New issue: The Mystery of Free Will

New issue: The Mystery of Free Will

There’s a growing school of thought in neuroscience that argues every action is predetermined, or at least highly probable. That my actions are just the sum of biological and environmental interactions outside of my control. Roughly speaking, the idea is that electricity pinballs between my ears, bouncing around the memories and concepts I hold there without my being conscious of it, before arriving at a series of outputs that prime my fingers to type this very sentence. And only then, do I become aware of ‘deciding’ what I want to write. Action precedes thought, in other words. This isn’t just a theory – there’s evidence to back it up. It seems that, in certain scenarios, neurons controlling your arms and fingers are ready to fire before those involved in conscious thought are fully active. I’m skipping over a mountain of philosophy and psychology, but you get the picture. If, like me, this idea leaves you feeling a little uneasy, maybe this will help. Neuroscience has gotten incredibly close to the minutiae of the brain in the last two decades, but it hasn’t yet wrestled with the big picture. The discipline can tie different actions to different parts of the brain, but it can’t explain why it feels good to spontaneously dip your hand in a cold, clear river, for example. My point is, neuroscience is uncovering all kinds of fascinating oddities about how the brain works, but we’re a long way away from a true understanding of how this adds up. Does free will actually exist?

Holly Spanner

The cover of issue 429 of BBC Science Focus

Palantir

Technology from Palantir, an American data analytics company, has been used to help kill... and to help save lives. As its reach expands, questions are growing about this secretive and influential firm, its impact on global affairs, and who it ultimately serves.

Female Psychos

A growing body of research suggests that there may be more female psychopaths among us than previously thought. If that's true, then how are they going unnoticed? Or perhaps you've already got suspicions about someone? Here's how to tell.

AI

There's a growing urgency to teach AI right from wrong. But there's a paradox... if we want to get good responses from AI, we may need to see what it does when we ask it to be evil.

Space for data

The rapid advancement of AI has seen demand for power spike around the world. Cooling these centres also requires tremendous amounts of water. Could sending our data into space be the solution? A growing fleet of start-ups thinks it might be the perfect place for storage.

Plus

  • Boost your IQ: Forget brain training puzzles. Physical exercise might be the real key to unlocking your brain’s full potential.
  • Social Media ban: Australia’s social media ban is dividing experts on its actual effect on children.
  • Q&A: Your questions answered. This month, our experts discuss: Why do we kiss? How contagious is laughter? Do tigers ever befriend their prey? How identical are identical twins? Is having déjà vu unhealthy? Should I trim my eyelashes? What happens if you get ill on the ISS? What’s the best way to measure an earthquake? Can you be happily married to a psychopath? What speed am I travelling at right now? And more…

Issue 429 on sale Tuesday 27 January 2026

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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.
Issue 429 of BBC Science Focus Magazine is on sale from 27 January 2026

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