BBC Science Focus Magazine
June 2021With accessible features illustrated with the world’s best photography, BBC Focus Magazine explains the theory behind scientific phenomena and really brings science to life. In every issue you’ll find news of the latest major scientific developments, a lively Q&A section plus exclusive and astonishing photographic reports that range from the breathtaking to the downright odd.
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from the editor
Between 1994 and 1995 a man lived in space, aboard the Mir Space Station, for 438 consecutive days – the most anyone has spent in low-Earth orbit. To me, that’s an unimaginable amount of time to spend locked in a capsule spinning around the Earth at just under 28,000km/h. But for Valery Polyakov, it didn’t seem like a big deal, at least that’s what the history books say. Polyakov, a physician who had been studying the effects of spaceflight on the human body, had volunteered for the mission to find out what the consequences of longer term spaceflight might be. He was keen to find out how realistic a goal a mission to Mars might be. It turns out Valery was made of some pretty tough stuff, experiencing few unexpected side…
on the bbc this month...
What Are We Feeding Our Kids? Is ultra-processed food causing obesity in children, and could it even be addictive? Dr Chris van Tulleken investigates as he undergoes a gruelling self-experiment that shocks the scientists. BBC One, Friday 11 June, time TBC CrowdScience How old are the elements? Is my noisy neighbour affecting my health? Why do I have a sweet tooth? These are just some of the brilliant questions the CrowdScience team will be diving into this month. BBC World Service, bbcworldservice.com/crowdscience Prepper Sylvia (Sue Johnston) and Rachel (Pearl Mackie) are back with a new series of their hit comedy podcast featuring two very different women gearing up for the end of the world. Wasp flu, zombies on street corners… They’re prepared, are you? BBC Radio 4 Friday 11 June, 11:30am *Calls from landlines will cost up to 9p…
contributors
DR STEPHANIE WRIGHT Microplastics are everywhere, but are they harmful to our health? Stephanie, a lecturer in environmental toxicity, explains the science. →p30 CHRISTIAN CLOT Christian and 14 other people spent 40 days in a cave without clocks or natural light to find out whether they could adapt. Find out why they want to go back. →p24 DR MICHAEL MOSLEY As one of the presenters of BBC’s Trust Me, I’m A Doctor, Michael has made a career out of making the nation healthier. Find out his 10 commandments for healthy living. →p54 DR CHRIS MASON If we’re going to establish bases on the Moon and Mars, we may have to tinker with our biology. Chris has been looking into this for NASA. →p66 CONTACT US → Advertising daniel.long@immediate.co.uk 0117 300 8287 → Letters for publication reply@sciencefocus.com → Editorial enquiries editorialenquiries@sciencefocus.com 0117…
want more?
Don’t forget that BBC Science Focus is also available on all major digital platforms. We have versions for Android, Kindle Fire and Kindle e-reader, as well as an iOS app for the iPad and iPhone. Can’t wait until next month to get your fix of science and tech? Our website is packed with news, articles and Q&As to keep your brain satisfied. sciencefocus.com LUNCHTIME GENIUS A DAILY DOSE OF MENTAL REFRESHMENT DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX Sign up to discover the latest news, views and breakthroughs from the BBC Science Focus team www.sciencefocus.com/newsletter PLUS, A FREE MINI-GUIDE EVERY WEEK A collection of the most important ideas in science and technology today. Discover the fundamentals of science, alongside some of the most exciting research in the world. “HOW CAN WE CONTINUE TO KEEP ANIMALS AS PART OF OUR LIVES, EVEN…
eye opener
Follow the light REYKJANES PENINSULA, ICELAND The light show captured in this long-exposure photo is part natural and part artificial. The yellow, red and orange on the left of the image is a volcanic eruption near Iceland’s Mount Fagradalsfjall, around 40km (25 miles) from Reykjavík. The white trails leading to and from the eruption are torches carried by locals hiking up to watch it. Lava began spewing from a fissure near Mount Fagradalsfjall on 19 March and continued to emerge through April and into May. The eruption hasn’t been explosive, however, so authorities deemed the danger to be low and permitted visits to the site. “Fagradalsfjall hasn’t seen any sort of activity since the 12th Century,” says volcanologist Dr Jazmin Scarlett. “But what’s interesting is that recent readings show the eruption is gaining strength.…
letter of the month
A different kind of exploration I spent the best part of my 20s and 30s exploring the world. I’ve stayed on every continent, and have seen and experienced amazing things – I know I’m lucky! All that time I’ve read every single issue of this magazine, and I adore it. Now, in my late 40s, I’m as settled as a man like me can be. I am now a nurse and the last year has been extremely hard work, emotionally and physically. Your April issue about exploration touched me profoundly. We have used our desire to explore to advance our species. I believe that this is why lockdown has been so hard on people: whether they realise it or not, we are all explorers. I’m immensely proud of this country and how the…
