What lies behind the country’s prowess in opera? Guardian reporter Kate Molleson traveled to Mongolia to find out. Her conclusion: The Soviets brought it with them when Mongolia became the first satellite state of the Soviet Union in 1921.

But Mongolians had something to contribute, notes Ms. Molleson. Mongolians have a centuries-old tradition of throat singing, a challenging form of overtone singing that requires great vocal stamina and – perhaps – has inspired young opera singers.

These beekeepers carve beehives out of wood, smoke them over beeswax and moss for two days to make them appealing to bees, and then place them high in tree canopies where the bees can live safely, away from creatures that might disturb them.

Harvesting the honey at such great heights is dangerous, but most of the families have been doing it for generations, reports the BBC.