Science news
We might finally know exactly when this Van Gogh masterpiece was painted
Was The Starry Night painted a month later than first believed? Experts are divided
Scientists have found a weird physical sign that someone is interested in you romantically
How Beyoncé helped researchers make a fascinating discovery
You’re likely throwing away the healthiest part of fruit, warn experts
Waste not, want not
The hidden advantage some of us have because of our birthdays
Some people find school harder than others – and it might have something to do with their age
Future technology
'It's truly staggering': There's a bigger problem with data centres than water or power, warn experts
The real story isn't what these giant facilities consume. It's what's holding them up
‘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)
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
Why is a jellyfish an animal but a mushroom is not?
Fungi is enrolling in jelly school
Why are most people right-handed?
Scientists have several theories about why most of us favour our right hand
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
How long should we extend human life?
We’re all getting older. But how long should we be able to keep getting older for?
Can animals play video games?
From dolphins to pigs: Inside the surprising world of nature's gamers
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?
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.
Can you work out what this is in under 20 seconds?
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
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.
*Koch Institute Image Awards 2026*
From glowing neurons to intricate tissue structures, these award-winning images reveal the hidden beauty driving breakthroughs in modern biomedical research.
