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Exploring the deepest point on Earth

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BBC Science Focus Magazine
July 2023
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Other Articles in this Issue


Editorial
FROM THE EDITOR
COVER: ANDY POTTS THIS PAGE: GETTY IMAGES X2,
REGULARS
A land of ice and fire
J. BANKS/ AWL-IMAGES.COM HÖFN, ICELAND Diamond Beach,
Splashdown success
SPACEX PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA, USA In the early
Catching a rainbow
ALAMY FALMOUTH, UK This colourful critter is a
FEEDBACK
LETTERS MAY BE EDITED FOR PUBLICATION
DISCOVERIES
More than just mere decoration: the spots on
SPOTTY WINGS MAKE MONARCH BUTTERFLIES MORE AERODYNAMIC
ENTOMOLOGY
SCIENTISTS HAVE FINALLY SOLVED THE MYSTERY BEHIND THIS OPTICAL ILLUSION
VISION
THE WORLD’S ULTIMATE SWEARWORD… ACCORDING TO MATHS
MATHEMATICS
HIDDEN FUNGI ABSORB OVER A THIRD OF EARTH’S FOSSIL FUEL EMISSIONS
BIOLOGY
PUPS IN SCRUBS: DOGS COULD MAKE CHILDREN’S HOSPITALS BETTER FOR EVERYONE
MEDICINE
THE T.REX WAS ACTUALLY A COWARD… SOMETIMES
PALAEONTOLOGY
DAILY MULTIVITAMIN CAN DELAY AGE-RELATED MEMORY LOSS
NEUROSCIENCE
THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT…
As a remedy for all the bad news out there, let us prescribe you a small dose of feel-good science. Each issue, we’ll give you a rundown of the latest breakthroughs that aim to solve humanity’s biggest problems. From patches that alleviate peanut allergies to pangolin-inspired robots that perform microsurgery, here you’ll find many reasons to feel hopeful about our future…
THE THREAT OF DAY ZERO
PRIMER
DO YOUR GENES INFLUENCE YOUR TASTE IN FOOD?
COMMENT
JAZZ COULD BE THE KEY TO UNDERSTANDING QUANTUM PHYSICS
COMMENT
AI-GENERATED EMAIL MAY BE CONVENIENT, BUT IT COULD KILL OFF ENDANGERED LANGUAGES
COMMENT
BUGS ON THE BRINK: WHERE HAVE ALL THE INSECTS GONE?
REVIEW
KILLER ASTEROIDS: HOW SAFE ARE WE, REALLY?
ANALYSIS
OZEMPIC: IS IT MORE THAN JUST A WEIGHT-LOSS PILL?
COMMENT
INNOVATIONS
PREPARE YOURSELF FOR TOMORROW
Apple Vision Pro: a virtual reality expert gives his verdict
INTERVIEW
Five of the best hand-held vacuum cleaners
Keep your house clean and tidy with these light and portable vacuum cleaners. The BBC Science Focus team picks its favourites
Ideas we like…
Our pick of the month’s smartest tech
WHY DO I SELF-SABOTAGE SO MUCH?
SAMANTHA OSBORN, VIA EMAIL
JADE ROLLERS: DO THEY ACTUALLY WORK OR DO THEY JUST FEEL NICE?
CHARLIE HANEY, VIA EMAIL
IS THERE A KNOWN LIMIT ON HOW TALL A TREE CAN GROW?
LAWRENCE HANCOCK, CUMBRIA
VAMPIRE SQUID
NATURE’S WEIRDEST CREATURES
THE MAGNIFICENT MILKY WAY
ASTRONOMY FOR BEGINNERS
COULD AN ASTEROID IMPACT EVER CHANGE EARTH’S ORBIT?
KHADIJAH HORN, VIA EMAIL
WHY DO OLD BATTERIES LEAK?
LUCINDA COX, SUSSEX
WHAT IS GUTTATION?
HEATHER KENNEDY, VIA EMAIL
DOES GETTING RID OF MUCUS WHEN I’M SICK HELP ME GET BETTER QUICKER?
DANIEL GRANT, SUNDERLAND
Mariana Trench
A DEEP DIVE INTO THE…
Where is the trench?
MAPPING MARIANA
Pollution in the trench
DIFFERENT PLACE, SAME PROBLEMS
What lies beneath?
ALIEN ENVIRONMENTS
MYTHBUSTERS
IS ‘BABY BRAIN’ A REAL THING AND, IF SO, WHAT CAUSES IT?
WHAT IS THE MIRROR TEST?
ELLIOT SAVAGE, DERBY
WHAT IS THE DOPPLER EFFECT?
INDIA KELLY, VIA EMAIL
WHERE DOES THE CUCKOO LEARN ITS TERRIBLE BEHAVIOUR?
ROBERT GREEN, VIA EMAIL
THE EXPLAINER BEES
THEY COULD WELL BE THE LINCHPIN HOLDING EARTH’S ENTIRE ECOSYSTEM TOGETHER… SO IT’S NO WONDER THEY’RE BUSY. HERE’S EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE IMPORTANT INSECTS THAT ARE UNDER THREAT
CROSSWORD
PENCILS AT THE READY!
NEXT ISSUE
EXTRATERRESTRIALS Delve into the conditions needed for life
Could one bomb destroy the world?
How big a bang are arms manufacturers capable of creating?
FEATURES
INVASION OF THE BODY SNATCHERS
The hit TV show The Last of Us imagined an apocalypse caused by a Cordyceps fungus turning humans into zombies. For many insects, real life isn’t much different…
HOW TO THINK RATIONALLY ABOUT AI
The entire planet is hooked on the conversation about AI and its sinister future. But, if you ask those in the know (and we have) our future with machines looks entirely different to what the world’s CEOs would have us believe. Here’s how to stop worrying and, maybe, learn to love AI…
CAN SCIENCE TURN A NIGHT OWL INTO A MORNING LARK?
If you’re a night owl, you probably have a hard time dealing with a world that starts at 9am. But can science help you tinker with your body clock to make it easier to rise with the larks?
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