Indholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2022 i BBC Science Focus Magazine

On my phone is a slightly blurry photo of a distant, unnamed galaxy. It’s a little white smudge with spiral arms like sheep’s wool fluff – one galaxy among thousands of others in the James Webb Space Telescope’s (JWST) new breathtakingly detailed image of the distant cosmos – and I can’t stop staring at it. There is nothing especially remarkable about this little white swirl; it’s not the largest or sharpest or most perfectly rendered or in any way most interesting galaxy in the image. But before JWST, no human had ever really seen it. I am seeing it now, fully and completely, and it is beautiful. JWST is going to show us a lot of things we’ve never seen before. The selection of images (and one spectrum) in the…

YOUR ALGORITHM SUCCESSFULLY PREDICTED CRIME IN US CITIES A WEEK BEFORE THEY HAPPENED. HOW DID YOU BUILD THE ALGORITHM? The city of Chicago and the seven other cities that we looked at have started putting out crime event logs in the public domain. In Chicago, these are actually updated daily with a week’s delay. These event logs contain information about what happened, what type of crime it was, where it happened, the latitude, longitude, and a timestamp. In Chicago, we also have information about if there were any arrests made when there were interactions with the police officers. So we start with this event log and then digitise the city into small areas of about two blocks by two blocks – about 1,000 feet [300 metres] across. And in one…

Tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat V3+ £119, tado.com Controlling your heating centrally with a smart thermostat is a good start, but Tado°’s Smart Radiator Controller takes things a step further. Powered by two AA batteries, it replaces the manual temperature controller on your radiator. Once fitted, each smart controller connects to your Wi-Fi network so you can operate your radiators via an app, or a smart home system such as Google Home, Amazon Alexa or Apple HomeKit. Not only does this make it easier to reduce your home’s energy demands by turning down the heat in rooms that aren’t being occupied, but by knowing the location of your smartphone, the Tado° Smart Radiator Thermostat can automatically raise the temperature as you make your way home after being out. It’s also easy…

BALANCING ACT AH-SHI-SLE-PAH WILDERNESS, NEW MEXICO, USA “The Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness can feel like an alien planet, with its strange shapes, colours and lack of vegetation, ” says Stan Allison, of the Bureau of Land Management Farmington Field Office. The hoodoos – irregular columns of rock – dotted around the landscape also help create that otherworldly quality. Hoodoos are a lesson in differential erosion: the stronger sandstone resists the erosion that acts on the softer surrounding rock to create spires and precariously balanced capstones. Elsewhere, the ground is so soft that rain cuts vertical sinkholes into hills, carving mazes of ravines and gullies. The Ah-Shi-Sle-Pah Wilderness is also home to fossilised turtles and crocodiles – a lurking reminder that the parched desert was a humid swamp only 75 million years ago.…

1. THE FLASH’S ROPE TRICK In a 1960s comic book, superhero the Flash visits an alternative world. He does so by performing his own version of the Indian rope trick, which sees a person climb a length of rope and disappear. To perform the trick, he vibrates his hands at super-speed, which causes the rope to rise into the air. He then climbs up the rope and phases into a different universe. Maybe string theory is founded on vibrating ropes in the DC Universe? 2. LEGION KILLING HIS DAD The X-Men’s mentor Professor X has a contentious relationship with his son David Haller, known as Legion. In a 1995 story, Legion travels back in time to kill his father’s nemesis Magneto, but accidentally murders Professor X. This leads to a…

WHERE DO WILDFIRES OCCUR? Wildfires have occurred on our planet ever since terrestrial plants started appearing over 400 million years ago, in the period of Earth’s history known as the Silurian. While certain regions are well known for them, such as Australia, Greece, the Amazon and the western USA, they actually take place on most areas of land around the globe. Wildfires can even occur in some of the most unexpected places, such as the Arctic Circle, where so-called ‘zombie fires’ can burn peat and permafrost under the ice, persisting throughout the cold seasons. The more well-known events, such as the devastating fires in Turkey last summer, are generally associated with the fast burning of large areas of forests. These can be clearly seen as smoke plumes from a distance,…

The prequel to Game Of Thrones, House Of The Dragon, tells the story of House Targaryen, masters of that most fantastical of creatures: giant, fire-breathing dragons. But are dragons really as outlandish as they seem? Surely no animal could grow so large and fly, or evolve the ability to spit fire? Henry Gee, evolutionary biologist and author of A (Very) Short History Of Life On Earth, says the idea is “not quite as daft as you might think”. He cites the bombardier beetle as an example. “It synthesises a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and hydroquinone, ” he says. “When the beetle is threatened, it puts the mix into a combustion chamber, and enzymes provoke the chemicals to react, producing a toxic substance called benzoquinone. It then squirts this boiling-hot liquid…

