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A SCIENTIST'S GUIDE TO...PILLOWS

BBC Science Focus

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August 2023

THE RIGHT SUPPORT CAN HELP RELIEVE BACK PAIN

A SCIENTIST'S GUIDE TO...PILLOWS

Back pain can be hugely frustrating and finding relief for a restful, pain-free night's sleep can make a big difference. Understanding the importance of proper spinal alignment and support during sleep can help, but it can be hard to separate the marketing ploys of bedding shops from genuine advice. Everyone will be different in terms of what they prefer, but there are some general guidelines that could help...

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PILLOW

Selecting the appropriate pillow can make a big difference in managing back pain. You need to see what works for you, but the following advice might be useful:

1 Look for pillows Look for pillows that offer adequate support to the natural curves of your neck and spine. Memory foam pillows or those with contouring features can be beneficial for maintaining proper alignment.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus

ARE PSYCHOPATHS REALLY THAT GOOD AT LYING?

Picture infamous psychopaths from fiction, such as the eerily cold and calculating Patrick Bateman in the film adaptation of American Psycho, and they certainly seem like master deceivers. But what about real-life psychopaths? Research confirms that psychopaths are more inclined to lie to get what they want, and that they typically display a striking fearlessness - as if they have ice running through their veins.

time to read

1 min

January 2026

BBC Science Focus

WHY DO WE HAVE TWO OF SOME ORGANS, BUT ONLY ONE OF OTHERS?

The majority of animals on Earth, humans included, are bilaterally symmetrical. It means we can be divided roughly into two mirror-image sides. Evolutionary biologists believe that it has been like that for at least 300 million years, and because life organised this way survived, so did symmetrical design. Hence, two eyes, two ears, two lungs and two kidneys.

time to read

1 min

January 2026

BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus

WHY DO CATS PREFER TO SLEEP ON THEIR LEFT?

I've said it before, and I'll keep saying it again and again and again: who knows why cats do anything?

time to read

1 min

January 2026

BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus

FORGET COUNTING CALORIES TRY THIS INSTEAD...

Calorie counting isn't just difficult, it's riddled with problems that make it practically useless for anyone trying to lose weight.But there are alternatives

time to read

9 mins

January 2026

BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus

SIGNS OF LIFE

The more planets we find outside our Solar System, the better our chances are of finding life on one of them. But if there really is life out there, how do we spot it?

time to read

8 mins

January 2026

BBC Science Focus

WHAT ACTUALLY MAKES SOMEBODY COOL?

Most of us have probably wanted to be cool at some point in our lives, and these efforts can have a big influence on the things we buy, the way we dress, the hobbies we invest in, the people we look up to and even the words we use.

time to read

2 mins

January 2026

BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus

It's TIME to WAKE UP and SMELL the roses

What if the pursuit of happiness in the traditional sense – chasing wealth or power – is the very thing stopping you from being happy? Researchers are beginning to understand that spending time enjoying the simple things might be the secret ingredient to enjoying a happy, healthy life

time to read

8 mins

January 2026

BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus

THE AARDVARK

In a time when people are being asked to consider eating insects, we should, perhaps, learn a thing or two from the aardvark (Orycteropus afer), Africa’s ant-guzzling gourmand. On an average night, the big-schnozzed mammal devours up to 50,000 of the crunchy critters.

time to read

2 mins

January 2026

BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus

ADD WEIGHT TO LOSE WEIGHT

A very basic kind of wearable could make your New-Year-weight-loss plans stick

time to read

3 mins

January 2026

BBC Science Focus

BBC Science Focus

AHEAD OF THEIR TIME

The Maya civilisation is known for its art and architecture.

time to read

8 mins

January 2026

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