In this issue

REALITY CHECK
The science behind the headlines. This month: Does COVID-19 mark the end of the office? Is warp drive really possible? Why are so many people playing Animal Crossing: New Horizons?.

A SCIENTIST’S GUIDE TO LIFE
Is your skin looking less than peachy? Consultant dermatologist Dr Bav Shergill reveals the secrets of skincare.

THE MOST COLOURFUL SIGHTS ON EARTH
Feast your eyes on some of most spectacular places on the planet..

SpaceX craft completes its landmark flight

SpaceX makes history as the first private company to design, build and launch a craft to carry astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), opening up the future for private spaceflight

1 min

Return To Work: Does Covid-19 Mark The End Of The Office?

As people head back to work, organisations are making drastic changes to the office layout, putting up dividers, two-metre distancing markers and hand-sanitising stations. But is it enough to keep us safe?

4 mins

FASTER-THAN-LIGHT TRAVEL: IS A WARP DRIVE REALLY POSSIBLE?

A NASA scientist recently released a report analysing the feasibility of a warp drive as a means of faster-than-light travel. Could this Star Trek technology really be possible?

4 mins

GAMING IN LOCKDOWN: WHY ARE SO MANY PEOPLE PLAYING ANIMAL CROSSING?

It sold more digital units in its first month of release than any other video game in history. What makes Animal Crossing: New Horizons such a compelling game to play?

3 mins

THE MOST COLOURFUL SIGHTS ON EARTH

LONG-DISTANCE TRAVEL IS CURRENTLY OFF THE CARDS, SO WE THOUGHT WE’D BRING SOME OF THE PLANET’S MOST SPECTACULAR NATURAL PLACES TO YOU

5 mins

How Dogs Can Help Us Live Longer, Healthier Lives

Our best friends’ biology could unlock the secret to ageing well

10+ mins

SHOULD I TAKE ZINC TABLETS?

Many people are taking supplements to try and keep COVID-19 at bay. Do they work?

2 mins

MAKING SENSE OF DEATH

We can no longer celebrate lives through large funerals and wakes, but could technology offer a way to help us negotiate our grief?

2 mins

SWEET DREAMS ARE MADE OF CHEESE

When milk and microbes come together, there’s no doubt something wonderful happens. We asked a food scientist how a choreography of chemistry, biology and psychology make cheese the ultimate food

5 mins

COLD COMFORT

Many people swear by the benefits of a cold plunge, and it seems they might be on to something. Scientists are finding evidence that regular icy dips could help relieve stress, anxiety and depression…

5 mins

Read all stories from BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus Magazine Description:

BBC Focus Magazine is the magazine of popular science and technology that explains the wonders of the Universe through stunning photography and accessible articles. Contributors include the very best writers and science experts, with columns every issue from renowned science writer Robert Matthews, TV presenter and scientist Helen Czerski, and science fiction author Stephen Baxter. From archaeology to neuroscience, climate change and particle physics, BBC Focus Magazine keeps you up to speed with the cutting-edge science and gadgets that will change our world.