With accessible features illustrated with the world’s best photography, BBC Focus Magazine explains the theory behind scientific phenomena and really brings science to life. In every issue you’ll find news of the latest major scientific developments, a lively Q&A section plus exclusive and astonishing photographic reports that range from the breathtaking to the downright odd.
FROM THE EDITOR
ON THE BBC THIS MONTH…
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CONVERSATION • YOUR OPINIONS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND BBC SCIENCE FOCUS
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DISCOVERIES
LACTOSE TOLERANCE EVOLVED IN EUROPEANS THANKS TO FAMINE AND DISEASE • Wide-ranging evolutionary study overturns the long-held idea that the gene for lactose tolerance spread because it allowed dairy-farming humans to consume more milk
TRAINS COULD SUCK CO2 OUT OF THE AIR AS THEY CROSS THE COUNTRY • A single train fitted with the system could remove thousands of tonnes of carbon every year
SCIENTISTS MAY HAVE FIGURED OUT HOW TO CONTROL INTRUSIVE THOUGHTS • The technique could help with unwanted symptoms of conditions like OCD and anxiety
EATING MARMITE COULD EASE ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION • B vitamins found in the spread may help the brain produce calming neurochemicals
ROBOT DOG LEARNS TO WALK BY STUMBLING, JUST LIKE YOUNG ANIMALS IN THE WILD • When this robot gets knocked down, it gets up again
WE COULD SOON PEER THROUGH TIME TO SEE THE FIRST STARS • By analysing primordial clouds of hydrogen, astronomers could detect traces of light from the earliest stars and galaxies
FEELING ‘HANGRY’ IS REAL, AND THERE’S SCIENCE TO PROVE IT • Scientists tracking people’s food intake and emotions have shown that being hungry really can make us angry
MUMMIFIED BABY MAMMOTH FOUND BY CANADIAN MINERS • The immaculately preserved specimen is “one of the most incredible mummified Ice Age animals ever discovered”
MICROBES FOUND IN VOLCANIC ENVIRONMENTS COULD HELP REVEAL MORE ABOUT LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS • Researchers studying bacteria in Hawaii’s lava caves have discovered intricate communities working together in hostile surroundings
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT… • As a remedy for all the bad news out there, let us prescribe you a small dose of feel-good science. Each issue, we’ll give you a rundown of the latest breakthroughs that aim to solve humanity’s biggest problems. From cars that capture carbon to batteries made from trees, here you’ll find many reasons to feel hopeful for our future…
EXERCISE PILLS:AHARD IDEA TO SWALLOW • A new pill could offer the physical benefits of an active lifestyle, but what about the boost that exercise can give your mental health?
HOW TO CREATE A VIRTUAL CHILD • Criminal psychologists and computer scientists are using virtual avatars to train people how to interview vulnerable children
THE (SQUIRREL’S) GHOST IN THE MACHINE • Why questions about robot sentience can lead to far-reaching conversations about the people we want to be
MONEY: CAN IT BUY YOU HAPPINESS? • We all need enough to cover our basic needs, but beyond that the link between wealth and wellness is less clear
DARK MATTER: IS IT TIME WE GAVE UP LOOKING FOR IT? • After decades of looking for dark matter and coming up short, some researchers say we should take the possibility of a new theory of gravity more seriously
REWILDING: IS IT ALL JUST A CELEBRITY CULT? • In July, four bison were released in Kent. But is rewilding the best way to boost biodiversity?
INNOVATIONS • PREPARE YOURSELF FOR TOMORROW
Sony WH-1000XM5: The gold standard for headphones • Some of the best headphones around, says Alex Hughes, but they don’t come cheap
3 EXCELLENT, CHEAPER OPTIONS
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