
5 science-backed rules for turning money into long-term happiness
How to earn, spend and save to regain control and achieve long-lasting happiness

Diabetes can now be easily reversed. Here’s how
With the right steps, it’s possible to put type 2 diabetes into remission and restore healthy blood glucose levels

What's the best way to end a relationship?
There is no easy way, but there are some key things to do right

Here's what school examiners do that AI never could
AI is increasingly creeping its way into the classroom, helping teachers to plan lessons, creating resources, mark work and handle administrative tasks. Is the human touch still important?

The genius stealth inventions making people, planes and cities invisible
Scientists around the world are working on ways to hide us from sight. But how close are we to developing tech that could make us invisible?

New issue: Hawking's Final Theory
Stephen Hawking spent much of his life pulling at a thread, one that had been swallowed by a black hole. He was interested in what happened to material once it passed a black hole’s event horizon – the point of no return, where gravity crushes anything that crosses it into an infinitesimally small point in space. Other theories hypothesise that if you fell in, your atoms would become part of this cosmic monster and reside there until the end of time. Hawking’s maths suggested something else, however. According to his calculations, black holes don’t last until the end of time. In fact, quantum mechanics suggests that a black hole would, over time, fizz away. Its particles would evaporate over aeons until a final, massive burst of energy. Why does this matter? Well, until this point, the prevailing idea in physics was that nothing is ever really destroyed. If we could somehow fish your atoms out of a black hole, and invent a machine that knew where to put them (like your pattern caught in a transporter buffer), we could, in theory, rebuild you. The death of a black hole, and the ultimate end of everything within it, seemed to violate this rule. Hawking had spotted a crack in our model of the Universe. The resolution to this problem that he settled on, after many intellectual battles with other theoretical physicists, was the ‘holographic principle’ (an idea first proposed by physicists Gerard ‘t Hooft and Leonard Susskind). It’s a headscratcher of an idea that suggests the Universe is actually a projection. In this issue, Thomas Hertog, one of Hawking’s closest science collaborators, takes a closer look at this idea. He thinks that we’re close to a discovery that will let us see Hawking’s maths play out in the real world. A discovery that could finally move us closer to a single, unified theory of everything.

5 simple ways to prime your microbiome for easier weight loss
You are what they eat, it turns out. So, here are five ways you can feed your gut’s microbes for effective weight loss.

Scientists spot signs of cannibal killer whales in Russian waters
Two severed fins bearing the tooth marks of other killer whales have raised a troubling question: are some orcas hunting their own kind?

‘Stunning’ new treatment may reverse frailty after just one dose
A landmark trial suggests stem cells can reverse the physical decline of ageing

Why do I hear a heartbeat in my pillow?
No, your pillow doesn't have a heartbeat. That's you you're hearing
Top reads

121 random fun facts that will blow your mind
Our collection of the best interesting trivia covers animals, biology, geography, space and much more

How to beat anxiety: 8 simple, concrete strategies to take control of your mind
Whether in the short- or long-term, there are lots of different techniques that can help you deal with anxiety.

44 cool gadgets: Our pick of the best new tech for 2025
Welcome to our regularly updated curation of the coolest, smartest kit money can buy.

Science news

Even experts can't tell if these faces are AI-generated or not. Can you?
Even ‘super recognisers’ of human faces struggle – can you do better?

Scientists have found a dinosaur ‘Rosetta Stone’ hidden for 90 million years
A near-complete fossil from Patagonia has finally cracked open the mysterious evolutionary story of one of prehistory's strangest dinosaur groups

‘Blood rain’ could sweep across the UK this week as Saharan dust plume moves in
Vivid sunsets can also be expected

Scientists could soon use giant fire tornadoes to clean up our oceans
Sometimes, the craziest ideas just happen to be the best
Future technology

'I don’t think it’s that weird': Hannah Fry on getting uncomfortably close with AI
We speak to Prof Hannah Fry about the human impacts of artificial intelligence, from AI therapists to lovers, agents and tutors

This cutting-edge exoskeleton got me up a mountain I had no chance of climbing alone
A little robot enhancement made country walking a breeze on my knees

You could get paid for everything you’ve ever posted online, says scientist
A hypothetical – but possible – economic compensation model could pay online users back for their contribution to AI, says a leading computational scientist

We could soon solve the world’s biggest archaeological puzzle
Artificial intelligence is helping archaeologists unlock Earth’s oldest secrets.
Instant Genius Podcast
From the creators of BBC Science Focus, Instant Genius is a bite-sized masterclass in podcast form. With each episode, a different world-leading expert will help you understand the latest ideas and research in the world of science and tech. We want to make you an expert in everything.
Instant Genius Podcast | Do you have synaesthesia? Why some of us can taste words
Do you experience sounds or music visually as certain shapes? Or 'hear' colours?
Instant Genius Podcast | Why you’re not actually addicted to your phone
Not all social media is unhealthy – here's how to rethink your relationship to it.
Instant Genius Podcast | How personalised medicine is about to change healthcare forever
The new power of precision treatments, explained.
Your questions answered
Our team of scientists, doctors and experts answer your burning questions - send yours to questions@sciencefocus.com

Why does drinking alcohol make it so much harder to lose weight?
Downing drinks can trick your body into prioritising alcohol processing, temporarily pausing fat burning

How do I stop clenching my jaw at night?
A surprisingly common problem with an easy fix

Why do we have two of some organs, but only one of others?
Not just humans, but most animals, have a strange system for organs

Could the Universe explode?
The Universe probably won't explode... but that doesn't mean it isn't possible

How can I tell if I've got high cortisol levels?
It's commonly known as the 'stress hormone'

Are psychopaths really that good at lying?
Are psychopaths really that good at lying? The research is clear
Science photo galleries

The 10 best optical illusions that will blow your mind
Optical illusions are fun and intriguing, and we don't always know why they happen. Here are some of our favourites.

The top 22 most ugly animals in the world
Not all creatures can be beautiful, but they all have interesting stories to tell

30 astonishing close-up images that make the smallest things look epic
Life in stunning detail

10 of the world's worst-ever inventions
From the electric tricycle to parachute coat, these are some of the most poorly received devices developed around the globe.

Nature like you've never seen it: 18 jaw-dropping aerial photos
Our planet, like you've never seen it before

This year’s most powerful scientific experiments, in 14 images
The annual Wellcome Trust image award shortlist showcases the most powerful images of global health challenges
