'We're not prepared!': How a Harvard professor thinks humanity's chaotic first contact would actually unfold
From interstellar visitors to alien radio signals, scientists are asking a question once confined to science fiction: what happens when we finally make contact?
What your sweat is trying to tell you about your health
Molecules hiding in your body odour can reveal vital clues about the state of your health
The dementia vaccine some of us are taking without realising
The evidence has been quietly building for over a decade. Now experts can't ignore it
The surprising truth about ‘forever chemicals’ in your drinking water
Plus, how to cut your exposure
A ‘monster web’ of ocean currents is set to collapse. And the US is not prepared
Off the east coast of Greenland, scientists are studying the fate of the Atlantic Ocean circulation. Others are looking to prevent disaster
We may finally know why it’s so hard to lose weight
A mouse study has found that 'obesity memory' in immune cells may be holding back fat loss
8 mind-blowing (but very cute) facts about cats, according to science
Curiosity won't kill these cats
These simple changes could stop you ever getting constipated, says world-leading gut health doctor
Turns out the way you sit – and when you go – matters as much as what you eat
15 of the world's weirdest-ever inventions
From the V-shaped bed designed by an exercise legend, to a robot that feeds you tomatoes
'It's rigged': The dirty secret behind what IQ scores really measure
Besides being next to useless for actually measuring intelligence, here's why we should kill IQ scores for good
Top reads
151 random fun facts that will blow your mind
Our collection of the best interesting trivia covers animals, biology, geography, space and much more
8 techniques all anxious people should use, according to a psychologist
Whether in the short- or long-term, there are lots of different techniques that can help you deal with anxiety.
44 cool gadgets: Our pick of the best new tech for 2025
Welcome to our regularly updated curation of the coolest, smartest kit money can buy.
Science news
These are the five best (and worst) birdsongs, ranked by science
From soothing warblers to screeching owls, scientists have worked out exactly which birdsongs calm us down – and which ones grate
An everyday pill could cut dementia risk in diabetics, study suggests
Cholesterol-lowering drugs are more effective the earlier they are started, a ten-year study has found
Robots just held their own (very chaotic) athletic games. And the footage is jaw-dropping
Athlete-bots compete at the second World Humanoid Robot Games
Three simple changes in middle age could give you 13 more years without dementia, study suggests
Making healthy choices in middle age could increase your cognitive health much later in life
Future technology
How tiny companies are racing to create 'impossible' space crystals worth billions
In space, no one can hear you manufacturing
The race to establish the first Moon base is on. And the stakes couldn't be higher
We're going back to the lunar surface for the first time in more than a century, and this time, we're staying
I built an elite sim racing setup without breaking the bank. Here’s how
Time to hit the track
The AI experts behind this adorable robot say it's not a pet substitute. It's much more
Now you can feel like a witch or wizard with your very own Familiar!
Instant Genius Podcast
From the creators of BBC Science Focus, Instant Genius is a bite-sized masterclass in podcast form. With each episode, a different world-leading expert will help you understand the latest ideas and research in the world of science and tech. We want to make you an expert in everything.
Instant Genius Podcast | Do you have synaesthesia? Why some of us can taste words
Do you experience sounds or music visually as certain shapes? Or 'hear' colours?
Instant Genius Podcast | Why you’re not actually addicted to your phone
Not all social media is unhealthy – here's how to rethink your relationship to it.
Instant Genius Podcast | How personalised medicine is about to change healthcare forever
The new power of precision treatments, explained.
Your questions answered
Our team of scientists, doctors and experts answer your burning questions - send yours to questions@sciencefocus.com
What's the best position to sleep in?
A doctor explains what the "best" position to sleep in is. It all depends on your situation
Who is more confident – men or women?
You may have heard that men are more confident than women, but the truth is a little more complicated than that
Did plants have a Black Death too?
We all know what the plague did to us humans, but how did the natural world fare?
Science photo galleries
The world’s largest camera has taken its most mind-blowing images yet
One year in, the Vera C Rubin Observatory is already changing astronomy forever
These may be the 15 greatest images of the Universe ever taken
From star‑forming pillars to colliding galaxies, Hubble’s most iconic images reveal how the universe is built, evolves and continues to surprise
Top 18 fastest cars in the world: land speed record breakers
Here are the drivers and cars that have broken the world land speed record throughout history
Top 10 most dangerous roads in the world 2026
Fasten your seatbelts and hang on for dear life
Artemis II: 21 historic images of the stunning Moon mission launch
It's the most significant moment in spaceflight of the 21st century so far
The 10 best optical illusions that will blow your mind
Optical illusions are fun and intriguing, and we don't always know why they happen. Here are some of our favourites.
