WELCOME

Issue178 “The fact that an asteroid’s orbit crosses

Butterfly portrait

This is a portrait of a green skipper

Starry trail

This long-exposure composite image was snapped aboard the

Marble mining

Welcome to the Carrara marble mines. Located in

Rings around Uranus

© NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI The James Webb

James Webb telescope discovers ancient ‘water world’

Showcasing the incredible world we live in

SCIENTISTS DISCOVER 62 NEW MOONS AROUND SATURN

An illustration of Saturn and some of its

Energy of “25 billion atomic bombs” trapped on Earth in 50 years

Global warming has trapped an explosive amount of

Turtle species doomed to extinction after last female found dead

A female Yangtze giant softshell turtle at Suzhou

1ST-CENTURY BURIAL HOLDS MEDICAL TOOLS OF A ROMAN DOCTOR

Archaeologists think the physician may have been travelling

Blinking fish could hold secrets of our evolution

The bulbous-eyed mudskipper could offer key clues about

MAINE SEES ITS 1ST MEASLES CASE IN FOUR YEARS

Maine recently reported a potential measles case in

China rover may have found evidence of recent water on Mars

M ars may have had liquid water on its

Never-before-seen viruses discovered in the oceans

Mirusviruses regulate the activity of plankton and contribute

Non-sugar sweeteners don’t help with weight loss

Non-sugar sweeteners (NSS) shouldn’t be used to reduce

ASTRONOMERS FIND REMNANTS OF THE OLDEST STARS IN THE UNIVERSE

Astronomers may have found the remnants of some

“Truly gigantic” Jurassic sea monster discovered by chance in museum

An artist’s illustration of the pliosaur, an ancient

Why do silverback gorillas have silver backs?

Did you know? Silverbacks live for about 35

DID SIR WALTER RALEIGH INTRODUCE POTATOES AND TOBACCO TO EUROPE?

This myth, along with many others associated with

IS IT TRUE THAT THE GREEK HERO ACHILLES WAS KILLED BY AN ARROW TO HIS HEEL?

This is ‘true’ in the same sense that

WHY IS THE MOON SOMETIMES VISIBLE DURING THE DAY?

This all depends on where the Moon is

What’s the difference between a wasp and a hornet?

© Alamy / Getty There are many different

HOW DO PALAEONTOLOGISTS DETERMINE WHICH PERIOD A DINOSAUR BELONGED TO?

As dinosaurs and other fossils don’t come with

Is it true that Mary, Queen of Scots, ordered for Queen Elizabeth I to be assassinated?

Mary was certainly accused of sanctioning the attempted

IF I FIRE MY LASER PEN INTO THE SKY, HOW FAR WILL THE BEAM TRAVEL?

It all depends on the power of the

WHEN IS RUTTING SEASON AND HOW LONG DOES IT LAST FOR?

The rut is the name of the mating

WHY DO AARDVARKS EAT ANTS?

Ants and termites often live in large numbers

What are geodes?

Geodes are cavities in rocks that are filled

Who would win between a Spinosaurus and a T. rex?

Without a time machine we can only make

WAS THERE REALLY A PREHISTORIC ALLIGATOR THAT WAS FIVE TIMES THE SIZE OF THOSE ALIVE TODAY?

Deinosuchus is a large alligatoroid from the Late

WHICH BIRD MIGRATES THE FURTHEST?

The longest regular migratory flight is made by

HOW DID THE FIRST PHONE CALL WORK?

Alexander Graham Bell’s big breakthrough came on 10

WHAT IS PLASMA?

Plasma can actually mean two different things in

Why are moths attracted to light?

© Alamy / Getty Nobody really knows for

THE LIBRARY

The latest book releases for curious minds

Spot the difference

See if you can find all six changes between the images below 

HOW TO MAKE A CAVE

Create your own cave model using sugar to see how Earth’s underground spaces form

INBOX

Speak your mind

FAST FACTS

Amazing trivia that will blow your mind

10 INCOMING ASTEROIDS

Discover the near-future encounters Earth will have with passing asteroids – some more hazardous than others

MASSIVE MOON CRATER

How Tycho, our Moon’s most prominent crater, formed

HOUSEHOLD MINIBEASTS

Meet the creepy critters and pesky pests that find a home in your house

WHY GLITTER IS SO BAD FOR THE PLANET

How this microplastic wreaks havoc on our bodies and the environment

TEN SECRET NDERGROUND WORLDS

Delve deep into Earth’s rock, salt, seas and ice to discover hidden subsurface wonders

WHAT ARE HORSE HOOVES FOR?

These hard, living structures keep horses alive and running

SECRETS OF THE MARY ROSE

This famed Tudor ship was Henry VIII’s pet project, but why did his fleet’s flagship sink suddenly in the Solent?

HOW SUNDIALS TELL TIME

These ancient time-keeping devices keep track of Earth’s movements around the Sun

ISAAC NEWTON

The pioneering physicist that got to grips with gravity and set the world in motion

HOW TO TA KE OFF VERTICALLY

These aircraft have ditched the runway and can shoot straight up into the sky

BOMB SUITS EXPLAINED

How this bulky armour defends bomb disposal technicians from searing heat, violent explosions and flying fragments

HOW LOUDSPEAKERS MAKE SOUND

This box of electromagnets transforms electrical currents into sound waves

INSIDE A FIRE EXTINGUISHER

These portable devices eliminate small fires before they rage out of control

SCUBA DIVING SCIENCE

Deep dive into the physics, physiology and equipment of this popular sport

HOW CPR SAVES LIVES

Repeated chest compressions and electric shock can be enough to kickstart a heart

HOW DO GASTRIC BANDS WORK?

In this weight-loss procedure, surgeons tighten the stomach with a ring

WHAT ARE TEARS MADE OF?

The psychology behind crying and why our eyes water