MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

In the last decade, we’ve taken photos of a black holes, peered into the heart of atoms and looked back at the birth of the Universe. And yet, there are yawning gaps in our understanding of the Universe and the laws that govern it. These are the mysteries that will be troubling physicists and astronomers over the next decade and beyond

BEAT THE BURNOUT

HOW SCIENCE CAN HELP YOU GET THE BETTER OF PANDEMIC FATIGUE

A Scientist's Guide To Life How To Concentrate

This month, we tackle… oh, hang on, wait a minute, I just need to let the dog out, now what was it again? Psychologist Dr Nick Perham from Cardiff Metropolitan University explains how to concentrate

SWARM INTELLIGENCE

Small, simple, cheap satellites are being developed to explore and study space in new ways. If we deploy them in vast swarms, these ‘CubeSats’ could change the way we see and protect our planet

REWILDING

CAN IT SAVE OUR WILDLIFE AND TEMPER CLIMATE CHANGE?

RISE CLONES

ANIMALS – FROM PETS AND LIVESTOCK TO WORKING DOGS AND EXTINCT SPECIES – ARE BEING CLONED FOR A VARIETY OF PURPOSES. BUT COPYING ANIMALS FROM THEIR GENETIC MATERIAL IS CREATING PROBLEMS AS QUICKLY AS IT’S SOLVING THEM

MIND GAMES

Virtual reality is being used to treat a wide range of mental health problems. Meet some of the scientists who are pioneering VR therapy and the people who are benefitting from it

The Cracks In Cosmology

In terms of our understanding of the Universe, some things just don’t add up. Which means either our measurements are wrong, or our theories are…

THE EXPLAINER

WHAT WAS THE BIG BANG?

UNIVERSE, SAY CHEESE!

IN A CALIFORNIA LAB, SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS ARE PUTTING THE FINISHING TOUCHES TO A COLOSSAL CAMERA THAT COULD CHANGE THE WAY WE VIEW THE COSMOS

SHOULD WE BE SIGNALLING OUR EXISTENCE TO ALIEN LIFE?

Astrobiologist and extraterrestrial researcher Dr Douglas Vakoch speaks to Sara Rigby about transmitting messages into the cosmos in the hope of finding intelligent extraterrestrial life

WHERE ARE THE ALIENS IN OUR SOLAR SYSTEM?

A FLEET OF MISSIONS IS SPREADING ACROSS THE SOLAR SYSTEM TO INVESTIGATE OUR NEIGHBOURS FOR SIGNS OF LIFE. HERE’S WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING FOR

WATER FOUND ON THE MOON COULD QUENCH FUTURE ASTRONAUTS' THIRST

Water could be more widespread on the Moon than previously thought. New readings from NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) indicate that molecular water (H2O) is present in the Clavius crater, one of the largest craters on the Moon.

IN PRAISE OF ‘AWE' WALKS

Spending time outdoors is great for your health, but there’s an easy way to reap even better benefits

WHY WE WANT TO BELIEVE...

Whether they’re tiny microbes or little green men, aliens never fail to capture our imagination. So why do they have such a hold on our collective psyche?

IN SEARCH OF DARKNESS

The nights might be getting longer, but the internet is open and ready for business 24 hours a day. Is this a good thing?

THE PUZZLE OF A PERSON

Forensic anthropologist Prof Dame Sue Black talks to Amy Barrettabout what it’s like to dissect a human body, how a single bone can tell a whole story, and the ways in which we can identify perpetrators from the backs of their hands

It's A Slug's Game Solar-Powered Sea Slug

Sea slugs sport some of nature’s most unreal adaptations, including solarpowered skin and disposable penises. Welcome to their weird world

Covid-19: Is It Mutating?

A number of media outlets reported that the coronavirus is mutating. Is it a cause for concern?

Bold New Plans For The Future Of Space Exploration

The plans include landing the first woman on the lunar surface, establishing a space station in orbit around the Moon, and returning samples of Martian rock to Earth

HOW TO MAKE THE PERFECT CUPPA

IN BRITAIN, WE DRINK AROUND 165 MILLION CUPS OF TEA A DAY, SO LET’S GET IT RIGHT. FOOD SCIENTIST DR STUART FARRIMOND REVEALS ALL…

THE EXPLAINER WHY DO WE SLEEP?

Q&A:

THE DIAGNOSIS DETECTIVES

Sometimes, doctors have to unleash their inner sleuths in order to solve tricky cases

THE STRESS TEST

WHAT IF MEASURING YOUR WELLBEING WAS AS SIMPLE AS TAKING YOUR TEMPERATURE? SCIENTISTS ARE TESTING OUT HEART RATE VARIABILITY, TO SEE WHAT IT CAN TELL US ABOUT OUR MENTAL HEALTH…

NEW WORLD ORDER

In 1993, the internet was brought to the masses, changing the online world forever. Now, COVID-19 will transform our virtual lives again

A LIFE OF SLIME

Do you need a brain to solve puzzles? Not if you’re a slime mould. These single celled organisms can learn, navigate mazes and perhaps help us gain a deeper insight into the structure of the Universe itself…

ASTEROIDS: HOW LIKELY IS IT THAT WE'LL BE STRUCK BY ONE?

It’s happened before, so what are the chances of another catastrophic collision with a space rock?

HOW TO SIT

STIFF AS A BOARD OR SLOUCHED LIKE A SLOTH? PULL UP A CHAIR AND TAKE THE WEIGHT OFF YOUR FEET AS BACK PAIN RESEARCHER DR KIERAN O’SULLIVAN EXPLAINS HOW TO SIT

IN PRAISE OF CAFFEINE

There’s more to a cup of coffee than just an early morning pick-me-up

TURNING THE RED PLANETGREEN

If humans are to stand a chance of successfully setting up a colony on Mars, we’re going to need to figure out a way of producing food on the Red Planet