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…
CONTRIBUTORS
Baby shark
A truck load
A history of violence
FEEDBACK • YOUR OPINIONS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND OUR MAGAZINE
BBC Science Focus Magazine
‘Clearest sign’ of alien life on Mars found by NASA • Strange ‘leopard spot’ markings on a Martian rock could finally be the sign we’ve been waiting for that alien microbes once lived on the Red Planet
New type of acid rain could threaten life on Earth • This ‘forever chemical’ is almost impossible to remove from the environment
Female gorillas can overpower males twice their size • Primate society is less patriarchal than we previously thought
Human brains emit a bizarre glow • Subtle light shines through our skulls in patterns that depends on what we’re doing
Largest black hole in the Universe discovered • The black hole grew to its enormous size by consuming all its nearby siblings
Scientists are rethinking the cause of insomnia • A gut reaction might be causing your sleepless nights
A tiny stone tool may have just rewritten human history • It’s not yet clear who left the tool on the island
Scientists publish findings from 25-year study of ‘super-agers’ • The results could uncover new ways to delay or prevent dementia
Groundbreaking footage captures hidden moment of human fertility • Observing the crucial step in human development could help improve fertility and IVF
97% of autistic adults over 60 are undiagnosed • Their autism was missed during childhood, resulting in an ‘overlooked’ generation of autistics
Cortisol is actually good for you. Here’s how to maintain a healthy level • Influencers are demonising a hormone that plays a star role in regulating your body
What doctors really want you to know about sports supplements • Athletic enhancers are big business. But it’s not always clear which ones actually work or what might be in them
SIZE MATTERS • Switching to electric vehicles is making our roads cleaner, but no less congested. There’s a simple solution to this problem, but no one wants to hear it
How to clean your teeth like a dentist
5 of the Best Electric toothbrushes • Whether you’re seeking professional precision or just a thorough clean, these brushes use science and dentist-backed design to keep cavities at bay
EDITOR’S PICKS… • This month’s smartest tech
WELCOME TO THE DREAM WORLD • New technology aims to help you induce a lucid dream at will, enabling you to enter a state of consciousness where any thing is possible. Dare you close your eyes?
THE DREAMERS
WHAT WE GET WRONG ABOUT METABOLISM • Weight loss feeling harder than it should? Your body isn’t broken, but the old advice about how it spends energy might be
NO MAGIC MENU
CAN YOU BREATHE YOUR WAY TO BETTER HEALTH? • Breathing is something we do unconsciously. But knowing when and how to take conscious deep breaths could unlock a host of benefits
DO TRY THIS AT HOME • Here are five simple breathing exercises you can try for yourself. They’re all slow-breathing techniques, chosen for their soothing effects. Unless stated otherwise, they’re best done through the nose. If you have any relevant health concerns, such as asthma or a deviated septum, please check with your doctor before trying these exercises.
Welcom to...