7 habits proven to make you more likeable, according to a Harvard psychologist
There's a lot to gain from having people like and value you. Especially in the workplace
A landmark Harvard study of 110,000 Americans just revealed a surprising truth about ageing
Are you getting enough exercise?
We've been thinking about blood sugar all wrong. Here's why
These are the five biggest blood sugar myths, debunked by nutrition experts
The strange 75-year quest to build the ultimate home speaker
From vinyl groove to the Cloud: the way we listen to music has transformed – but the desire for authentic sound remains unchanged.
New issue: Why when you eat matters
There is no light quite like the one inside my fridge. It makes everything look delicious, especially when I’m gazing in at the contents considering a midnight feast. But it’s not just a trick of the light. If my eyes settle on the leftovers from dinner, for instance, I know that in the few hours since they were on the table, the flavours will have had a chance to marry and meld even further. They’ll be richer, they’ll be fuller. They’ll taste… different. The thing is, the leftovers aren’t the only thing that’s different now that the clock’s struck midnight. I am too. Or rather, my metabolism is. And if I were to launch into those tasty-looking leftovers now, my body wouldn’t deal with the food the same way as it did earlier in the day. Were I to eat this food during daylight, sugars would be shifted through my system fairly swiftly. But eating it in the evening means those same sugars are going to hang around longer, causing a higher-than-normal blood sugar spike and a corresponding insulin response. Fat in the food is also more likely to get stored instead of being burned as fuel. Worse still, chances are it’s getting stored as visceral fat wrapped around my organs, instead of comparatively less-harmful subcutaneous fat just beneath my skin. And that’s all before considering how submitting to the delights of this midnight snack could upset my body clock, potentially throwing other spanners into the works of my general health for days to come. Now, I’m no hypochondriac and I’m not neurotic about food. But all these are real concerns – for everybody, not just me. It’s also a concern for the scientists who study the effects food has on our bodies. They’re discovering that when we eat matters almost as much as what we eat. The name they’ve given this clock-related phenomenon is chrononutrition, and you can find out how it’s changing our approach to mealtimes in this issue.
The immune system reboot: How to prime your body’s defences to slow ageing
Ignore pseudo-science supplements promising to solve inflammation & prevent illness, and learn the truth about recalibrating your body’s defences for long-term health
The greatest pyramid mysteries: 6 things experts still can’t explain
From hidden chambers to lost civilizations, the world’s most enigmatic landmarks are still, slowly, revealing their secrets
Experts could soon reverse daylight savings clock changes. Here’s why
Researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health
How old is the Universe, really?
We might not know when the Big Bang actually was
How to change your perception of time (and make life seem longer)
Can we feel like we have more time by bending our perception of it?
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.
7 simple habits that could reverse diabetes
It takes a lot of work, but it is possible to push back the condition

Science news
We might finally know what came before the Big Bang
Could all of this have happened before? And might it happen again?
This bold new treatment may have just cracked how to reverse Alzheimer’s
Thousands have had the procedure in China, with dramatic stories of recovery. But experts remain deeply divided on the evidence
A drug-free treatment for diabetes and obesity is within reach, say experts (and it's not exercise)
A new high-tech device reduced blood sugar levels and body weight in early trials on mice
'Could be counterproductive': Why too much protein can actually be unhealthy, according to nutrition experts
We're likely over-consuming the world's most profitable nutrient – and it’s wrecking our waistlines.
Future technology
‘Oh my god!’: 1,206 AIs built their own secret chatroom – and the weirdest conspiracy emerged
AI models are no longer just getting facts wrong. They’re starting to convincingly lie on purpose
‘We’re standing at a threshold’: A mind-blowing new discovery could unlock scar-free healing
Healing a wound without leaving a scar is something we could all do while in the womb. But unlocking this ability after birth has proven impossible. Until now…
'Thought to be lost forever': After 2,000 years, a library buried by Pompeii’s eruption is finally revealing its secrets
The scrolls of Herculaneum are being unravelled by AI (among other things)
Think you know Pompeii? These are the 7 myths you probably still believe
We all think we’ve heard the story of the deadly Roman-era volcanic eruption. But there’s so much more to learn
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
Could someone across the cosmos pick up old radio programmes?
Could our earliest radio broadcasts have been heard by alien worlds? Researchers suggest the waves have travelled over 100 light-years by now
Could there be a time particle?
It's all wibbly, wobbly, timey, wimey stuff
Why does my eyelid randomly twitch?
Your twitchy eyelid might be irritating, but it's probably nothing to worry about. Here's why
Why most hauntings have a surprisingly rational (and scientific) explanation
Are there really ghosts in your house, or is there a much simpler explanation going on?
Experts now say you have far more than five senses. Here’s what you never noticed
Neuroscientist Dr Lisa Feldman Barrett discusses the different ways we’re able to perceive the world
How much does the average human body cost?
How much would it cost to make you from scratch? Spoiler: not much
Science photo galleries
These might be the nine best science photos from the past 30 years
The Wellcome Trust celebrates 30 years of awe-inspiring images at the forefront of science and health
The 10 most powerful (and deadly) volcanic eruptions in recorded history
Nothing is more terrifying than a huge volcanic eruption filling the sky.
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

From 83 to 15,000 years old: The longest living animals on Earth
From mole rats to Greenland sharks, here are the creatures with unusually large lifespans.

10 of the world's worst-ever inventions
From the electric tricycle to parachute coat, these are some of the most poorly received devices developed around the globe.

Artemis II in pictures: 21 jaw-dropping photos, from launch to splashdown
Ten days, one Moon, and a view we’ve waited half a century to see again
