started schools, opened the world-famous Hermitage museum, and tried to make life easier for the poor at the same time as she made Russia larger and more powerful. But Catherine was born an unimportant princess of a poor, small German land. Who was this surprising woman? (1,330 words)

Granada is one of the most beautiful parts of Spain and many tourists visit it every year. It is in the mountains but it is only two hours’ drive from the sea. But Granada’s popularity comes from its rich history. This part of Spain has been home to Muslims and Christians for many centuries and we can see this in the wonderful buildings everywhere (600 words).

Maupassant did not often write funny stories. France’s greatest short story writer was more interested in love and tragedy than he was in comedy. But this is an exception. Read it and see what you think! (800 words)

Saki’s very funny short story is about a young boy who is so badly behaved that he cannot go out to the beach with his family. In fact, he didn't want to go because he has something else he wants to do at home. But to do this, he must play a trick on his boring aunt (1,540 words).

In this wonderful story, the great Russian dramatist takes us into the world of the head teacher of a charity school who is very ill. He is successful and dedicated to his students and his school but believes that his enemies are trying to undermine their achievements. He gives a speech at the school's annual dinner where he appears not to know what the future holds for him. (2,230 words)

A top lawyer leaves his job, wife and home after he suddenly loses his memory. He has had a normal life but only really living for his work. Suddenly, all that changes when he wakes up on a train with thousands of dollars in his pocket. (3,280 words)

Golf is a very popular game these days and it is one that is also very expensive. It’s one of the very few games that old and young people can play, men and women. And so it is surprising that golf was only played in Scotland until the nineteenth century. Read about the history of this game and how it is different from all other sports (600 words).

The history of Nepal is very troubled. Although the country is beautiful because of its mountains – Everest is in Nepal – and rivers, and its wonderful capital, Kathmandu, it has also had a terrible civil war. One evening in the middle of that war, the King was talking with his family about a wife for his oldest son, Prince Dipendra. An hour later, the King and Queen and most of their family were dead, killed by Dipendra. Or were they? (660 words)

The biggest discovery in medicine of all time, the one that saved the most lives, was immunisation. The idea is simple: you put a very small amount of a disease into a body – but not enough to make the person sick. The body’s immune system makes antibodies to fight the disease. If the person catches the disease later, his body is ready and fights it so that he does not become ill and die. This is the story of the history of immunisation (800 words).

The history of zero. It is hard to imagine what life was like before we had the number zero. Numbers were very long and extremely difficult to multiply. Imagine this sum: DCCCLXXVII x MMCCLXIX in Roman numbers, or imagine that you could not use 0 to write 1,000,001. In Europe zero was once thought to be the work of the Devil, because it meant ‘nothing’ and it was impossible to show nothing (1,120 words).

Dog fighting has been against the law for many, many years in most parts of the world. We prefer to keep our dogs with us by the fire or running in the park. Paterson’s story tells a very different tale though. He describes to us why he thinks it’s as natural for dogs to fight as it is for men to box (900 words).

Most people know that the Venus Fly Trap catches and eats insects in its powerful ‘jaws’. But why did this plant develop? What were its origins? And where can we find it? If it grew big enough, could it eat human beings? (765 words).

Forests play a vital role in the life of our planet and everything that lives on it. Read about our relationship with forests throughout history, how much we depend on them and how we are destroying them (930 words).

An ancient family is haunted by a wizard's curse after the murder of his son in the thirteenth century. Hundreds of years later, the last Lord spends his life trying to find the secret of the curse and so prevent his death on his 32nd birthday. (2,557 words)