We’ve all been there – you’re having a heated discussion/argument with a friend about the meaning of life and you’re racking your brain to remember that key fact from your biology lessons that will floor your friend’s theory once and for all. But it eludes you.

Well, no need to go back to college. This special edition takes you on a tour of how we came to understand the most incredible phenomena in the cosmos, from the Big Bang to the end of the Universe – and everything in between.

Discover the story of how the Universe formed and the Solar System smashed itself into shape. Learn how scientists worked out the speed of light and discovered the atom, and how some aspects of gravity continue to baffle them. Also find out why the mind-boggling world of quantum physics is relevant to all our lives. From the world of physics to the origin of life – travel back four billion years to discover how life got started. Learn about the little-known heroes behind the discovery of DNA, meet Darwin’s fellow naturalists who helped come up with the theory of evolution, and learn about the history of brain research that led to our understanding this complex organ.

Finally, in this special edition, gaze into our crystal ball to find out about the future of genetics, the creation of synthetic life, and the big questions that remain unanswered – from dark matter to how the Universe will end. (Hint: it could crumple in a Big Crunch.)

Enjoy!

Order your copy for only £9.99 with FREE UK postage if you are a UK subscriber to BBC Focus Magazine, £11.49 for non-subscribers (EUR £12.99, ROW £13.49)– visit buysubscriptions.com or call 03330162138.

Get a free sample of the special edition here: issuu.com

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