WELCOME

Issue 166

Hidden in plain sight

The pallid scops owl (Otus brucei) is one

Eye of the Sahara

The Richat Structure is a prominent geology structure around

Cicada scissors

This is a cicada’s ovipositor, a sabre-like structure at

Cosmic caterpillar

The constellation of Cygnus contains a light-year-long knot of

HISTORY Dinosaur ‘reaper’ with massive claws found in Japan

Showcasing the incredible world we live in

PERSEVERANCE ROVER ADOPTS A ‘PET ROCK’

An image of the ‘pet rock’ stuck in

Cats can memorise their friends’ names

Cats can learn the names of their companions

Great white sharks may have driven megalodon to extinction

Great white sharks coexisted alongside megalodon before rising

PIECES OF RARE VIKING SWORD REUNITED AF TER 1,200 YEARS

A researcher examines the remains of a Viking

Google AI is sentient, software engineer claims

Google’s LaMDA AI system says it has consciousness.

PAINTINGS OF EGYP TIAN GODDESSES UNEARTHED

This shows the cleaning of part of the

New magnetic wave type found in Earth’s core

An illustration showing mysterious waves (red) moving across

City-sized lake found miles below Antarctica’s biggest ice sheet

Scientists have discovered a citysized lake hidden deep

Unknown radio structure detected around brightest known quasar

A Hubble Space Telescope image of quasar 3C

James Webb Space Telescope hit by large micrometeoroid

An artist’s concept of the JWST, which launched

EUROPA CLIPPER TAKES A BIG STEP TOWARDS ITS 2024 LAUNCH

The main body of the Europa Clipper spacecraft

WISH LIST

The latest TRAVEL tech

What is the solar corona?

Amazing answers to your curious questions

HOW DOES DETANGLING SHAMPOO WORK?

Hair is made up of the root and

WHAT IS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF USING PALM OIL?

Palm oil farming has destroyed many habitats Did you

WHY DO THE FUSES SOMETIMES BLOW IN MY HOUSE?

When a certain amount of current being drawn

Can you tell if acoconut is mouldy?

© Getty One way to test if your

WHY DOES A SMELL SEEM TO FADE AFTER YOU GET USED TO IT?

Smell is the perception of odorants by our

What is terrace farming?

Terrace farming is popular in Asia Terrace farming

WHAT ARE OWL PELLETS?

As owls are carnivores, their prey can contain

WHAT’S IN FAKE TAN THAT MAKES OUR SKIN GO BROWN... OR ORANGE?

There are many different self-tan products on the

Why do some metals melt?

Most alloys have a melting range instead of

What is the least inhabited place on Earth?

Anglerfish dwell deep beneath the ocean In terms

WHY DO BRUISES GO PURPLE?

Sometimes we hurt ourselves. When this happens, some

HOW DOES THE SUN BURN WITHOUT OXYGEN?

Did you know? Iron is the heaviest element

WHAT IS THE GAIA HYPOTHESIS?

102-year-old scientist James Lovelock The Gaia hypothesis refers

Why don’t some birds fly?

© Getty Unlike humans, who have always dreamt

BODIES, BRAINS & BOGIES

The latest book releases for curious minds

ATOMS

COMPLEX SCIENCE MADE SIMPLE

MEET THE OCEANS

LET’S DIVE DOWN ON A JOURNEY TO THE DEEP

SCIENCE ILLUSTRATION

A HISTORY OF VISUAL KNOWLEDGE FROM THE 15TH CENTURY TO TODAY

THE SECRET LIFE OF BIRDS

A GUIDE TO OUR WONDERFUL, DIVERSE FEATHERED FRIENDS

MAKE A BUBBLE SNAKE

Practical projects to try at home

EARLY GROOMING

The Romans adapted scissors to give them their

THE CHEESE FACTORY

The wax of a Babybel can be torn

ROADS OF THE WORLD

Part of the Katy Freeway Dear HIW, Of

COFFEE QUESTION

To make coffee using instant coffee, you just

TEN WEIRD THINGS YOU NEVER KNEW ABOUT YOUR BRAIN

Discover the science and psychology behind the brain’s fascinatingly quirky and unique design

BRAINS BY NUMBERS

© Getty

THE SCIENCE BEHIND your accent

How an accent is generated by the brain and shaped over time

HOW DOES THE WORLD KEEP TIME?

Why the tick of timekeeping devices depends on hundreds of atomic oscillators positioned across the globe

WHAT IS DUST?

Discover the ingredients that gather to form everyday household dust

JET SKI TECH

Jet skis are popular around the world, but how do these tiny boats go so fast?

CATERPILLAR TRACKS UNPACKED

Caterpillar tracks are found on tanks, tractors and loads of other tough vehicles; we go under the armour to find out how they work

THE STATUE OF LIBERTY

How one of the most iconic statues in the world was constructed

THE COMMONWEALTH GAMES

How will the 2022 games compare in nearly 100 years of this huge sporting event?

GREGOR MENDEL

This Austrian scientist is known as the ‘father of modern genetics’

FJORDS WATERWAYS CARVED BY GL ACIERS

How were fjords formed and where can you see them?

SERPENT SENSES

Discover how these reptiles hear, see and smell

CROCODILES VS ALLIGATORS

The differences between these cold-blooded creatures are more than skin deep

FUTURE MOON OUT POST

This ambitious new plan will put a space station in orbit around the Moon

WHAT IS RED LIGHTNING?

These red flashes can sometimes be seen shooting upwards into the top of the atmosphere. Here’s why they happen

INTO THE MILKY WAY’S MASSIVE BLACK HOLE

At the heart of our galaxy lies the supermassive black hole Sagittarius A*. Here’s what we know about this cosmic titan

HOW LASERS ARE RESHAPING MODERN WARFARE

Whether it’s navy ships or armoured vehicles, militaries all around the globe are taking lasers from the pages of fiction and turning them into the weapons of today

SMART METERS EXPLAINED

How do these self-reading utility meters work to save energy?