CATEGORIES

CAN SCIENCE TURN A NIGHT OWL INTO A MORNING LARK?
BBC Science Focus

CAN SCIENCE TURN A NIGHT OWL INTO A MORNING LARK?

If you're a night owl, you probably have a hard time dealing with a world that starts at 9am. But can science help you tinker with your body clock to make it easier to rise with the larks?

time-read
10 mins  |
July 2023
HOW TO THINK BATIONALLY ABOUT AI
BBC Science Focus

HOW TO THINK BATIONALLY ABOUT AI

The entire planet is hooked on the conversation about Al and its sinister future. But, if you ask those in the know (and we have) our future with machines looks entirely different to what the world's CEOs would have us believe. Here's how to stop worrying and, maybe, learn to love AI...

time-read
10+ mins  |
July 2023
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS
BBC Science Focus

INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS

The hit TV show The Last of Us imagined an apocalypse caused by a Cordyceps fungus turning humans into zombies. For many insects, real life isn't much different...

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2023
Apple Vision Pro: a virtual reality expert gives his verdict
BBC Science Focus

Apple Vision Pro: a virtual reality expert gives his verdict

David Reid, a professor of Al and spatial computing, explains why Apple is leading the way when it comes to virtual reality

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2023
JAZZ COULD BE THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING QUANTUM PHYSICS
BBC Science Focus

JAZZ COULD BE THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING QUANTUM PHYSICS

An improvising soloist can play any note they want next. At the quantum level, electrons have a similar freedom

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2023
THE THREAT OF DAY ZERO
BBC Science Focus

THE THREAT OF DAY ZERO

Queues at public water taps could become normal. What can we do to avoid them?

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2023
DAILY MULTIVITAMIN CAN DELAY AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS
BBC Science Focus

DAILY MULTIVITAMIN CAN DELAY AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS

Study finds that a multivitamin pill a day keeps memory decline at bay

time-read
2 mins  |
July 2023
THE T.REX WAS ACTUALLY A COWARD... SOMETIMES
BBC Science Focus

THE T.REX WAS ACTUALLY A COWARD... SOMETIMES

According to palaeontologists behind Apple TV+'s Prehistoric Planet 2, the Tyrannosaurus rex was more than willing to run from a fight

time-read
1 min  |
July 2023
PUPS IN SCRUBS: DOGS COULD MAKE CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS BETTER FOR EVERYONE
BBC Science Focus

PUPS IN SCRUBS: DOGS COULD MAKE CHILDREN'S HOSPITALS BETTER FOR EVERYONE

Dogs have been bringing their owners comfort at home for centuries. Now, the pooches are branching out to do it hospitals

time-read
1 min  |
July 2023
HIDDEN FUNGI ABSORB OVER A THIRD OF EARTH'S FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS
BBC Science Focus

HIDDEN FUNGI ABSORB OVER A THIRD OF EARTH'S FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS

A new study pinpoints a major carbon pool in the filament networks of mycorrhizal fungi found underneath mushrooms

time-read
2 mins  |
July 2023
ENTOMOLOGY - SPOTTY WINGS MAKE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES MORE AERODYNAMIC
BBC Science Focus

ENTOMOLOGY - SPOTTY WINGS MAKE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES MORE AERODYNAMIC

New research shows that the butterflies fly better when they have more spots on their wings

time-read
2 mins  |
July 2023
Antares: The Rival of Mars
BBC Science Focus

Antares: The Rival of Mars

If you've never seen Mars in the night sky before, you've just about got time as it's visible low above the west-northwest horizon shortly after sunset.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2023
Could humans ever run at supersonic speeds?
BBC Science Focus

Could humans ever run at supersonic speeds?

Is there a biological limit to how fast humans can run? Or will we all be sprinting like The Flash in future?

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2023
ZARA WEBB, STAFFORD - WEIRD AND WONDERFUL: WHAT ARE TROVANTS?
BBC Science Focus

ZARA WEBB, STAFFORD - WEIRD AND WONDERFUL: WHAT ARE TROVANTS?

Trovants are bulbous, otherworldly stones that grow over time, thus appearing to be alive. Parent rocks can even push out baby trovants, which then grow independently.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2023
CHARLOTTE LEE, VIA EMAIL - WHAT IS SOCIAL PRESCRIBING, AND IS THERE ANY BENEFIT TO IT?
BBC Science Focus

CHARLOTTE LEE, VIA EMAIL - WHAT IS SOCIAL PRESCRIBING, AND IS THERE ANY BENEFIT TO IT?

Social prescribing is a way for primary care staff and other agencies to refer patients to a link worker. These are highly trained and have time to explore the person's health and well-being needs in a more holistic way.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2023
MYTHBUSTERS: SHOULD I START WASHING MY HAIR WITH BEER?
BBC Science Focus

MYTHBUSTERS: SHOULD I START WASHING MY HAIR WITH BEER?

