6 science-backed ways to protect and improve your memory
Forgetfulness doesn't have to be an inevitable part of life
This is the single best way to reduce your cholesterol without statins, according to a leading doctor
You don't need medication to improve cholesterol levels. A few simple dietary tweaks can make a serious difference
Why do dogs love to play with trash?
Just like wild wolves, our pampered pups can enjoy playing in and with the foulest-smelling stuff
The strange 75-year quest to build the ultimate home speaker
From vinyl groove to the Cloud: the way we listen to music has transformed – but the desire for authentic sound remains unchanged.
New issue: Brain-melting heat
As I write this, it’s stupid hot. I mean that literally: it’s so hot that it’s difficult to think. My thoughts feel as though they’ve been wrapped in cotton wool and then set on fire. As it turns out, though, the way I feel isn’t that far removed from what’s happening inside my brain. Nothing is actually burning between my ears, but heat can interfere with the millions of tiny electrochemical interactions that my – and your – neurons rely on to function. Brain cells have a temperature range in which they work at their best, but push the temperature too high and some of the molecular machinery involved in sending signals becomes less reliable. It’s a little like an orchestra losing its conductor: the instruments are still there, but the timing starts to fall apart. Taken to extremes, this is why heatstroke can cause confusion, dizziness and other changes in brain function. And the heat doesn’t only affect the brain directly. As my body heats up, my circulatory system sends more blood towards my skin to help me lose heat, making my heart work harder. Sweating also means losing water and salts, and as dehydration sets in, maintaining a normal blood supply becomes more difficult – adding another challenge for a brain that’s already under thermal stress. Sweat and aggravation are, of course, far from the worst consequences of extreme heat. But this year, the soaring temperatures have felt relentless. Wave after wave of heat has battered Europe and the US, with barely enough respite before the next one arrives. We’re going to have to adapt. We can change our buildings, routines and behaviour to make extreme heat easier to bear. But what happens to the organ that controls all those decisions when the temperature keeps rising? In this issue, we're exploring what heat does to the brain – from our ability to think clearly and make decisions, to our mood, sleep and mental wellbeing. And because knowing it’s too hot doesn’t make it any cooler, we've also found some scientifically proven advice on the fastest way to cool down.
9 of the world’s weirdest-ever military inventions
From vomit guns to nuclear chickens, these are some truly bizarre ideas that never quite took off
'It's where you're balding that counts': What your hairline can reveal about your health
A growing body of research suggests the view from the top of your head might provide a glimpse into future concerns
'We're not prepared!': How a Harvard professor thinks humanity's chaotic first contact would actually unfold
From interstellar visitors to alien radio signals, scientists are asking a question once confined to science fiction: what happens when we finally make contact?
The (completely adorable) ways dogs know exactly how you’re feeling
Ever get the feeling your dog knows what you’re thinking? It might be because they’re picking up on cues you didn’t realise you were transmitting.
No, our ancestors weren't carnivores. Here's what they really ate and why it matters
Our hunter-gatherer forebears weren’t the carnivorous cavemen we once thought
Top reads
151 random fun facts that will blow your mind
Our collection of the best interesting trivia covers animals, biology, geography, space and much more

8 techniques all anxious people should use, according to a psychologist
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
5 surprising perimenopause signs most people miss, according to a doctor
One third of women aren't sure if they're in perimenopause or not
Experts just found an enormous volcano lurking under England
454 million years ago, an eruption as powerful as several thousand hydrogen bombs tore through the English east coast
Life evolved thanks to a giant poop explosion, say scientists
This so-called ‘faecal revolution’ could have been key for the emergence of life on Earth
These are the five best (and worst) birdsongs, ranked by science
From soothing warblers to screeching owls, scientists have worked out exactly which birdsongs calm us down – and which ones grate
Future technology
5 mind-blowing inventions that are already turning humans into cyborgs
A future where humans can lift incredible weights, see in the dark and fly sounds far-fetched, but it’s already here
What will spacesuits of the future look like?
Spacesuits of the future could recycle an astronaut's pee back into drinking water
How tiny companies are racing to create 'impossible' space crystals worth billions
In space, no one can hear you manufacturing
The race to establish the first Moon base is on. And the stakes couldn't be higher
We're going back to the lunar surface for the first time in more than a century, and this time, we're staying
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
Can animals get drunk?
The natural world is one big pub, with alcohol on tap from fermented fruits, sap and nectar. Different animals have different tolerance levels
Why do people’s exercise needs vary so much?
Understanding your own needs is the key to effective exercise
How should you talk to someone who has just lost a loved one?
When a loved one is processing grief, don't assume you know how they feel
How can I find out if I smell?
Nose blindness/olfactory fatigue can make you unaware of your own stink but there might be a way to find if you do smell bad
What's the most effective way to use a defibrillator?
A recent study suggests a new way to use a defibrillator that might double someone's chance of survival
Why do I get earwax?
Step away from the cotton bud...
Science photo galleries
15 of the world's weirdest-ever inventions
From the V-shaped bed designed by an exercise legend, to a robot that feeds you tomatoes
The world’s largest camera has taken its most mind-blowing images yet
One year in, the Vera C Rubin Observatory is already changing astronomy forever
These may be the 15 greatest images of the Universe ever taken
From star‑forming pillars to colliding galaxies, Hubble’s most iconic images reveal how the universe is built, evolves and continues to surprise

Artemis II in pictures: 21 jaw-dropping photos, from launch to splashdown
Ten days, one Moon, and a view we’ve waited half a century to see again

Top 10 most dangerous roads in the world 2026
Fasten your seatbelts and hang on for dear life

Artemis II: 21 historic images of the stunning Moon mission launch
It's the most significant moment in spaceflight of the 21st century so far
