Time might not exist – and we're starting to understand why
The closer we look at time, the stranger it gets
Are breakfast cereals actually healthy?
While some breakfast cereals deliver little more than sugar, others can be a vital source of vitamins and minerals
I zapped my vagus nerve every day for a month to fight anxiety. Here's what happened
Can a wearable neuromodulation device that delivers small electric shocks banish anxiety?
Our global protein supply is under threat. These genius new farming methods could be the answer
Forget muddy boots… the future of farming is virtual
11 surprisingly simple, expert-backed fixes for dramatically better sleep
Everyone has trouble sleeping from time to time, even sleep scientists
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.
Humans are absolutely terrible at reading dog emotions, study finds
Our emotions can play a big part in how we respond to our furry friends – but not in the way you might think
Massive volcanic eruptions may have actually caused the Black Death
New research suggests that a combination of volcanic activity, cold summers and famine brought the deadly plague to Europe
Tuberculosis rates are rising. Here's who's most at risk
The number of people with the world’s deadliest infection is climbing in the UK and US. Why is tuberculosis returning and how do we fight back?
The 'lizard brain' lie: How neuroscience demolished the greatest mind myth
Feeling angry? That's not your lizard brain kicking in.
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 is the easiest natural way to improve your skin, suggests study
A new study has shown that eating more of an essential nutrient can improve collagen production and skin health
Major ‘megafires’ are now primed to ignite across the US. All it needs is a spark
The US is a tinderbox, just waiting to go up in flames
A dementia vaccine could be real, and some of us have taken it without knowing
Getting vaccinated against shingles could protect you from getting dementia, or slow the progression of the disease, says a new study
Most people with high-cholesterol gene don't know they have it, warns study
Researchers issue new warning over overlooked high cholesterol condition
Future technology
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
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
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
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?
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
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
Can animals smell death?
How one fallen creature can set off a chain reaction of chaos
Should I keep my car keys in a faraday box?
Car thieves are coming up with new ways to steal keyless vehicles, could keeping your fob in a faraday box stop your car from being stolen?
This 'phantom' jellyfish is bigger than a bus – and keeps lurking in shallow waters
Meet the giant phantom jellyfish. It's over a metre (3ft) wide and has four ribbony arms that trail behind for up to 10 metres (33ft)
How stable is my personality?
Various studies have looked at how personality changes over our lives, so how stable is your personality, really?
How should you talk to someone who has just lost a pet?
Just as with human bereavement, losing a pet can cause intense grief
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.