BBC Science Focus - November 2024

In this issue

DR MICHELLE GRIFFIN - Why we need to recognise gender-specific issues when it comes to sleep quality and overall health.

GHOST DETECTOR - See inside China’s giant device being built to catch neutrinos – nature’s ‘ghost particle’.

GENETICS: Gene-editing discovery could reverse ageing

CRISPR is a way off being used in human therapeutics, but a new discovery could unlock its potential

3 mins

Mathematicians declare a new class of shape

Not like your typical circle or square, the flexible 'soft cell' is seen throughout nature

1 min

When are we moving to Mars?

With wars raging and environmental collapse on the horizon, the idea of escaping to start again on another planet is gaining appeal. Both NASA and the Chinese are working on lunar bases. But how soon before the rest of us can take to the stars? And what about the planet we'd leave behind?

4 mins

Food processing isn't necessarily a bad thing

Using chemicals to alter food doesn't automatically make it bad for you. In some cases, it actually makes the food better

3 mins

Here's how the Sun will end all life on Earth

The Sun isn't going to go supernova. But its demise will cause ripples of stellar devastation that'll be deadly to nearby planets

3 mins

The real reasons women are losing more sleep than men

Menopause, pregnancy and hormonal fluctuations during the monthly cycle can all have a huge effect on women’s sleep

3 mins

Mega-buildings are now slowing Earth's spin. Here's what that means for the planet

A huge dam in China is changing how long our days are

5 mins

ANALYSIS - Why you should never take health advice from a 100-year-old

Living longer is a goal for many of us. But should we be following the lifestyles of those that live past 100?

5 mins

GHOST DETECTOR

Currently under construction, the Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) is set to unlock the secrets of nature's most elusive subatomic particle: the neutrino. It may ultimately provide the missing pieces of the unified 'Theory of Everything'

8 mins

MUSIC FOR A DISTRACTED GENERATION

The number of things competing for our attention is often overwhelming. Can dreamy soundscapes created with neuroscience help our bewildered brains to concentrate?

10 mins

THE INTERNET OF ANIMALS

SCIENTISTS ARE USING ELECTRONIC TAGS AND SATELLITES TO TRACK WILD ANIMALS AND CREATE A DATA NETWORK THAT COULD HELP US ADDRESS THE BIODIVERSITY CRISIS

8 mins

THE IMMUNE SYSTEM REBOOT

IGNORE THE PSEUDO-SCIENCE SUPPLEMENTS PROMISING TO CRUSH INFLAMMATION AND WARD OFF ILLNESS. HERE'S THE TRUTH ABOUT RECALIBRATING YOUR BODY'S DEFENCES FOR LONG-TERM HEALTH AND LONGEVITY

10 mins

Should we scrap daylight saving time?

Most of us look forward to the extra hour we get in bed every October, but researchers argue that changing the clocks twice a year harms our health

5 mins

ARE WE THE ONLY SPECIES TO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A STONE AGE?

The Stone Age might conjure up images of early humans, sitting around a campfire or hunting prehistoric beasts, but evidence shows that we're not the only species that has learned how to work with stone tools. Wild chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) use stone tools to crack open nuts.

2 mins

THE LUNGFISH

In 1836, European scientists discovered a peculiar animal from the River Amazon that they struggled to identify. Its eel-like body was a few feet long and its air-filled lungs persuaded anatomists it must be a reptile.

2 mins

HOW CAN I TELL IF I'VE GOT HIGH CORTISOL LEVELS?

Cortisol is a hormone produced by glands in our bodies called the adrenal glands, which sit above the kidneys. It plays a critical role in various bodily functions, including regulating metabolism, reducing inflammation and helping the body respond to stress. While essential for our health, chronic elevation of cortisol levels can lead to several issues.

2 mins

WHAT IS MEXICO'S BLUE HOLE?

The world's deepest blue hole (marine sinkhole) lies off the coast of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula. It's at least 420m (1,378ft) deep, but explorers still haven't found its bottom.

1 min

WHAT MAKES THE MEDITERRANEAN DIET SO GOOD FOR US?

The Mediterranean diet may help you live longer, especially if you also adopt the lifestyle of people living near the Med during the 1950s.

2 mins

IS IT SAFE TO RUN EVERY DAY, OR SHOULD I DITCH MY RUN STREAK TO SAVE MY KNEES?

A running streak, where you run every day without taking rest days, can be highly motivating and beneficial for overall fitness. Running is great cardiovascular exercise and isn't to be discouraged (and finding a routine with some consistency is great). Getting a bit of exercise as often as possible is also hugely beneficial for your mental health.

1 min

COULD MARINE CLOUD BRIGHTENING HELP US FIGHT CLIMATE CHANGE?

The theory behind marine cloud brightening is that brighter or whiter clouds reflect more sunlight back into space.

1 min

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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.