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.
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SCIENTISTS TEACH BRAIN CELLS IN A PETRI DISH TO PLAY PONG • Next they plan to get the brain cells drunk, in a bid to learn more about the effects of drugs on the brain
DOGS REALLY CAN TELL WHEN WE'RE STRESSED • Pet pooches can sniff out the scent of stress hormones in our sweat and breath
SCENTS AND SENSE-ABILITY • Dogs are famous for their incredible sense of smell. Here are just a few of the factors that make their noses so sensitive…
SUPER-SIZED NEURONS IN THE AREA OF THE BRAIN RESPONSIBLE FOR MEMORY KEEP SUPER-AGERS SHARP • Some of us stay mentally sharp well into our 80s and it could be due to the size of our brain cells
NEW ANTIBIOTIC FOUND IN POTATO BACTERIA • The discovery could help in the fight against antibiotic resistance
GENOME-SEQUENCING PROJECT MAY SAVE ONE OF THE WORLD'S LAST SURVIVING SPECIES OF GIANT TORTOISE • The Aldabra giant tortoise is classed as vulnerable, meaning the species is at high risk of going extinct in the wild
NASA DEFLECTS ASTEROID BY SMASHING SPACESHIP INTO IT • The mission is a major step forward in protecting the Earth from potentially devastating asteroid impacts
EATING A BALANCED DIET AND AVOIDING THE NEWS HELPED US THROUGH COVID • The protective effect was even stronger than interacting with friends or enjoying hobbies, a Spanish study has found
ANCIENT CAT-SIZED REPTILE REBUILT IN EXQUISITE DETAIL • Fossils unearthed in Scotland more than 100 years ago have finally been identified as belonging to relatives of the flying reptiles that ruled the skies in the age of the dinosaurs
GENE-EDITED SHEEP OFFER A GLIMMER OF HOPE IN DEVELOPING A TREATMENT FOR A FORM OF CHILDHOOD DEMENTIA • Scientists at Edinburgh's Roslin Institute have created sheep that carry the gene for Batten disease, a rare and fatal childhood illness for which there is currently no cure. Dr Thomas Wishart tells us more
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 clean fuels to pain-reducing pillows, here you’ll find many reasons to feel hopeful for our future…
BURNOUT MAKES US LESS KIND • Understanding other people’s feelings is an essential part of being human. But to look after others, we must first look after ourselves
WILL AI REPLACE ARTISTS? • AI-generated images and the future of art
HOW THE FIRST STARS SPLIT THE UNIVERSE APART • Astronomers are delving into the dark period between the light from the Big Bang fading and the birth of the first stars
COST OF LIVING: COULD COLD HOMES MAKE US ILL? • With household bills rocketing and wages remaining stagnant, many of us are leaving our heating off in an effort to save money. But could this impact our health?
RED FLAGS: IS THERE ANY SCIENCE TO SPOTTING A TOXIC RELATIONSHIP? • Social media is awash with videos that point to signs that suggest you might be in a toxic relationship. But is it really that easy to spot a toxic partner?
MIND-CONTROLLED TECH: IS IT POSSIBLE? • Thought-controlled devices...