A quick search online, and you will find lots of articles suggesting that beer used as a shampoo, hair mask, or rinse at home, can result in healthy, shiny locks and even promote hair growth.

time-read
2 mins  |
June 2023
DUNCAN DAVIDSON, VIA EMAIL - WHAT IS THE SUPINE POSITION?
BBC Science Focus

DUNCAN DAVIDSON, VIA EMAIL - WHAT IS THE SUPINE POSITION?

The supine position is simpler than it may sound. It describes the position of the body when lying flat on the back, with the face and torso facing up. In this position, the limbs are generally straight, with the palms facing upward.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2023
ELIZABETH HUMPHREY, BATH - WHAT CAUSES PREGNANCY CRAVINGS?
BBC Science Focus

ELIZABETH HUMPHREY, BATH - WHAT CAUSES PREGNANCY CRAVINGS?

Cravings are something many mamas-to-be are familiar with. Whether it's ice cream, chocolate, pickles, or something obscure, the body knows what it wants during pregnancy and makes sure we know about it.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2023
KENDRA PARK, VIA EMAIL: WHY DOES MY SKIN FEEL MORE SENSITIVE TO TOUCH WHEN I HAVE A COLD?
BBC Science Focus

KENDRA PARK, VIA EMAIL: WHY DOES MY SKIN FEEL MORE SENSITIVE TO TOUCH WHEN I HAVE A COLD?

If you've noticed that your skin feels extra sensitive when you're ill, you're not alone - and there are several reasons why this might happen.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2023
LARA EATON, MANCHESTER: HOW IS HAIL MADE?
BBC Science Focus

LARA EATON, MANCHESTER: HOW IS HAIL MADE?

Many of us have experienced those hot summer days which start off with sunshine, before towering cumulonimbus clouds bubble up through the day, eventually bringing thunder, lightning and torrential downpours.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2023
NATURE'S WEIRDEST... SHAMPOO GINGER LILY
BBC Science Focus

NATURE'S WEIRDEST... SHAMPOO GINGER LILY

Tired of taking two bottles into the shower? Simply snip off the club-shaped flower head of the shampoo ginger lily plant - you can't miss it; it's the one that looks like an embarrassed pinecone - and squeeze the spongy structure onto your scalp.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2023
WHAT IS THE POWER POSE? AND WILL IT REALLY BOOST MY CONFIDENCE BEFORE A JOB INTERVIEW?
BBC Science Focus

WHAT IS THE POWER POSE? AND WILL IT REALLY BOOST MY CONFIDENCE BEFORE A JOB INTERVIEW?

A power pose is essentially any kind of body position that involves taking up more space. Imagine standing with your legs astride and your hands on your hips, or - as used in the seminal research on power poses from 2010 - leaning back in your chair with your legs up and your hands behind your head.

time-read
1 min  |
June 2023
THE MYSTERIES OF EARTH'S CORE
BBC Science Focus

THE MYSTERIES OF EARTH'S CORE

Take even a quick peak beneath Earth's surface and you soon discover just how much we don't know about what's happening right under out feet

time-read
10+ mins  |
June 2023
MAKING WAVES
BBC Science Focus

MAKING WAVES

How do you study a gigantic mammal that migrates over thousands of miles and spends most of its time underwater? Here's how the latest tech is shaping the future of whale conservation

time-read
9 mins  |
June 2023
Matter made magic
BBC Science Focus

Matter made magic

WELCOME TO THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF PROGRAMMABLE MATERIALS. FROM SELF-ASSEMBLING STRUCTURES TO FUTURISTIC FABRICS, TAKE A PEEK AT THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME...

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2023
Five of the best video doorbells
BBC Science Focus

Five of the best video doorbells

These devices promise to revolutionise the way you collect packages, keep your home safe and even how you interact with your postie and friends. The BBC Science Focus team picks their faves

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2023
AI art is everywhere but it can never compete with human creativity
BBC Science Focus

AI art is everywhere but it can never compete with human creativity

Alex Hughes speaks to Prof Ahmed Elgammal, an expert in artificial intelligence to learn more about the rise of art made by AI

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2023
ONE MEAL A DAY: COULD IT WORK FOR WEIGHT LOSS?
BBC Science Focus

ONE MEAL A DAY: COULD IT WORK FOR WEIGHT LOSS?

Is eating just once a day the secret to staying trim or is it just restrictive eating?

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2023
SPACEFLIGHT:SHOULD THE FIRST CREW TO TRAVEL TO MARS BE ALL-FEMALE?
BBC Science Focus

SPACEFLIGHT:SHOULD THE FIRST CREW TO TRAVEL TO MARS BE ALL-FEMALE?

A new study carried out by the European Space Agency suggests that women may be better suited to space travel

time-read
4 mins  |
June 2023
COMPUTER PASSWORDS: IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO SECURE YOUR DEVICES?
BBC Science Focus

COMPUTER PASSWORDS: IS THERE A BETTER WAY TO SECURE YOUR DEVICES?

Google's new passkey software offers a biometric replacement for old-fashioned passwords. So can we finally forget about having to remember all those sequences of numbers, letters and symbols?

time-read
3 mins  |
June 2023