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.
Recent articles by Holly Spanner
New issue: The next timekeepers
Timing is everything. It’s the one thing stand-up comedians and experimental physicists have in common. The ability to measure time precisely underpins our observations of the world. But the atomic clock – the current benchmark by which units of time are calculated – is based on the behaviour of jumpy electrons, so, by its very nature, it’s a sensitive creature. A nuclear clock on the other hand, which would be based on the ticking of nuclear material, is – in theory – a much more rugged beast. In practice, this means that it would be both more accurate and more robust when it comes to the kinds of measurements required to interrogate the very fabric of the Universe. It’s game-changing stuff and in this issue, Prof Jon Butterworth explores the significance of nuclear time-keeping.
BBC Science Focus Crossword solution #413
Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 413 of BBC Science Focus magazine.
New issue: Reboot your immune system
The older I’ve gotten the more I’ve come to know my body’s immune system. In my twenties, a cold would hit me like a train. Fevers would burn like a furnace, I would sleep like the dead and then, in a few days, it’d be over. These days everything’s drawn out. First, come the aches, then the hot, dry eyes, and finally an overwhelming weariness. But what if we could turn back the clock on our immune system? It's an appealing thought, and as it turns out, one that might not just be wishful thinking. Grab a copy of our November issue to find out what the latest science says about sprucing up your body’s natural defences and the best thing you can do to give your immune system a helping hand.
BBC Science Focus Crossword solution #412
Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 412 of BBC Science Focus magazine.
New issue: Are we special?
Since the first confirmed detection of exoplanets in 1992, astronomers around the world have identified thousands of other solar systems scattered throughout space. The thing is, very few of them look like the Solar System we call home. Some have two stars instead of one at their centres, while others have planets orbiting their stars so closely that any ‘rain’ falls in the form of liquid metal. Is Earth really is unique? Or is it just one of many planets that provides a home to intelligent life?
BBC Science Focus Crossword solution #411
Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 411 of BBC Science Focus magazine.
New issue: A cure for ageing
What if we could halt the ageing process or maybe even reverse it? Researchers across the world are beginning to hone in on the ‘biological hallmarks’ of ageing – processes within the body that are linked to many common age-related diseases. In this issue, we look at some of the latest research, from pills that supercharge our bodies’ ability to remove disease-causing cells, to uncovering the mysteries the immortal jellyfish.
BBC Science Focus Crossword solution #410
Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 410 of BBC Science Focus magazine.
New issue: Unlimited energy
The world is facing an energy crisis. But deep beneath our feet is a limitless source of heat that could wean us off fossil fuels forever. Around the world, a handful of engineering companies have been digging deep in the hopes of harnessing this heat. If they are successful, it could be the solution to humanity's most pressing existential crisis and might allow us to avoid the very worst consequences of climate change. But to reach it, we need to dig deeper than we've ever dug before in search of some very special rocks...
BBC Science Focus Crossword solution #409
Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 409 of BBC Science Focus magazine.
Perseid meteor shower 2024 | How to see a stunning fireball tonight
Here's how you can maximise your chances of spotting the best meteor shower of 2024.
New issue | The biggest adult ADHD myths, busted
Diagnoses of ADHD have risen in recent years, particularly among adults. But while we may be getting better at recognising the condition, as a society we need to improve the how we view and treat those with it.
BBC Science Focus Crossword solution #408
Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 408 of BBC Science Focus magazine.
5 mind-melting true crime cases solved by science
The ingenious methods that have put the biggest criminals behind bars.
New issue | Earth's deadliest supervolcanoes are waking up
One of the deadliest forces on Earth is waking up. Are we prepared?
BBC Science Focus Crossword solution #407
Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 407 of BBC Science Focus magazine.
7 best kid-friendly bug catcher kits, and how to make your own
Discover the secret world of creepy crawlies living in plain sight with our pick of the best bug catcher kits, before returning them safely and unharmed to their natural habitat.
New issue: The Hunger Game
Hunger is a hugely complex system. For one thing, the ‘system’ isn’t actually hunger, but appetite, which encompasses hunger, fullness and reward, all of which are mediated by different parts of the brain. To complicate things further, our guts and our brains need to speak to one another, but it turns out they don’t speak the same language. Then there's what’s going on outside our bodies: the world concocts all manner of treats designed to bend our brains to their will, and there's marketing conceived to seduce and trick us when we’re at our weakest. Professor Giles Yeo takes a deep dive into the role that genetics play in the struggle to get rid of unwanted fat.
BBC Science Focus Crossword solution #406
Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 406 of BBC Science Focus magazine.
21 of the best dinosaur toys for children and adults
Do you know your sauropod from your theropod dinosaur? Learn about some of the coolest animals to have ever roamed the planet, with our selection of the best dinosaur toys!
New issue | Something is wrong with our model of the Universe
Although our picture of the cosmos is incredibly detailed, as the tools we build to explore the Universe become more and more sensitive, our understanding starts to grow fuzzy. There are crucial pieces missing... and without them, our model of the Universe just doesn't make sense. We take a dive into some of the biggest head-scratchers that are baffling astronomers.
BBC Science Focus Crossword solution #405
Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 405 of BBC Science Focus magazine.
Eta Aquariid meteor shower 2024: How to see stunning ‘Earth-grazing’ meteors tonight
With a new Moon at its peak, conditions for the Eta Aquariids this year are favourable – but there's only a short window to spot shooting stars.
A timeline | What happens to a body after death?
Left unburied and uncovered, here's what happens to a body...