BBC Science Focus Magazine October 2021

I have to admit science fiction novels are where my love of science really started. As a teenager, William Gibson, Douglas Adams, Ursula K Le Guin and a dozen other authors got me more excited about science and technology than any non-fiction book ever could. And I’ve got a hunch that many of you might feel the same way. That’s why for this issue we’ve decided to dive into what looks to be the science fiction event of the decade: Dune. Directed by Denis Villeneuve, it is returning to the silver screen in October. This is exciting for two reasons. First, Villeneuve’s track record with Arrival and Blade Runner 2049 demonstrates he’s something of a maestro when it comes to taking science fiction to the movies. And second, Dune, more than…

Nature And Us What can history’s greatest artworks reveal about the state of the Earth? This new series, presented by James Fox (pictured) explores our relationship with the natural world, as told by prehistoric cave paintings through to modern art. BBC Four Available from 11 October Bad People In the new series of this podcast, criminal psychologist Dr Julia Shaw and comedian Sofie Hagen are back to cast a forensic eye over some of the most shocking, intriguing and unimaginably criminal acts. BBC Sounds Released throughout October The Life Scientific Prof Jim Al-Khalili is joined by a fantastic panel of guests for the 10th anniversary of The Life Scientific. Paul Nurse, Ottoline Leyser, Christopher Jackson and Hannah Fry (pictured) are just some of the experts joining him for the decade’s celebration. BBC Radio 4 9am, 12 October COVER: MAGIC TORCH THIS PAGE:…

DR PAUL BYRNE As we close in on a so-called Planet Nine, planetary scientist Paul makes a convincing case for Pluto to reclaim that title. →p24 DR JULIA SHAW Between the internet horror stories and the rise of social media, it feels as though narcissism is on the rise. Criminal psychologist Julia examines the social psychology. →p32 PROF DAVE GOULSON Almost every ecosystem on the planet depends on insects, but their numbers are dwindling. Insect expert Dave tell us what might happen next. →p68 ANDY RIDGWAY Every week, we find out more about how helpful microbes are to our health. Science writer Andy discovers how we can give these old friends a hand in our homes. →p72 CONTACT US Advertising daniel.long@immediate.co.uk 0117 300 8287 Letters for publication reply@sciencefocus.com Editorial enquiries editorialenquiries@sciencefocus.com 0117 300 8755 Subscriptions buysubscriptions.com/contactus 03330 162 113* Other contacts sciencefocus.com/contact COVER: MAGIC TORCH THIS PAGE: BBCX2, GETTY IMAGES, ALAMY, DANIEL…

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That sinking feline MAASAI MARA, KENYA When photographer Buddhilini de Soyza stood on the side of Talek River in Kenya, she saw across the torrential waters, on the opposite bank, a group of five male cheetahs. Called Tano Bora or ‘the magnificent five’ in Maasai, the group are unusual: cheetahs tend to be solitary. In January 2020, as the river and nearby savannah were overcome by rain and flooding, the Tano Bora saw their prey on the other side of the Talek. “It took them hours to find a place to cross,” says de Soyza. “A couple of times the lead cheetah waded into the river, only to turn back.” Then, suddenly, he jumped in. His group slowly followed, until they were swimming towards de Soyza. To her relief, they all emerged from the river. “The…

Microbiomes and missing gnashers In August’s issue you reported that Dr Bei Wu and colleagues had found a link between tooth loss and declining cognitive function (p20), speculating that difficulty chewing leads to nutritional deficiencies in the brain. There may be an additional factor to consider: the gut-brain axis. Without dentures, people may avoid foods that require considerable chewing, such as nuts or high-fibre fruits and vegetables. As these foods aid intestinal bacteria, which play a key role in the gut-brain axis, this would ultimately affect behaviour and cognition. It would be interesting to analyse the participants’ microbiome and, perhaps, monitor how the results are affected by introducing foods that benefit the gut. Georgina Hawkins (age 14)…