Only one country in the world produces all the food it needs. Here's why
While hundreds of millions around the world face food insecurity, a tiny South American nation has managed to become the only country that can entirely feed itself. How did Guyana manage it?
Swearing could give you a hidden physical edge, study finds
Cursing isn't just when you stub your toe or get road rage. Science says it can boost your physical performance
A daily dose of cheese could reduce your dementia risk, study finds
Cheese could be gouda for your brain? You better brie-leve it
Virtual reality farming is set to reshape your food supply forever
This is the future of agriculture, where headsets replace muddy boots and cows chill in the Metaverse
How to build the mindset now proven to slow ageing
How much could a change of attitude change your life?
New issue: Lost in Space
Imagine having access to a time machine. You could experience historical events first-hand – and finally get to the bottom of all manner of mysteries. Although we can’t travel back in time physically, with a good telescope – like the James Webb Space Telescope – we can essentially see back in time. That’s almost as good, right? Take, for example, the very first stars, which formed around 100-200 million years after the Big Bang. Their sudden appearance set the stage for the Universe we see today, triggering a chain reaction that’s still occurring. And by uncovering the oldest objects in the cosmos and examining their unique makeup, we can retrace the chemistry and physics of creation. Those first stars should be easy to spot thanks to their special compositions, and stellar archaeologists (a cool job title, if I’ve ever heard one) have been seeking them for a long time. But as Dr Emma Chapman explains in this issue, the reason we haven’t found them yet could be because we've not been looking for the right things. What we have found, is that so-called 'ancient stars' aren’t behaving quite as we expected. So far, our search into the deep past has raised more questions than answers.
What's the smelliest thing in the world?
The human nose can have wildly different sensitivities to odour molecules, but there is one chemical that made people vomit and go unconscious
How whales, vodka and volcanic ice blocks could soon solve the carbon crisis
From living paint to injecting rocks, scientists have bizarre carbon capture ideas that could help us tackle the climate crisis
1,000 AIs were left to build their own village, and the weirdest civilisation emerged
Inside the strange experiment that turned AI agents into workers, leaders and believers
How stable is my personality?
Various studies have looked at how personality changes over our lives
Top reads
121 random fun facts that will blow your mind
Our collection of the best interesting trivia covers animals, biology, geography, space and much more
Could hidden dehydration be the cause of your daytime fatigue?
Feeling tired? Your afternoon dip could be low-chronic dehydration
How to beat anxiety: 8 simple, concrete strategies to take control of your mind
Whether in the short- or long-term, there are lots of different techniques that can help you deal with anxiety.
Science news
This new drug may have cracked the 'cheat code' for reversing ageing
Scientists are literally turning back the clocks in our cells, with the first drugs about to go to human trials
25 of the most mind-blowing auora photos ever taken
Heightened solar activity meant 2025 was one of the best years to see the northern lights and capture them on camera
Men’s brains may age faster than women’s, suggests major new study
Brain ageing is the biggest risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease
This newly discovered spiderweb stretches across two countries – and holds 100,000 creatures
Spiders don’t normally create such large colonies, so no need to fear finding one in your basement
Future technology
We might finally know what will burst the AI bubble
Many experts and analysts are warning that the AI industry is overvalued and heading for a crash. But why?
Why the Moon's far side is now the prize every country wants
There’s only one place to go if we want to catch sight of the cosmic dawn
AI language bots tell us what to think, but what comes next will think and act for us
Generative AI burst into the public domain in 2022, with seemingly unlimited potential. But could its abilities be hitting a ceiling already?
Could I get phone signal on the Moon?
Companies are racing to put 5G on the Moon, an expert explains why as several missions are planned to visit our lunar neighbour
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
Should I ditch the HIIT?
HIIT exercise isn't for everyone and there's some evidence that you can overdo it. Here's what the experts recommend
Will we ever know how many people died in 9/11?
Health conditions related to the terrorist attacks in New York City are only now making themselves known, more than two decades later
How can I banish the January blues?
Don't let January get you down. Here's how to beat the winter blues
Why scientists once thought the platypus was an elaborate hoax
The platypus is such a strange animal that it was originally thought to be an elaborate hoax by pranksters
Can any animals see in infared?
While infrared light is invisible to most animals, there are some, including salmon, bullfrogs and snakes, that can see it
This 'phantom' jellyfish is bigger than a bus – and keeps lurking in shallow waters
New (very rational) fear unlocked – thanks nature
Science photo galleries
30 astonishing close-up images that make the smallest things look epic
Life in stunning detail
31 jaw-dropping space photos that will change how you see the Universe
The strange, stunning and sometimes surreal beauty of our cosmos
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
This year’s most powerful scientific experiments, in 14 images
The annual Wellcome Trust image award shortlist showcases the most powerful images of global health challenges
From 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina: 15 unforgettable photos of Earth from space
As its mission ends, we look back at Landsat 7's most stunning and revealing images – a visual record of a world in constant change
Top 10 most dangerous roads in the world 2025
Fasten your seatbelts and hang on for dear life.