FROM THE EDITOR

It started with E.T. It’s the first film

Degrees of separation

DENVER, COLORADO, USA

Giant’s footsteps

DINOSAUR VALLEY STATE PARK, TEXAS, USA

CONVERSATION

YOUR OPINIONS ON SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND BBC SCIENCE FOCUS

DISCOVERIES

Fossilised whipworm eggs had their genome compared

PERSEVERANCE ROVER DISCOVERS MORE ORGANIC MATERIAL ON MARS THAN EVER BEFORE

DISCOVERIES

MICROBREAKS MAY HELP TO PREVENT WORKPLACE BURNOUT

Walking and stretching are particularly effective ways to use your break

SCREEN USE: IN NUMBERS

In April 2022, researchers at the University of

YOUR PHONE SCREEN COULD BE AGEING YOU

Study on fruit flies suggests blue light could have a significant effect on cell function

PARASITE FROM FOSSILISED VIKING POO HAS GENOME MAPPED

Though now rare in industrialised countries, the human whipworm still infects around 500 million people worldwide and can cause serious illness in the weak or malnourished

AIR POLLUTION COULD TRIGGER LUNG CANCER IN NON-SMOKERS

Research into the dangerous effects of air pollution could lead to approaches to lung cancer prevention

SATURN’S ICONIC RINGS MAY HAVE BEEN FORMED BY ANCIENT MOON

Around 160 million years ago, the shattering apart of a moon named Chrysalis may have caused Saturn to tilt and created its signature icy rings

LUNAR LINE-UP

Just 53 of Saturn’s 82 moons have been named. Here are two of the most important…

REPTILE THAT LIVED AMONG THE DINOSAURS DISCOVERED

This lizard-like animal belongs to the same ancient lineage as New Zealand’s living tuatara

TARANTULA NEBULA PHOTOGRAPHED IN UNPRECEDENTED DETAIL

Newly released mosaic from the James Webb Space Telescope peers through the cosmic dust to reveal never-before-seen young stars

HOW NASA DEFLECTED AN ASTEROID BY CRASHING A SPACECRAFT INTO IT

HORIZONS

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 burgerflipping robots to GM mosquitoes, here you’ll find many reasons to feel hopeful for our future…

THINKING POSITIVELY CAN BE GOOD FOR YOUR BODY, NOT JUST YOUR BRAIN

Looking for an upside in any given situation can improve everything from the immune system to heart health

BABY, YOU CAN DRIVE MY SELF-DRIVING CAR

Human drivers should not be held responsible for accidents caused by autonomous vehicles

GETTING TO THE HEART OF THE (DARK) MATTER

We’ve mapped it, but the exact nature of dark matter remains elusive. And for most astronomers that’s okay

YOUR INNER CHILD: WHAT IS IT, WHAT’S UP WITH IT AND DOES IT NEED HEALING?

Recent online articles have listed the signs that reveal your inner child is wounded, or that your inner child needs healing. But is there any real psychology behind this?

SEWAGE: WHY IS RAW WASTE PUMPED INTO OUR SEAS AND CAN WE FIXIT?

The UK’s ageing infrastructure is struggling to cope with increased rainfall and a growing population, and this means sewage is being discharged into our seas and rivers. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water…

GRIEF: WHY DO WE MOURN PUBLIC FIGURES?

Few people knew her personally, and yet many of us felt some sense of loss for the Queen

INNOVATIONS

PREPAREYOURSELF FOR TOMORROW

In the right hands, wearables could revolutionise healthcare

We spoke to Prof Amitava Banerjee, a cardiologist and clinical data scientist, to better understand how smartwatches and fitness trackers could change medicine

The five best camera gimbals

An essential bit of kit for smoother video and better selfies, says photographer James Abbott

Ideas we like…

Our pick of the month’s smartest tech

Q & A

YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED ... HOW SOON AFTER GETTING

HOW DO CATS KNOW WHEN IT’S ABOUT TO RAIN?

ILLUSTRATION: DANIEL BRIGHT In days gone by, sailors

DO PAINKILLERS WORK DIFFERENTLY FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE?

GEOFF WINSTANLEY, BLANDFORD FORUM

HOW MUCH ENERGY DOES A SMART METER USE?

KAY HUGHES, VIA EMAIL

AN UNOFFICIAL SKY: A GUIDE TO ASTERISMS

GETTY IMAGES X2 ILLUSTRATIONS: PETE LAWRENCE, DANIEL BRIGHT

CAN A CONTACT LENS GET STUCK AROUND THE BACK OF YOUR EYE?

SARAH MORRIS, SWANSEA

HOW IS COLOUR ADDED TO THE JWST IMAGES?

BENJAMIN MARSH, VIA EMAIL

OWLS VS LARKS: WHEN IS THE BEST TIME OF DAY TO EXERCISE FOR SLEEP?

SIENNA HARRIS, VIA EMAIL

ARE VIRUSES THE KEY TO FIGHTING INFECTIONS?

CROWDSC IENCE Every week on BBC World Service, CrowdScience

WHAT IS THE MAILLARD REACTION?

DAVID WALKER, VIA EMAIL

HALLUCIGENIA

NATURE’S WEIRDEST CREATURES

WHY DOES NASAL AND EAR HAIR BECOME MORE PROMINENT AS YOU AGE?

DEAR DOCTOR... HE ALTH QUESTIONS DE ALT WITH

CAN YOU MAKE A FUNCTIONING CANDLE FROM EARWAX?

JOHN BOTHWELL, VIA EMAIL

HOW SOON CAN YOU CATCH COVID AGAIN?

BELLA JACOBS, SALISBURY

WHAT ARE WHITE, PINK AND BROWN NOISE?

ANNE-MARIE FERGUSON, VIA EMAIL

IF WE ARE ALL LIVING IN A SIMULATION, THEN WHAT IS REAL AND OUTSIDE OF THIS SIMULATION?

TONY H WORCESTER, VIA EMAIL

FUNGI THE EXPLAINER

THIS DIVERSE KINGDOM INCLUDES YEASTS, MOULDS, MUSHROOMS AND TOADSTOOLS

PENCILS AT THE READY!

ACROSS 1 Supporter seen regularly in paper (6)

THE ARCHES PROJECT

DLR PLUS ROOTING THROUGH TUTANKHAMUN’S ROOMS Are

Could we become cold, ruthless Cybermen?

We assess the likelihood of humanity turning into cyborgs, like Doctor Who’s infamous foe

NATURE’S REAL-LIEE VAMPIRES

Count Dracula… Lestat de Lioncour t… Laszlo… all these vampires have got oodles of charisma, natty dress sense and an intriguing backstory. But the problem is, they’re fictional. We reckon the animal kingdom can do a lot better. Suck on this…

FIRST CONTACT

WHAT HAPPENS IF WE EVER DETECT A SIGNAL FROM EXTRATERRESTRIAL INTELLIGENCE?

THE LONELY HEARTS CLUB MAN

MEN ARE LOSING FRIENDS AND STRUGGLING TO MAKE NEW ONES – AND MISSING OUT ON POWERFUL HEALTH BENEFITS IN THE PROCESS. BUDDY, WHAT’S GOING ON?