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
This simple snacking habit could help cut your cholesterol, study finds
Good news for those who love a nibble between meals
Feeling just 'meh' about life? It could be anhedonia – here's how to reverse it
When everything feels... well, 'meh', there's complex chemistry at play in your brain
These are the worst ChatGPT prompts for the environment, study claims
Politeness costs nothing? Tell that to the planet
New issue: Are we aliens?
Is there life elsewhere in the Universe? If you look at the deep-field images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope, it’s easy to believe there might be something. Those images capture a portion of the sky smaller than a grain of sand held at arm’s length, and yet, in them, you can see thousands of galaxies. Within each of the galaxies are billions of stars. In the face of those odds, it just feels implausible to think our little rock is the only one where life found a way. The more we study other-worldly materials, like meteorites from Mars and dust collected from asteroids, the more we find the type of ingredients needed for biological processes. The most compelling discovery of this kind came in January, when scientists declared they’d found 14 of the 20 amino acids that make up human proteins inside a sample returned from the asteroid Bennu. In fact, they found all five of the nucleotide bases that make up our DNA (adenine, guanine, cytosine, thymine and uracil). So, what does it all mean? Could life be quite common in the cosmos? Did life on Earth come from another world? Jonathan O’Callaghan picks up the story in this issue.
Quantum science is humanity's next giant leap. Here's what that means for planet Earth
Quantum physics is really confusing, but scientists are finally beginning to make some sense of it all
7 small changes that will significantly cut your risk of heart disease
New studies have shown that several small lifestyle changes can drastically improve your heart health
What makes tardigrades so indestructible?
Scientists are beginning to understand what makes tardigrades (otherwise known as 'water bears') so indestructible
How to protect your memory in middle age, according to a study of 10,000 people
A study on more than 10,000 adults found links between outlook on life and memory in middle age
Can humans live under the sea? This live experiment plans to find out
An advanced new research station is being developed to explore the potential for a human settlement under the ocean
Top reads
101 random fun facts that will blow your mind
Our collection of the best interesting trivia covers animals, biology, geography, space and much more.
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.
44 cool gadgets: Our pick of the best new tech for 2025
Welcome to our regularly updated curation of the coolest, smartest kit money can buy.

Science news
Here’s what your social life could say about your dementia risk
Could early Alzheimer’s make you more social? A new study of 500,000 people suggests so
Science wants you to share more adorable pet photos. Here’s why
It's official: the internet needs more pictures of cats with bread on their head
Too much of this ‘healthy fat’ could be adding to your waistline, study finds
Olive oil is known as a superfood, but new research suggests it could promote weight gain, more than other fats
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
Future technology
Is artificial intelligence giving us false memories?
It's only a problem that could get worse
Electric vehicle boom could hit major roadblock in just 5 years, study claims
With sales skyrocketing, a shortage of this key critical material could halt progress
How is antimatter stored?
Engineers at CERN are planning to store and transport antiprotons in a very-high vacuum enclosure
Strange signals are reaching us from a dead galaxy. Here's what we know...
New discoveries are shaking up what little we thought we knew about fast radio bursts
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
This 80-million-year-old shark species is a biological mystery
Meet the frilled shark, one of nature's weirdest creatures
Have we ever intercepted anything from aliens?
We’ve detected strange things in space – just not aliens. Yet
Should I give myself a coffee enema?
Here's the bottom line on those TikTok coffee enema trends
What's the world's oldest cheese?
The oldest cheese samples that survive today were found in the necks of Bronze Age mummies in China
Does the deep sea have seasons?
A recent study has suggested that currents sweeping over the deep seabed are not steady and continuous, as previously thought
Can we communicate in dreams?
New research claims it's possible to get people's brains to communicate to one another in dreams
Science photo galleries
Top 10 most dangerous roads in the world 2025
Fasten your seatbelts and hang on for dear life.
The top 22 most ugly animals in the world, in pictures
Not all creatures can be beautiful, but they all have interesting stories to tell
The 13 fastest supercars in the world 2025
If you had an awful lot of money and a fondness for speed, what are the fastest cars you can buy for the road?
15 of the most mind-blowing photos taken this century (so far)
From space to forest fires and escaping cheetahs, these are the best images of 2024.
The 10 best optical illusions that will blow your mind
Optical illusions are fun and intriguing, and we don't always know why they happen. Here are some of our favourites.
The 12 fastest animals in the world
Catch us if you can! From cheetahs to falcons, these speedsters rule the animal kingdom.