BBC Science Focus Magazine - October 2024

In this issue

SAVE THE SHARKS… SAVE THE OCEANS Dwindling shark populations will have a devastating impact on marine ecosystems... It’s time to ‘reshark’ the world’s oceans.

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT ESA’s next mission will show us if we can really save our planet from asteroid armageddon...

Satellite collisions are a disaster waiting to happen, experts warn

With satellites old and new orbiting alongside each other, serious crashes are inevitable

4 mins

Tiny bug sets record for the fastest backflips on Earth

The insect somersaults so quickly that it seems to disappear

1 min

New Ozempic-like pill cuts weight by 13 per cent

A new weight-loss drug's effects could rival the current injection-only medication.

1 min

The botanists studying plants from the sky

Scientists are working with paramotorists to find rare flowers in the desert

1 min

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.

3 mins

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

3 mins

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.

5 mins

COULD ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE BE THE CURE FOR LONELINESS?

Rates of loneliness are increasing worldwide. But big-tech companies think they have the solution...

4 mins

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 JEOPARDY THAN THEY ALREADY ARE

7 mins

DAMAGE ASSESSMENT

Could we deflect an asteroid to stop it from hitting Earth? The success of NASA's DART mission suggests so, but only after ESA's soon-to-launch Hera mission has checked the results will we know if this approach to planetary defence is a viable possibility

9 mins

KEEP YOUR HAIR ON

MORE THAN HALF OF MEN AND MILLIONS OF WOMEN ARE AFFECTED BY HAIR LOSS. IT CAUSES LOW SELF-ESTEEM IN SOME AND ANXIETY IN OTHERS. THANKFULLY, SCIENTISTS AROUND THE WORLD ARE GETTING TO THE ROOTS OF THE PROBLEM WITH PIONEERING NEW TREATMENTS

10 mins

PROFESSOR BRIAN COX

The biggest space missions yet are making their way to new parts of the Universe. In his new BBC Two series Solar System, Prof Brian Cox reveals what these explorations are discovering about life in our galactic neighbourhood. Noa Leach sat down with him to talk about the most exciting new missions, life in the Universe and his top behind-the-scenes moments of filming

10+ mins

What tipping point are climate scientists most worried about?

Collapsing ice sheets, loss of the Amazon rainforest, melting permafrost.……. Key parts of Earth's climate system are in trouble. Which could trigger disaster first?

5 mins

DEAD MAN’S FINGERS

Picture the scene. It's Halloween and you've gone for an ill-advised stroll through the graveyard on the edge of town.

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.