BBC Science Focus - 03.2020

06 EYEOPENER

Incredible scientific images

from around the world.

10 CONVERSATION

Your letters, emails, texts

and tweets.

15 DISCOVERIES

Allthe month’s biggest

science news. In this issue:

how our microbiome could

have allowed our species to

spread; the feasibility of

building a bridge between

Scotland and Ireland;

new research on the

cause of migraines;

cuttlefish cognition.

32 REALITY CHECK

The science behind the

headlines. This month:

Are compostable plastics

any good? Is Betelgeuse

about to go supernova?

What’s the deal with the

Huawei 5G controversy?

CONTENTS

40 INNOVATIONS

The latest tech news and

gadgetry.

67 ALEKS KROTOSKI

Meeting someone new?

Be brave, anddon’tstalk

them online first.

68 MICHAEL MOSLEY

Whylots of health

testing could lead to

needless worry.

89 Q & A

Our experts answer your

questions. This month:

Why are some people

more squeamish than

others? Is dog food safe to

eat? How many bananas

would I need to eat to

become radioactive?

98 RADAR

Your guide to upcoming

TV, exhibitions and radio.

104 NEXT MONTH

A sneak peek at

what’s in next month’s

BBC Science Focus.

104 CROSSWORD

Our tricky cryptic

crossword.

106 A SCIENTIST’S

GUIDE TO LIFE

Get the lowdown on ‘that

time of the month’.

REGULARS

38

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48

OH,OOBEE DOO

I WANNA BE LIKE POO

It turns out that disguising yourself as a smear of

excrement is a pretty cunning way to hide.

20 34

DISCOVERIES REALITY CHECK

Cuttlefisheat less for lunch when

they know their favourite food is

on the menu for dinner.

Betelgeusehas changed shape

and brightness. Is this supergiant

about to go supernova?