CONTENTS

REGULARS

06 EYE OPENER

The best science images from around the world.

12 FEEDBACK

A selection of the physical and electronic mail that has arrived this month.

15 DISCOVERIES

All the month’s biggest news, including: Hearing aids reduce the risk of death by almost 25 per cent; Photosynthesis without plants could make life on Mars possible; Daytime fatigue sleep disorder could be affecting millions; Genius dogs know tens of toys by name; and more…

26 PROF STEPHON

ALEXANDER A journey from superconductivity to jazz improvisation highlights the unexpected possibilities of interdisciplinary science exploration.

46 SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

Get 3 i s sues f or £5 and have ever y i s sue deli vered to your door when you subscribe to BBC Science Focus.

28 VICTORIA GILL

Amid today’s eco-anxiety, inspiring discoveries are continuously being made, such as ‘ floating fuel factories’ based on a r t i f ic i a l le ave s .

30 PROF GILES YEO

Your ‘desser t stomach’ is an evolutionary holdover f rom your ances tor s ’ day s on the Serengeti.

32 REALITY CHECK

The science behind the headlines: The COVID inquiry – what did we le a rn? ; Dengue f ever – a possible solution; Dream tech – a headband to induce lucid dreaming.

39 INNOVATIONS

The hottest trends shaking up the tech world.

78 Q & A

Our experts answer your questions. This month: Is the Moon shrinking?; Why do cats wiggle before they pounce? Why is the pink lake in Australia pink? And more…

89 CROSSWORD

Engage your grey matter!

89 NEXT MONTH

A sneak peek at the ne x t i s sue.

90 BETTER LIVING

THROUGH SCIENCE Dry January is a good star t . But there’s a reason why a drier February to December would be better for everyone’s health.

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15

DISCOVERIES

32

REALITY CHECK

Hearing aids could help you live a longer and fuller life, according to recen t re s ea rch.

The COVID Inquiry: What did we learn about the UK’s response to the pandemic?

78 Q&A