CONTENTS

ON THE COVER

36 BLACK HOLE FEEDING FRENZY The black hole at the centre of the Milky Way is about to consume a giant gas cloud. What will happen next?

45 FAKE IT ON FACEBOOK The science of winning friends and influencing people using social networks

52 SPECIAL REPORT THE FUTURE OF FOOD Lab-grown meat, insect burgers, GM spuds and algae energy bars: take a look at the food you will be eating in the future

36

BLACK HOLE FEEDING FRENZY

61 Q&A Mind-bending answers to your science questions from our team of experts

B O Y D E N

I N

, R O B

I D D E R

WA, E

, B B C

I S

, C O R B

I O

S T U D

S E C R E T

, T H E

I C T O R C H

: M A G

P H O T O

74 INSIDE YOUR MIND The most detailed map of our brains is providing an insight into how we think

95 ALICE ROBERTS In her new show Ice Age Giants, Alice heads back into prehistory to uncover the truth behind the sabre-toothed tiger’s famous fangs

32

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Focus (ISSN 0966-4270) is published 13 times a year by Immediate Media Company Bristol, 9th Floor, Tower House, Fairfax Street, Bristol BS1 3BN, UK. Distributed in the US by Evergreen Marketing, 116 Ram Cat Alley, Suite 201, Seneca, SC 296783263. Application to mail at Periodicals Postage prices pending at Seneca, SC and additional mailing of ces. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Focus, PO Box 669, Selmer, TN 38375-0669.

4 / FOCUS / JUNE 2013