Your gut microbiome could add years to your life. Here's how to help it
New research suggests that our microbiomes can even help us resist the effects of ageing, if we treat them right
A mysterious Amazonian soil is making trees grow six times taller – and nobody knows why
The mysterious, nutrient-rich soil of the Amazons might hold the secret to fight climate change
The biggest lie we've been told about processed food
Corn demonstrates humans sometimes need processed food to flourish
A life in pictures: how photography helped one teenager through a cancer journey
Professional photographer LJ shares his experience of being diagnosed, shining a light on cancer and male fertility.
The common supplements you should never mix, according to a top doctor
While some pills are designed to improve your health, some taken together can cause more harm than good.
New issue: Mirrorlife
Mirror life could end all life on Earth. That sounds dramatic, but senior biologists have raised the alarm about experiments happening all around the world. It sounds like something in a Doctor Who plot, but no – mirror life is a real possibility. So why do scientists want to create something that’s potentially apocalyptic? Well, it could also have huge benefits (think back to splitting the atom). The first thing to say, however, is that mirror organisms are still a little way away yet – but only decades, not centuries. So far, scientists have only made mirror molecules, one of life’s building blocks. What for? Life works because its building blocks fit together. Imagine drilling a screw into a piece of wood. The screw cuts a hole with a thread that snugly matches its own. If, for some reason, the Doctor showed up and handed you a mirror version of the screw, its thread would be in reverse. It wouldn’t twist into the hole you’d just made as the threads wouldn’t match. That said, the mirror screw would still work; you’d just have to create a mirror hole for it. Mirror molecules, including DNA, work a bit like that. They follow the same principles as the biology around us, but they’re entirely incompatible with traditional biological functions. In medical terms, this means they’re effectively invisible to your body’s systems. Our biology doesn’t have the tools to recognise these molecules and break them apart. And if someone took these mirror molecules and put them together to make a cell and then an organism… you’d have mirror life. But we don't have any way of breaking it down. If it escaped the lab, we’d just have to hope it didn’t have an appetite.
We could be on the brink of total internet collapse. And there may only be months to stop it
The latest batch of AI models are revealing a host of vulnerabilities across the worldwide web. Soon, they could be in the wrong hands
Narcissism shows differently in men and women. Here’s how to spot it
Not every narcissist is a Patrick Bateman waiting in the wings
I’m a neuroscientist. Here’s how you can trick your brain into being more productive
There are all sorts of productivity myths out there – but are there any that actually work?
How identical are identical twins?
The similarities may be uncanny, but identical twins aren't exact copies of one another
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
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.
Science news
*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.
This terrifying 'kraken' was the true apex predator of the dinosaur age, scientists discover
Lurking in prehistoric seas, a colossal, intelligent hunter the length of four cars was crushing bones and seizing prey
Monkeys have found a bizarre natural supplement to counteract human junk food
The macaques of Gibraltar love stealing human junk food, but the treats play havoc on their digestive systems
The end of sex? How human reproduction could soon change forever
New technologies could reimagine baby-making as we know it. But will they actually replace tried-and-tested (and enjoyable) methods?
Future technology
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.
10 ingenious inventions about to change our world forever
From nano-medics, to digital twins and space janitors
Your reality really could be a simulation, say experts. Here’s why
As computers grow ever more powerful, the idea we could be living in a simulation is looking less like science fiction every day
The hidden reason new 'superfast' Wi-Fi still feels anything but
Wi-Fi 7’s giant speed claims might look impressive, but the realities of our homes – and the laws of physics – mean that real-world performance will never get close
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 do we root for the villain in movies?
Why you can't resist rooting for the wrong side
The one thing most self-made billionaires won't admit about their success
Starting the day at 2am or taking fistfuls of supplements each morning is unlikely to help you get ahead in life
The strange reasons your dog eats grass (and poop)
Don't pretend like your pup hasn't done it
What happens if you get ill on the ISS?
Ambulances might struggle to reach the International Space Station
Meet the weird worm that can survive being boiled alive
The Pompeii worm can withstand the heat of hydrothermal vents deep under the sea
Could I build a nuclear reactor in my shed?
Don't try this at home. Or in your garden.
Science photo galleries
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
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
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
The top 10 fastest jets in the world 2025
Come and take a look at our gallery of the top ten fastest jets in the world. All while singing 'Highway to the danger zone'...
