New issue: Don't count the calories

New issue: Don't count the calories

January’s long nights, howling winds and unending drizzle that constitute a British winter all seem to scream: stay indoors, get under a blanket and stay very still. But every year, I reach January and the same conclusion as millions of others: it’s time for change. Christmas is what does it. There’s only so much indulgence the body can take. It starts on the 24th when, if you’re lucky, work’s finished and the fridge is full. Over the next seven days, I’ll feast like a Tudor monarch, picking at carcasses, stabbing at cheese and washing it all down with a bit of port (well, someone’s got to finish it). But by New Year’s Day I’ve had enough. Meaningful, lasting change isn’t easy. The science says so. Sure, a fitness influencer will scream at you until they’re Christmas-ham-pink in the face that losing weight is JUST SIMPLE MATHS: burn more calories than you consume, and you’ll lose weight. But your genes, biology and chemistry don’t work like a calculator. There’s more to it. So we’re here to help you construct bite-sized changes that will add up to significant improvements in your health and wellbeing this year.

Holly Spanner

Aliens

We’re spotting more exoplanets all the time. And according to NASA, by the end of October 2025, the tally stood at over 6,000. Here’s how we’ll find out if any could support life, and if there’s anything already living on them.

Happiness

We’ve been looking for happiness in the wrong places. Science says it may have been under our noses all along.

Archaeology

Known for thier art and impressive pyramid architecture, new research is revealing just how advanced Maya astronomy really was and the pivotal role it played for the ancient civilisation.

Your first 100 days of weight loss

Is losing weight and getting fit among your New Year’s resolutions? Our experts have identified the top six habits you need to set yourself up for success and crush your 2026 fitness goals.

Plus

  • Dementia: Recent studies suggest that air pollution could increase your chances of developing dementia. However, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk, so here is everything we currently know about this emerging research.
  • Best science images of 2025: A collection of last year’s most striking science photography from around the world.
  • Q&A: Your questions answered. This month, our experts reveal: What actually makes someone cool? Do babies only see in black and white in their first month? Why do I hear a heartbeat in my pillow? Are psychopaths really that good at lying? Why do cats prefer to sleep on their left? Why did it take so long for people to learn to read silently? Should I start visiting an infrared sauna? Does the ‘fasting-mimicking diet work’? Could the Universe explode? Why do we only have two of some organs, but only one of others? And more…

Issue 428 on sale Tuesday 30 December 2025

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Author avatar

Holly Spanner

Staff Writer, BBC Science Focus

Holly is the Staff Writer for BBC Science Focus and looks after the popular Q&A section. She holds an MSc (distinction) in Geoscience (Space and Climate Physics) from UCL, and specialises in astronomy and earth sciences. Before joining Our Media, she worked as a geoenvironmental consultant and engineer, informing on ground risk and remediation in the north of England, while hunting for exoplanets in her spare time. Alongside this, she was regional editor of a popular theatre website for nine years, and has a solid background in curating and developing content for the digital space. Holly is also an artist and illustrator, and regular contributor to the craft website, Gathered. She has previously worked with the RSPB, English Heritage, Disney, Pilot and Brother, as well as on BBC Good Food magazine, Home Style magazine, and Papercraft inspirations magazine. She enjoys photography and has a sustained interest in antiques.
Image 428 of BBC Science Focus is on sale from 30 Dec 2025

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