Spiral staircase outside Perlan, a modern building housing the Saga Museum, Reykjavik, Iceland, Polar Regions

A TIbetan lady sends her prayers spiralling up to heaven by spinning a Buddhist prayer wheel in the Everest region, Nepal, Asia

Helical stepwell, 16th century well with a 1.2m-wide staircase spiralling down the wall of the well shaft, Champaner, Gujarat, India, Asia

Visitors walk up a spiralling ramp around the cone shaped funnel in the dome cupola, which has 360 glass mirrors reflecting light into the Plenary chamber of the Reichstag building, designed by Sir Norman Foster, Berlin, Germany, Europe

Snail, snail shell, studio, switzerland

A tornado water spout casued by a severe thunder storm over Sivota, Greece,

Snake Pipefish (Entelurus aequorus) in typical snake-like position with tail curled up, St Abbs, Scotland, UK North Sea

A spiraling metal staircase in front of a stained glass window, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

3D-printed deployment mechanism for satellite solar panels

Hurricane Gordon, Atlantic Ocean, In 2006, True Colour Satellite Image. Hurricane Gordon on 14 September 2006 over the Atlantic ocean. True-colour satellite image using MODIS data.

Cyclone Gafilo, Indian Ocean, In 2004, True Colour Satellite Image. Tropical Cyclone Gafilo over the Indian Ocean, Northwest of Madagascar, on 6 March 2004. True-colour satellite image using MODIS data.

Typhoon Nari, Taiwan, China, Asia, In 2001, True Colour Satellite Image. Typhoon Nari in September 2001 northeast of Taiwan and west of Shanghai, China. True-colour satellite image using MODIS data.

Hurricane Katrina, Louisiana, Us, On 28/08/2005, True Colour Satellite Image. Hurricane Katrina on 28 August 2005 near peak strength over the Gulf of Mexico. True-colour satellite image using MODIS data.

Typhoon Haiyan, Western Pacific, In 2001, True Colour Satellite Image

Hurricane Norbert, Pacific Ocean, In 2008, True Colour Satellite Image. Hurricane Norbert on 8 October 2008 over the Pacific ocean off Mexico. True-colour satellite image using MODIS data.

Hurricane Frances, Atlantic Ocean, On 31/08/2004, True Colour Satellite Image. Hurricane Frances on 31 August 2004 north of San Juan, Puerto Rico. True-colour satellite image using MODIS data.

Hurricane Wilma, Atlantic Ocean, On 24/10/2005, True Colour Satellite Image. Hurricane Wilma on 24 October 2005 over Florida, US. True-colour satellite image using MODIS data.

Hurricane Bertha, Atlantic Ocean, In 2008, True Colour Satellite Image. Hurricane Bertha on 9 July 2008 over the Atlantic ocean. True-colour satellite image using MODIS data.

Typhoon Mitag, Philippine Sea, Asia, In 2002, True Colour Satellite Image. Typhoon Mitag on 6 March 2002 in the Philippine Sea, north of the Philippines (lower left-hand corner of the image). True-colour satellite image using MODIS data.