CONTENTS

REGULARS

06 EYE OPENER

Fascinating images from around the world.

36 INNOVATIONS

The latest tech and gadgets news.

12 CONVERSATION

See what’s landed in our inbox this month.

15 DISCOVERIES

This month’s science news: why small pieces of space junk cause the most problems; cyanide may have played a key role in life on Earth; chimps treat each other’s wounds with insects; why we’re one step closer to fusion energy; cutting-edge projects to treat heart failure, and more.

30 REALITY CHECK

The science behind the headlines: Why is the ISS being retired and what will happen to it? Is the air on the London Underground filled with dangerous particulates? Why can’t renewable sources keep energy prices down?

63 MICHAEL MOSLEY

Living with a par tner? You may be more similar to them than you think...

64 ALEKS KROTOSKI

Swear by chicken soup to cure a cold? Be careful, because seemingly innocuous old wives’ tales and folk cures can have a darker side.

79 Q& A

Our experts answer this month’s tricky questions. Do dogs get tired wagging their tails? What is parosmia? Why does cold pizza taste so good? Why do we get bored? What is watermelon snow? How did dinosaurs sleep? How do you read binary numbers? How does wireless charging work?

42 SUBSCRIBE TODAY!

88 CROSSWORD

Give your brain a tough workout with our cryptic crossword.

Save 50% on the shop price when you take out a subscription to BBC Science Focus today!

88 NEXT MONTH

See what’s coming up in the next issue of BBC Science Focus.

90 POPCORN SCIENCE

Sonic The Hedgehog 2 is out soon. But is it really possible for a spiky blue mammal to run at the speed of sound?

4

15

DISCOVERIES

30

REALITY CHECK

We need to start worrying about tiny particles of space junk, rather than the big rocket fragments.

The ISS is being retired. What will happen to the iconic space s tation, and why can’t we just leave it there?

79 Q&A