Microscopic mites that live inside the pores of your skin are using the oils you produce to fuel their ‘all-night’ mating sessions – and that’s actually a good thing. Once blamed for conditions like acne, rosacea and itchy scalps, these late-night lovers might actually be keeping our pores unblocked and free of the oils that contribute to skin problems. In fact, as the tiny mites do us more good than harm, they could be considered as much a part of our daily lives as the bacteria living in our gut. Now, though, research from Bangor University and the University of Reading suggests that the tiny Demodex folliculorum mites might be under threat. This first-ever study of the mites’ DNA has revealed that their ancient relationship with humans has contributed to…

YEARS TO GO 25 The world’s first true smart contact lens has been tested on its first human. The prototype Mojo Lens overlays a digital microLED display onto everyday vision and is powered by a tiny battery. 20 Sick of standing in front of the departures screen at the airport, searching for your flight information? Technology being trialled in Detroit Metro Airport uses facial recognition to show personalised travel information onscreen for up to 100 passengers at the same time. The screen relies on a new kind of pixel that can project light of different colours in different directions. This means it can provide separate images to people viewing the same screen from distinct angles. An implantable device could replace addictive painrelieving drugs. It wraps around nerves to block pain…

DJI’s new Mini 3 Pro drone can fly at speeds of 56km/h (35mph), reach heights of up to 500m (1,640 feet) and distances of around 24km (15 miles). These are some daunting specs for someone like me who has never touched a drone before, and yet DJI promises the Mini 3 Pro delivers an experience that even a complete beginner can enjoy. In many ways, DJI has tried to develop a Jack-of-all-trades drone – one that’s simple enough for a novice pilot to quickly learn to fly, but that also packs in a Pandora’s box of advanced features for more experienced users. But in a Venn diagram with drone newbies on one side and expert aerial photographers on the other, does the DJI Mini 3 Pro sit snugly in the…

...smart boots that keep your feet safe Hiking boots, for the most part, all roughly follow the same rugged formula, leaving innovation to one side in favour of tried-and-tested durable construction. However, these new boots are looking to spice things up, or at least add as much spice as you can when it comes to hiking! Terrein hiking boots make it nearly impossible to roll your ankles, saving you from the sprains or injuries you can get from walking on a bumpy path. They do this with pistons that stabilise your foot when you start to slip, preventing a twist or tear in the joint. Terrein Boots £170, terrein-footwear.com ...super-powered solar panels Whether you’re living off-grid or preparing for an apocalypse, a good solar energy setup is a great investment.…

You might have noticed, if you’ve set foot in a cinema this year, that Hollywood has fallen in love with the multiverse. From Marvel to DC to Disney, alternate universes, realities and timelines are being written into scripts to wow audiences and make life a bit easier when A-list celebrities tire of yanking on the latex. It’s not just the big studios that are at it. The sublimely joyful indie film Everything Everywhere All At Once asks and answers, ‘why, if everything is happening everywhere and all at once, should any of it matter?’ Likewise, Rick And Morty, Dark and Man In The High Castle use the idea of alternate universes as a kind of funhouse mirror to ponder (sometimes) serious questions about our own Universe. And it’s fair to…

DELPHINUS THE DOLPHIN WHEN: LATE JULY TO AUGUST There are many creatures depicted in the night sky. Some, such as Scorpius the Scorpion or Cygnus the Swan, do, with a bit of imagination, look like the thing they’re supposed to represent. Others, such as Delphinus the Dolphin, require more work. Delphinus is a small constellation of summer, located to the left (east) and slightly north of the summer star Altair, the brightest in the constellation of Aquila the Eagle. Altair is easily identified thanks to the two dimmer, but still bright, stars that sit either side of it; Tarazed and Alshain. The best way to describe how Delphinus appears to the naked eye, is as a small diamond pattern with a tail. The diamond pattern is also an asterism (an…

WHY DOES IT FEEL SO GOOD TO SET THE WORLD TO RIGHTS WITH A FRIEND? When you have a good old chinwag with a friend about the problems of the world and how to solve them, the experience is psychologically satisfying on many levels. For starters, as we’re all too aware from these last few years, global events such as pandemics and wars can be incredibly anxiety-provoking. When you spend time discussing potential solutions, you are, in a sense, giving and receiving emotional support. This can be both comforting and cathartic – even if it’s all hypothetical. Moreover, if you have this chat with a close friend and you find yourselves in agreement about how to fix the world, the experience will also serve to strengthen your relationship. In a…

ACROSS 7 Maid managed, with time, to confess (5) 9 New respect for spirit (7) 10 Delayed getting daughter associated (7) 11 Fast to get under the influence (5) 12 Vision makes the old turn fuel off(6) 13 Punctual cue (6) 16 Vegetable new to land (6) 17 Point – something to aim at for Victor (6) 19 Supercharger includes somewhere to sit (5) 21 Runaway gets free movement, holding universal keys (7) 22 Steady income for dairy farmer? (4,3) 23 Elgar doesn’t start changing DOWN 1 British lad shook head to show lack of cover (8) 2 View of arrogance (8) 3 Whisper to a team (5) 4 Wager has a pulse (4) 5 Theatrical chap gets a lively fellow to change gear (5,7) 6 Partially invested in underwear…

