Accessibility Links

  • Skip to Main Content
  • Skip to Main Navigation
  • Skip to Footer
Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine
Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine Previous Issues Q&A Join the Science Focus Book Club
Sign In Register
Sign In Register
Settings Sign out
My account
Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine
Sign up to our newsletters
    Sign up to our newsletters
    Future technology
    Nature
    Space
    The human body
    Everyday science
    Planet Earth
    Subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine
    Previous Issues
    Q&A
    Join the Science Focus Book Club
    1. Home
    2. Heat

    Heat

    Heat is energy that can be transferred between substances, until their temperatures become equal. Heat can be transferred through conduction (molecules in solids physically interact), convection (molecules in liquids and gases physically interact) and radiation (photons - light particles - carrying the energy are absorbed). Differences in the amount of solar radiation that reaches different regions of the Earth leads to local variations in temperature.

    A scientist's guide to life: How to stay warm © Cat Finnie
    The Human Body

    A scientist's guide to life How to stay warm in cold weather

    Desert camels have inspired a new cooling technology © Getty Images
    Science news

    Desert camels inspire a new cooling technology

    Birds cool their beaks when food is scarce to save energy © Getty Images
    Science news

    Birds cool their beaks when food is scarce to save energy

    Advertisement
    Sunbathers relax on the beach and in the sea in Brighton © Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images
    Planet Earth

    What’s going on with the weather? – Dann Mitchell

    Are there any materials that don't expand when heated? © Getty Images
    Everyday science

    Are there any materials that don’t expand when heated?

    Does stirring a cup of tea make it cool quicker? © Getty Images
    Everyday science

    Does stirring a cup of tea make it cool quicker?

    Snowball Earth evidence points to volcanoes © Getty Images
    Planet Earth

    Snowball Earth evidence points to volcanoes

    bsff_0
    Everyday science

    Bristol Science Film Festival 2017 BBC Focus prize shortlist

    Image © James Olstein/BBC Focus magazine
    Everyday science

    28 myths of modern life exposed

    Advertisement
    What happens at absolute zero? © Getty Images
    Planet Earth

    What happens at absolute zero?

    Why does cold weather make joints sore? © Getty Images
    The Human Body

    Why does cold weather make joints sore?

    Why are ceramics cold to touch and plastics warm? © Getty Images
    Everyday science

    Why are ceramics cold to touch and plastics warm?

    GettyImages-156850413
    The Human Body

    How are we able to drink scalding drinks, like tea?

    nanope
    Future Technology

    NanoPE: the material of the future keeping you cool

    Why does sunshine make me tired? © Getty Images
    The Human Body

    Why does sunshine make me tired?

    • You're currently on page 1
    • Page 2
    • Next
    359-homepage
    Special offer

    Two issues free when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus Magazine

    SUBSCRIBE NOW
    special-editions
    BBC Science Focus Special Editions

    Discover our latest special editions covering a range of fascinating topics from the latest scientific discoveries to the big ideas explained.

    ORDER NOW
    podcast-FOOTER-3
    Science Focus Podcast

    Listen to some of the brightest names in science and technology talk about the ideas and breakthroughs shaping our world.

    LISTEN

    Get our daily LUNCHTIME GENIUS newsletter

    Our daily newsletter arrives just in time for lunch, offering up the day's biggest science news, our latest features, amazing Q&As and insightful interviews. PLUS a free mini-magazine for you to download and keep.

    Thanks! Look out for your Lunchtime Genius newsletter in your inbox soon.

    Already have an account with us? Sign in to manage your newsletter preferences

    Sign in
    Register

    By clicking “sign up” you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how to do this, and how Immediate Media Company Limited (publisher of Science Focus) holds your personal information, please see our privacy policy.

    Site footer

    Science Focus - the home of BBC Science Focus Magazine
    • Visit us on Facebook
    • Visit us on Pinterest
    • Visit us on Twitter
    • Visit us on YouTube
    • Visit us on Instagram
    • Subscribe to our RSS feed
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy policy
    • Cookies policy
    • Code of conduct
    • Licensing
    • Magazine subscriptions
    • Contact Us
    • Manage cookies
    Immediate Media
    This website is published by Immediate Media Company Limited under licence from BBC Studios Distribution. © Immediate Media Company Ltd 2021.
    Partner logo