BBC Science Focus Magazine - March 2024

In this issue

REALITY CHECK
The science behind the headlines: Should children be banned from social media apps? Is digital healthcare excluding those most in need? And why more screening isn’t necessarily the best approach for tackling prostate cancer.

SPACE ODDITIES
Check out the weirdest places in the Universe, from an egg-shaped star to an exoplanet where the rain is made of glass and falls horizontally..

MAJOR QUANTUM GRAVITY BREAKTHROUGH COULD SPARK A NEW 'THEORY OF EVERYTHING'

Quantum gravity has long baffled scientists. Now, a breakthrough discovery could change physics forever

2 mins

WHITE DWARF 'CANNIBAL' STAR ATE ITS SIBLINGS

In a first for astronomy, a unique piece of evidence has revealed what really happened to a white dwarf's lost cosmic neighbours

1 min

NEW FASTING-LIKE DIET COULD REVERSE YOUR BIOLOGICAL AGE

A new study suggests that cycles of a fasting-mimicking diet can reduce health risks and signs of immune system ageing

1 min

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER A TINY STAR HIDDEN INSIDE A GIANT SUPERNOVA

The James Webb Space Telescope has helped scientists solve a mystery that's been puzzling them for decades

2 mins

MICROSCOPIC ROBOTS COULD SOON ENTER PATIENTS' LIVERS TO FIGHT CANCER

Researchers are closing in on a novel approach to treat tumours using tiny robots

1 min

STUDY REVEALS WHICH DOGS ARE LIKELY TO LIVE THE LONGEST

The size and head shape of your dog can give you clues as to how long they'll be around

2 mins

MONEY MIGHT BE UNRELATED TO HAPPINESS, SAYS NEW STUDY

Research suggests overlooked Indigenous people with low or no income may be happiest of all

2 mins

THE RETURN OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES

With measles, plague and cholera all rearing their heads again, are we seeing an unprecedented level of disease re-emergence? And what would it take to start another pandemic?

4 mins

WHY ATHLETIC GENES DON'T GUARANTEE GOLD MEDALS

Sporty parents are only part of the puzzle when it comes to making an Olympic champion

3 mins

WELCOME TO THE EXTRAORDINARY WORLD OF QUANTUM FIELD THEORY

This beautiful language of cosmic vibrations is helping scientists further understand the origins of the Universe

3 mins

DIGITAL HEALTHCARE: ARE THE MOST IN NEED BEING EXCLUDED?

Tech is being used to make it easier for people to access healthcare services. But it's not working for everyone

3 mins

PROSTATE CANCER: WHY MORE SCREENING DOESN'T ALWAYS HELP

Not all prostate tumours are aggressive and treating them can have side effects. So what's the best course of action?

3 mins

Google Gemini: Could this be the ChatGPT killer?

Google is working on a model to take on OpenAl. But is it good enough?

4 mins

COME OUT OF YOUR SHELL

Social anxiety is more than just being shy. It's a phobia born out of our evolutionary past. But that raises a puzzling question: why do so many of us fear human interaction when we're supposed to be the most sociable species on the planet?

8 mins

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BBC Science Focus Magazine Description:

BBC Focus Magazine is the magazine of popular science and technology that explains the wonders of the Universe through stunning photography and accessible articles. Contributors include the very best writers and science experts, with columns every issue from renowned science writer Robert Matthews, TV presenter and scientist Helen Czerski, and science fiction author Stephen Baxter. From archaeology to neuroscience, climate change and particle physics, BBC Focus Magazine keeps you up to speed with the cutting-edge science and gadgets that will change our world.