After reading your article on women and physics (June, p42), I kept thinking about my own experience. My physics teacher was a woman, and she inspired me to study physics at Nottingham University. After becoming an engineer, I began to realise I was working in a man’s world. The only other women I met at work were secretaries, or worked in the typing pool. Once my younger child was in junior school, I retrained as a teacher and started working at a local comprehensive, where I hoped to inspire my pupils to study physics. For the 12 years I worked there, I was the only female physics teacher. I was promoted to head of science and longed to appoint another female physics teacher, but it was difficult to find any…

Women who work on scientific projects are 13 per cent less likely to be named as authors in research papers, a study carried out by researchers at New York University and Ohio State University has found. The team used data taken from the UMETRICS project that was compiled by the Institute for Research on Innovation and Science. It contains information on more than 125,000 researchers who worked on almost 10,000 projects between 2013 and 2016. They found that the gender gap was present at every level, but it was particularly evident for researchers in the early stages of their careers. Just 15 per cent of female grad students were attributed as authors of projects they worked on, compared to 21 per cent of male students. The effect was seen across…

German and Egyptian researchers have uncovered paintings and inscriptions on the walls and ceilings of the Temple of Khnum at Esna, near Luxor in Egypt. The images, which feature depictions of several deities, were covered in dirt and soot for almost 2,000 years, which has helped to preserve them in immaculate detail. “Temples and ancient depictions of the gods were often painted in brilliant colours, but these have usually faded or even disappeared totally as a result of external influences, ” said lead researcher Prof Christian Leitz, of the University of Tubingen, Germany. “For the first time we can see all the decorative elements in relation to one another.” After beginning work in 2018, the researchers have now cleaned half of the temple’s ceilings and eight of its 18 columns.…

On a gloriously sunny day I found myself once again in the garden doing something l love – making art. I make cyanotypes, which involves using photosensitive chemicals to create images with stencils and the Sun. It’s like painting with sunlight and shadows. It was the original process used for copying certain kinds of sketches, and it is because it creates strikingly blue images that we call designs or plans ‘blueprints’. My pleasure from creating the images is partly due to a sense of accomplishment and mastery, but also from the images themselves. In making my own works and also looking at the various pieces that I’ve collected from local art fairs over the years, I have found myself wondering how we derive pleasure from art. I went looking for…

The use of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) as a treatment for severe mental health problems, including intractable depression, has come under renewed scrutiny. Sometimes referred to disparagingly as ‘shock therapy’, ECT involves passing an electric current through the brain to deliberately induce a brief seizure. The fresh concerns follow a series of recent newspaper reports based on an NHS audit that showed the continued widespread use of the practice in England. The Independent ran a story that said, “Thousands of women given ‘dangerous’ electric shocks as mental health treatment in England”, which also featured an interview with a woman who’d received ECT and said it had badly affected her memory. The Observer ran the headline, “Brain damage claim leads to new row over electroshock therapy”. The NHS England data that fuelled…

FOR DAREDEVIL PILOTS... DJI FPV £1,2 49, dij.com While the DJI Mini 3 Pro is lightweight and speedy, it isn’t the fastest or most nimble drone out there. First person view (FPV) drones use headsets so the pilot can see what the drone sees. With the DJI FPV (below), you can perform loops, dives, sharp turns and generally move about in a way you can’t with other drones. While flying the thing takes a higher level of skill, the result is impressive, with the drone capable of darting around obstacles. FOR PILOTS ON A BUDGET... RYZE TELLO £99, ryzerobotics.com If you just want an affordable starter drone, the Ryze Tello is a great choice. It only costs £99 and weighs just 80g. It can only fly for 13 minutes, and…

String theory is a suggestion put forward by physicists to connect quantum mechanics and General Relativity, which are the best descriptions we have of the infinitesimally small and incomprehensibly large. The underlying idea of string theory is that fundamental particles like quarks and electrons are actually a single point in one-dimensional strings, vibrating at different frequencies. This ‘string-landscape’ provides a popular setting for the multiverse, thanks to one of the key elements upon which string theory depends. In order to be mathematically sound, string theory needs ‘extra dimensions’ to exist. These aren’t parallel dimensions like we see in science fiction. Instead, string theorists believe these extra dimensions are curled up within the three traditional dimensions of space. They remain invisible to us, as we evolved only to see in three…

SARA BJELANOVIC, AGE 14, LONDON WHY DOES WRITING MY OWN NOTES HELP ME LEARN THINGS? DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE IF I WRITE OR TYPE? In his book, Why Don’t Students Like School? psychologist Prof Daniel Willingham says that “memory is the residue of thought”. We remember the things we think about, not necessarily the things we are told. When you write notes in your own words, you force yourself to reframe someone else’s ideas into a form that you can concisely express on paper. This mental effort increases the chance of this information being transferred to your long-term memory later. Many studies have found that handwritten notes, particularly those with arrows, diagrams and margin doodles, improve information retention. Typing is quicker, but it is too repetitive and mechanical to…