New issue: The Bermuda Triangle of Space

New issue: The Bermuda Triangle of Space

Stories of spooky goings on pique our interest like nothing else, so there’s always a slight tinge of disappointment when science debunks them as fiction rather than fact. Case in point: the many yarns spun about the ‘Bermuda Triangle’. But truth is stranger than fiction. And although we’ve struck off one mysterious Bermuda Triangle, another – perhaps even stranger – one has risen to take its place: the South Atlantic Anomaly, or the so-called ‘Bermuda Triangle of Space’. Satellites and spacecraft risk being scrambled and pass through it at their peril, while astronauts avoid going on spacewalks when they’re anywhere near it. But what makes this orbital no-go zone so weird, is that it doesn’t stay put. It's been shifting from one place to another, and back again, over a very long time. So, what's behind this mysterious sinkhole that we have no control over?

Holly Spanner

Published: January 21, 2025 at 8:00 am
Issue 415 of BBC Science Focus magazine is on sale from 21 January 2025

Dry January

Last year, Dry January saw an estimated 15 per cent of US adults (260 million people) and 9 million Brits taking part. And, according to recent scientific findings, ditching the drink for just a single month can unlock a cocktail of lasting benefits. Here's what to expect, including a timeline of the changes you will experience, after a year of no drink.

The hunt for dark matter

Although themselves elusive, neutrinos are starting to interfere with the search for dark matter. They're showing up in places they're not wanted... and no amount of rock cover can shield against them.

How Ozempic is changing the world

The weight-loss drug has revolutionised the health industry, broken sales records and made headlines around the world. In America, the drugs' arrival has coincided with a two per cent drop in obesity rates, and it doesn't show any signs of slowing down.

Invisibility

The urge to become invisible goes back a long way. Hunters and soldiers have been finding ways to camouflage themselves for centuries, but scientists are edging closer to truly making things invisible. Using new materials and technology, we can already hide ourselves from sensors... and soon we'll be able to hide ourselves from human eyesight.

Plus

  • How to make your New Year's resolutions last: Why so many New Year’s resolutions fail... and how to make positive new habits stick for good.
  • The best coffee machines for the perfect home brew: Looking to take your morning cup of wake-up juice to the next level? Tech expert Alex Hughes puts his tastebuds to the test with cuppas from a quintet of coffee machines.
  • Q&A: Your questions answered! This month: How can I banish the January blues? Are cats liquid? What is the Tully monster? How can I burn more calories when I'm walking? What happens (to my body) when I stop vaping? Why does drinking alcohol stop me from losing weight? How can I see Jupiter?

Issue 415 on sale Tuesday 21 January 2025

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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.
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