Magazine

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.

Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 411 of BBC Science Focus magazine.

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.

Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 410 of BBC Science Focus magazine.

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...

Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 409 of BBC Science Focus magazine.

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.

Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 408 of BBC Science Focus magazine.

One of the deadliest forces on Earth is waking up. Are we prepared?

Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 407 of BBC Science Focus magazine.

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.

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.

Here is the solution to the crossword from issue 405 of BBC Science Focus magazine.

Eternal youth is the stuff of religion and mythology, but what if we could just have a bit more of it? What if there was a pill that could slow down the ravages of time, so that you could feel younger for longer. It sounds like snake oil, but there’s a growing body of research that’s betting on making it a reality.

Should we get Venkman and co. on speed dial?