
Time might not exist – and we're starting to understand why
The closer we look at time, the stranger it gets

Are breakfast cereals actually healthy?
While some breakfast cereals deliver little more than sugar, others can be a vital source of vitamins and minerals

I zapped my vagus nerve every day for a month to fight anxiety. Here's what happened
Can a wearable neuromodulation device that delivers small electric shocks banish anxiety?

How to retrain your body's natural sleep drive
Is the hyper-stimulation of modern life keeping you awake? It’s time for a reset.

11 surprisingly simple, expert-backed fixes for dramatically better sleep
Everyone has trouble sleeping from time to time, even sleep scientists

New issue: On the Edge
I wonder how many discoveries in human history were made because someone thought: Let’s take a look around the corner? This time, the corner – figuratively speaking – is the region of space just beyond Pluto. More precisely, the area where the Sun’s influence begins to fade – the boundary of the heliosphere. Think of the heliosphere as a vast bubble, emanating from the Sun, that envelops our Solar System. Solar wind blasts out from the Sun in all directions, but eventually, it fizzles out the further away it gets. Where the winds are strong, they push back more harmful cosmic radiation gusting in from elsewhere in our Galaxy, shielding us. But the further these winds travel, the weaker they become, until, eventually, the solar particles become inconsequential. This is the place that scientists consider to be the edge of our Solar System and the beginning of the interstellar medium. Here, space roils with a cosmic zoo of exotic particles from strange places. This is exactly what NASA’s recently launched Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe (IMAP) wants to study. Its mission is to make sense of the stuff that’s arriving here from other parts of space, to understand how our Sun forms a barrier that protects us from the more harmful elements out there, and to chart what’s going on at the very edge of what we know. Get the full story in the November issue.

Humans are absolutely terrible at reading dog emotions, study finds
Our emotions can play a big part in how we respond to our furry friends – but not in the way you might think

Massive volcanic eruptions may have actually caused the Black Death
New research suggests that a combination of volcanic activity, cold summers and famine brought the deadly plague to Europe

Tuberculosis rates are rising. Here's who's most at risk
The number of people with the world’s deadliest infection is climbing in the UK and US. Why is tuberculosis returning and how do we fight back?

The 'lizard brain' lie: How neuroscience demolished the greatest mind myth
Feeling angry? That's not your lizard brain kicking in.
Top reads

121 random fun facts that will blow your mind
Our collection of the best interesting trivia covers animals, biology, geography, space and much more

How to beat anxiety: 8 simple, concrete strategies to take control of your mind
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

This is the easiest natural way to improve your skin, suggests study
A new study has shown that eating more of an essential nutrient can improve collagen production and skin health

Major ‘megafires’ are now primed to ignite across the US. All it needs is a spark
The US is a tinderbox, just waiting to go up in flames

A dementia vaccine could be real, and some of us have taken it without knowing
Getting vaccinated against shingles could protect you from getting dementia, or slow the progression of the disease, says a new study

Most people with high-cholesterol gene don't know they have it, warns study
Researchers issue new warning over overlooked high cholesterol condition
Future technology

The 25 most powerful ideas of the 21st century (so far), picked by the world’s top thinkers
We asked the world's foremost minds to highlight some of the game-changing scientific breakthroughs shaping our world since the year 2000

This magnet-powered micro-robot could soon swim through your bloodstream
It's steered using magnetics, like a tiny remote-controlled bubble zooming through your bloodstream

7 ways to keep your personal data safe, according to cybersecurity experts
The Online Safety Act has thrust VPNs into the spotlight, but what are the best ways to protect your identity online without relying on one?

Scientists have almost cracked the secret language of animals. Here's what they've learned
We’re on the verge of decoding animal communication. Here’s what we’ve learned so far – and how AI could finally help us decipher their languages
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

Should I keep my car keys in a faraday box?
Car thieves are coming up with new ways to steal keyless vehicles, could keeping your fob in a faraday box stop your car from being stolen?

Do any foods taste better in space?
How does food taste in space? Bland, say astronauts on the International Space Station

Can noise-cancelling headphones damage my ears?
Noise-cancelling headphones can help us listen to the music we love at lower volumes, but do they cause any damage to our hearing?

Was the sea always blue?
Several billion years ago, tiny little creatures may have changed the colour of the ocean

Does my internet speed affect my health?
Bytes don't spread diseases, but they do seem to be linked with your health

Could a virus change my DNA?
Viruses make up around eight per cent of your DNA
Science photo galleries

30 astonishing close-up images that make the smallest things look epic
Life in stunning detail

31 jaw-dropping space photos that will change how you see the Universe
The strange, stunning and sometimes surreal beauty of our cosmos

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

This year’s most powerful scientific experiments, in 14 images
The annual Wellcome Trust image award shortlist showcases the most powerful images of global health challenges

From 9/11 to Hurricane Katrina: 15 unforgettable photos of Earth from space
As its mission ends, we look back at Landsat 7's most stunning and revealing images – a visual record of a world in constant change

Top 10 most dangerous roads in the world 2025
Fasten your seatbelts and hang on for dear life.