BBC Science Focus Magazine

With 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.

FROM THE EDITOR

ON THE BBC THIS MONTH…

CONTRIBUTORS

THE BEST SCIENCE MAGES OF 2025 • Over the course of 2025, there was no shortage of mind-blowing images that helped us visualise scientific progress. From awe-inspiring cosmic explosions to a ray of hope for a struggling species, we've curated the most awe-inspiring images of the last 12 months. Here's our selection of the best, and what they taught us…

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BBC Science Focus Magazine

DISCOVERIES

First signs of dark matter spotted, study claims • A mysterious glow surrounding the Milky Way could be the fingerprints of the Universe's most enigmatic material

3,000-year-old map of the Universe discovered at ancient Maya site • Thousands of willing people are thought to have helped create a structure used for communal astronomical observations

Japanese people aren't having sex. And nobody knows why • Around 1 in 10 Japanese people reach their 30s without ever having had sex

A new treatment could wipe out high cholesterol • The one-off therapy could be our greatest weapon in the fight against heart disease

Magnet-powered microrobots could soon swim through your bloodstream • They're steered using magnets, like tiny remote-controlled bubbles zooming through your bloodstream

Forever chemicals are altering the DNA of unhatched ducklings • Regulation is needed to prevent PFAS being ingested by female ducks and then passed on to their eggs

Men need to exercise twice as long as women, major heart study suggests • Keeping moving is the best way to stave off the world's biggest killer

Aliens may be too lazy to make first contact • Space is big, so aliens may be kicking back, relaxing and waiting for us to come to them

Modern men are in crisis. Just not the one you think • Are gender-equality gains coming at men's expense, as some claim? The statistics tell a more complex story…

The link between air pollution and dementia just got stronger • Recent studies are bolstering the idea that air pollution could increase your chances of developing dementia. But there are steps you can take to reduce your risk

The truth about antidepressant withdrawal • One in eight people in the US take an antidepressant. Stopping this medication can be hard, but researchers can't agree on the risks

FORGET COUNTING CALORIES TRY THIS INSTEAD… • Calorie counting isn't just difficult, it's riddled with problem that make it practically useless for anyone trying to lose weight. But there are alternatives

A BETTER WAY TO GO: HOW TO HAVE A GREENER DEATH • Modern funeral arrangements are trashing the planet. But there are better ways to dispose of your body

SIGNS OF LIFE • The more planets we find outside our Solar System, the better our chances are of finding life on one of them. But if there really is life out there, how do we spot it?

100 DAYS OF WEIGHT LOSS • Newcomer to fighting the flab? Drop the quick-fixes at the gym, destined to backfire. Here are six strategies for your first three months, proven to deliver lasting results

It's TIME to WAKE UP and SMELL the ROSES • What if the pursuit of happiness in the traditional sense – chasing wealth or power – is the very thing stopping you from being happy? Researchers are beginning to...