New issue: On the Edge

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.

Holly Spanner

This is the front cover of issue 426 of BBC Science Focus

Cracking cholesterol

What really causes your blood fats to skyrocket? Our cholesterol levels might have more to do with the way we digest foods than what we actually eat.

People pleasing

If you're always saying ‘yes’ to people when you'd really rather decline – you might be a people pleaser. Sometimes, putting others' needs first could harm both you and your relationships. Award-winning health writer Amy Arthur takes a look at the psychology and how to break free of the people-pleasing trap.

Gut health

There are millions of bacteria living in our guts, both alive and dead. But it's the dead bacteria that are causing scientists to do a double-take. Dead bacteria, also known as postbiotics, have a bigger role to play in our gut health than previously thought. And there are ways we can make this work in our favour.

Cold and flu season

Nobody enjoys being stuck in bed all day, especially in the run-up to Christmas. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to lower your chance that you'll be struck down with the dreaded flu. In this issue, we debunk three common misconceptions around preventing colds and flu and tell you what really works (and what doesn't).

Plus

  • Type 1.5 diabetes: 14 per cent of people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes actually have a rare autoimmune disease. We dive into the science of why it's been 'hidden' for so long, and how to actually spot it.
  • Ferrari goes electric: This could be the car that gets dyed-in-the-wool petrolheads to long for an EV. It could also be the car that reshapes the entire EV landscape. Motoring journalist Quentin Wilson takes a closer look at this game-changing beauty.
  • Q&A: Your best and weirdest questions answered. This month, you want to know: How does my brain create my sense of self? What’s the deepest a submarine has gone? How do hula hoops stay up? How many electrons are there in the Universe? How can animals switch sex? Which houseplant is best for air quality? What’s the longest-living insect? Which vape flavour is worse for you? And more…

Issue 426 on sale Tuesday 11 November 2025

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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 426 of BBC Science Focus

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