In this issue

DR JULIA SHAW
Scientists are building virtual children for psychologists, police and social workers to practise interview techniques.

POPCORN SCIENCE
What’s the biology behind the elves’ extended lifespans in The Lord Of The Rings?

DISCOVERIES

How famine and disease drove the evolution of lactose tolerance in Europe.

10+ mins

BIOLOGY: MICROBES FOUND IN VOLCANIC ENVIRONMENTS COULD HELP REVEAL MORE ABOUT LIFE ON OTHER PLANETS

Researchers studying bacteria in Hawaii's lava caves have discovered intricate communities working together in hostile surroundings

6 mins

EXERCISE PILLS: A HARD IDEA TO SWALLOW

A new pill could offer the physical benefits of an active lifestyle, but what about the boost that exercise can give your mental health?

3 mins

MONEY: CAN IT BUY YOU HAPPINESS?

We all need enough to cover our basic needs, but beyond that the link between wealth and wellness is less clear

4 mins

DARK MATTER: IS IT TIME WE GAVE UP LOOKING FOR IT?

After decades of looking for dark matter and coming up short, some researchers say we should take the possibility of a new theory of gravity more seriously

3 mins

REWILDING: IS IT ALL JUST A CELEBRITY CULT?

In July, four bison were released in Kent. But is rewilding the best way to boost biodiversity?

3 mins

REVIEW: Sony WH-1000XM5: The gold standard for headphones

Some of the best headphones around, says Alex Hughes, but they don't come cheap

4 mins

First drive: Toyota BZ4X

Has Toyota's first fully electric car been worth the wait, asks Daniel Bennett

3 mins

MEET THE ANIMAL ARCHITECTS

WE THINK WE'RE PRETTY CLEVER BY BUILDING THE GHERKIN AND THE SHARD, BUT THESE ENTERPRISING ANIMALS CAN CREATE SOME SMART STRUCTURES OF THEIR OWN... SOME OF WHICH EVEN HAVE BUILT-IN AIR CONDITIONING

5 mins

NAPS: A USER'S GUIDE

YOU SNOOZE, YOU WIN. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT NAPPING CAN HAVE A POWERFUL EFFECT ON HEALTH AND COGNITION. THIS IS THE ART OF A SCIENTIFIC SIESTA...

10 mins

It's time to rethink our relationship with fat

We've all moaned about a bit of podge on our thighs or tummies, but that fat is not an inert lump of lard - it has an important job to do. And now, scientists are starting to find out even more about its hidden powers

10 mins

Are elves' long lives realistic?

What's the biology behind the elves' extended lifespans in The Lord Of The Rings?

2 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.