BBC Science Focus Magazine

With accessible features illustrated with the world’s best photography, BBC Focus Magazine explains the theory behind scientific phenomena and really brings science to life. In every issue you’ll find news of the latest major scientific developments, a lively Q&A section plus exclusive and astonishing photographic reports that range from the breathtaking to the downright odd.

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ON THE BBC THIS MONTH . . .

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BBC Science Focus Magazine

Satellite collisions are a disaster waiting to happen, experts warn • With satellites old and new orbiting alongside each other, serious crashes are inevitable

Obscuring our view of the Universe

New Ozempic–like pill cuts weight by 13 per cent • A new weight-loss drug's effects could rival the current injection-only medication

Tiny bug sets record for the fastest backflips on Earth • The insect somersaults so quickly that it seems to disappear

Being mentally resilient could help you live a much longer life, study finds • Coping well in the face of hardship may benefit your body as well as your brain

Crossbreed dogs might not be as healthy as you think, says study • The largest-ever study into the health of crossbreeds busts myths about what makes a healthy dog

New research reveals Ice Age hunters tricked mammoths into impaling themselves • Rather than tracking and killing prey, ancient humans may have tricked animals to make them run into spears

‘Too much of a good thing’: Fasting has many health benefits, but there's a snag • Researchers warn of unseen risks

THE IG NOBEL AWARDS • The annual spoof-Nobel prizes celebrate the weird and wonderful side of science. Here are some of 2024's winners

The botanists studying plants from the sky • Scientists are working with paramotorists to find rare flowers in the desert

Don't try to solve your partner's problems • You may think you're trying to help, but you'll both be better off if you keep your advice to yourself

Unseen engineers have been secretly shaping life on Earth, says new research • Recently published studies suggest insects play a much larger role in seed dispersal than previously thought

Lab-grown meat may be better for livestock, but not necessarily for the environment • The move to put alternative protein on our plates is gathering pace, but there are still questions to answer

Olive mill wastewater: a health-boosting tonic hiding in the leftovers • A by-product of the olive oil production process is packed with compounds that lower your cholesterol and reduce your risk of developing cancer

Could Ozempic ever be an over-the-counter drug? • The hunger for this new generation of weight-loss drugs is seemingly insatiable. Would making them available without the need for a prescription save people from turning to the black market?

COULD ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BE THE CURE FOR LONELINESS? • Rates of loneliness are increasing worldwide. But big-tech companies think they have the solution…

THE BEST SMART SPEAKERS FOR AN AUTOMATED HOUSE • SPEAKERS ARE GETTING SMARTER. THEY CAN ADJUST THEIR AUDIO TO SPECIFIC ROOMS, CHAT TO YOU AND CONTROL OTHER GADGETS IN YOUR HOUSE. VERITY BURNS CHECKS OUT FIVE OF THE BEST

IDEAS WE LIKE… • Our pick of the month's smartest tech

IDEAS WE DON'T LIKE…

SAVE THE SHARKS… …SAVE THE OCEANS • RUTHLESS PREDATORS, MINDLESS KILLERS, MAN-EATERS… SHARKS HAVE A FEARSOME REPUTATION THAT BEARS LITTLE RELATION TO REALITY. THE TRUTH IS, THESE REMARKABLE CREATURES ARE STRUGGLING TO SURVIVE. BUT OUR WATERS WON'T BE ANY SAFER WITHOUT THEM. IN FACT, THE PLANET'S SEAS WILL BE IN EVEN GREATER...