We're on the brink of curing arthritis. Here's how
We might finally be able to spot osteoarthritis early… and bring it to a halt
This magnet-powered micro-robot could soon swim through your bloodstream
It's steered using magnetics, like a tiny remote-controlled bubble zooming through your bloodstream
Forever chemicals are altering the DNA of unhatched ducklings, study finds
Forever chemicals, or PFAS, take a really long time to break down naturally and they’re everywhere
How to retrain your body's natural sleep drive
Is the hyper-stimulation of modern life keeping you awake? It’s time for a reset.
We've been thinking about blood sugar all wrong. Here's why
These are the five biggest blood sugar myths, debunked by nutrition experts
New issue: On the Edge
I wonder how many discoveries in human history were made because someone thought: Let’s take a look around the corner? This time, the corner – figuratively speaking – is the region of space just beyond Pluto. More precisely, the area where the Sun’s influence begins to fade – the boundary of the heliosphere. Think of the heliosphere as a vast bubble, emanating from the Sun, that envelops our Solar System. Solar wind blasts out from the Sun in all directions, but eventually, it fizzles out the further away it gets. Where the winds are strong, they push back more harmful cosmic radiation gusting in from elsewhere in our Galaxy, shielding us. But the further these winds travel, the weaker they become, until, eventually, the solar particles become inconsequential. This is the place that scientists consider to be the edge of our Solar System and the beginning of the interstellar medium. Here, space roils with a cosmic zoo of exotic particles from strange places. This is exactly what NASA’s recently launched Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) wants to study. Its mission is to make sense of the stuff that’s arriving here from other parts of space, to understand how our Sun forms a barrier that protects us from the more harmful elements out there, and to chart what’s going on at the very edge of what we know. Get the full story in the November issue.
Japanese people still aren’t having sex. And nobody knows why
Around 1 in 10 Japanese people reach their 30s without ever having had sex
7 ways to keep your personal data safe, according to cybersecurity experts
The Online Safety Act has thrust VPNs into the spotlight, but what are the best ways to protect your identity online without relying on one?
The 25 most powerful ideas of the 21st century (so far), picked by the world’s top thinkers
We asked the world's foremost minds to highlight some of the game-changing scientific breakthroughs shaping our world since the year 2000
Why aliens are (probably) too lazy to make first contact
Space is big. Why not kick back, relax, and wait for them to come to you?
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
Scientists may have just found a new way to hunt for aliens
A brand new technique is uncovering Earth’s oldest secrets, and could soon be turned to the stars
Grey hairs grow when your body shuts down cancer-prone cells, study suggests
Rather than a depressing sign of ageing, our grey hairs are battle scars in our body's war against cancer
A new one-time treatment could wipe out high cholesterol forever
A one-off therapy could be our greatest weapon in the fight against heart disease
This sleepy squirrel could unlock a new way to treat heart disease
Inspired by hibernating squirrels, scientists have developed a promising new drug that could transform how we treat heart failure
Future technology
Scientists have almost cracked the secret language of animals. Here's what they've learned
We’re on the verge of decoding animal communication. Here’s what we’ve learned so far – and how AI could finally help us decipher their languages
This tiny worm’s brain could transform artificial intelligence. Here’s how
‘Liquid neural networks’ promise smaller, smarter and more transparent AI – and they’re already running on devices from drones to self-driving cars
Elon Musk? AI? ‘Crazy left-wing activists’? The man who built Wikipedia explains its biggest threats
25 years and millions of articles later, Wikipedia is the biggest bank of human knowledge on the web
6 (very weird) new inventions that could change your life
From real-life holograms to smart contact lenses – these inventions are bringing science fiction into reality
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
I keep having nightmares. Should I be worried?
Some recent research has made headlines by linking frequent nightmares to an increased risk of dementia. Should we be worried?
Why getting fit over 40 matters (and how anyone can do it)
You can get fit from scratch and reap the benefits of good health at any age. You just need to show your body a little sympathy
What do clubbed fingers mean?
Clubbed fingertips might be nothing to worry about, or they could be a warning sign of a serious disease
Why does my eyelid randomly twitch?
Your twitchy eyelid might be irritating, but it's probably nothing to worry about. Here's why
Can animals play video games?
From dolphins to pigs: Inside the surprising world of nature's gamers
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.