BBC Science Focus Magazine

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

An eye for detail

Usain Bot

Bowel in bloom

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BBC Science Focus Magazine

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DISCOVERIES

Scientists find vast ocean of liquid water on Mars • A new study may have uncovered the Red Planet's long-lost water – and a fresh lead in the search for life

The eight-hour sleep rule is outdated, says major study • It's likely that there's no ‘ideal’ number of sleeping hours for optimum health, experts now say – instead, it probably varies by country

Skeleton confirms that gladiators fought lions • Bite marks reveal the gruesome death of a gladiator

The surprising way your body fat sabotages intermittent fasting • A study in mice reveals that obesity could change how our bodies respond to periods of fasting

Massive star-forming cloud found strangely close to Earth • New methods detected a previously concealed megastructure in space

‘Zombie’ volcano might not be so dead after all • This sleeping giant has plenty going on beneath the surface. Should we be worried?

Deadly peanut allergies could be prevented with a simple new method • Adults with severe peanut allergies were trained to tolerate handfuls of peanuts in a new study

New ‘Bone Collector’ caterpillar wears the remains of its prey • The species has a grotesque fashion sense, to say the least

The dinosaur graveyard that's rewriting prehistory • A fossil treasure trove in Alberta, Canada is changing how scientists understand the behaviour, biology and extinction of one of the Cretaceous period's strangest herbivores

The main characters of Walking With Dinosaurs

People are using AI chatbots as psychotherapists. We asked an actual therapist if that's a good idea • Artificial intelligence could make mental health care more accessible, but is it wise to trust your wellbeing to a chatbot?

You're probably not getting enough iron. Here's what it could be doing to your body • Iron can be easily found in a multitude of food sources to suit all diets. So why are so many of us deficient in the micronutrient?

TRIED AND TASTED The 0% drink that still gets you tipsy • We swapped alcohol for Sentia for a week to see if we could be tempted to swap for good

Buying a used electric vehicle is less risky than you think • With secondhand EV prices starting to fall, here's what you need to know about their batteries if you're considering buying one

EDITOR'S PICKS… • This month's smartest tech

NEW LEASH OF LIFE • Cutting-edge anti-ageing advances could extend your dog's lifespan and help sniff out the secrets to human longevity too

How old is your dog?

LIFE AT THE WORLD'S END • Harsh conditions and extreme isolation aren't the only threats facing scientists working in the Antarctic. They also have to worry about the potential danger they may pose to each other

THE CONFIDENCE TRICK • Neuroscience may have finally uncovered the secrets of self-belief. And they're far more learnable than we thought

HOW TO GET MORE CONFIDENCE • What if you...