A Google a Day is a site that asks general knowledge questions that can be solved by search. Use it to improve your searching skills while having fun.

Google is virtually synonymous with search. But not everyone has learned to use it effectively. Google's new site, launched last month poses a daily challenge designed to enhance searching skills.

Easy you might think - just type the question into your browser's search bar. After all lots of people will have solved it and posted it on their blog/website and Google will simply find the answer in one go.

Well to prevent this behaviour Google has set up an protected search space - one that doesn't get contaminated by other people's searches. It is powered by Deja Google which is:

A wormhole inspired time machine that enables you to solve today's puzzle spoiler free by searching the Internet as it existed before A Google a Day launched. 

A typical puzzle requires two searches to solve it. For example here's one from a few weeks back:

If you type in an incorrect answer (or just leave the answer field blank) then you are advised how to construct the search to reveal it.

Equally if you type in the correct answer - which in some cases you might be able to do without searching if you have wide general knowledge or just make a lucky guess - then the search strategy is again revealed:

If you play regularly then you will quickly learn useful search techniques - as well as acquiring interesting tidbits of knowledge that will help with quizzes and puzzles and provide food for thought.

To play go to A Google a Day. By default you'll go to the current day's puzzle - but you can step back through earlier ones if you get hooked.