BBC_Science_Focus_-_08.2019

Eye opener p6

AI-DA DRAWING
Watch Ai-Da the robotic artist at work as she
draws a portrait using her mechanical arm.
She’s able to draw people from sight, using AI
algorithms to convert what she sees into an
abstract style that’s inspired by
Expressionism and Cubism.
bit.ly/ai_art

Reality check p28

THE DANGERS OF PLASTIC IN OUR
OCEANS
Dr Lucy Quinn from the British Antarctic
Survey looks at the plastic ingested by an
albatross in this clip fromBlue Planet II.
bit.ly/plastic_albatross

IS THERE SUCH A THING AS A SAFE TAN?
Michael Mosley asks dermatologists Dr
Richard Weller and Prof Charloe Proby how
much Sun exposure is too much.
bit.ly/safe_tan

Practising for

the Moonp36

LUNAR LANDING RESEARCH VEHICLE
TEST FLIGHT
In this vintage NASA clip, Neil Armstrong
carries out a trainingight of the Lunar
Landing Research Vehicle (LLRV) shortly
before heading to the Moon. This basic aircra
was designed to simulate the feel of a vertical
take-oand landing in low gravity.
bit.ly/apollo_training

Space exploration:

the next 50 yearsp44

8 DAYS: TO THE MOON & BACK

BBC TWO, CHECKRADIOTIMES.COMFOR DE TAIL S

This feature-length drama documentary

takes viewers into the heart of the Apollo 11

mission to the Moon, using declassified

cockpit audio and digital trickery to bring the

monumental journey to life.

STARGAZING: MOON LANDING SPECIAL

BBC TWO, CHECKRADIOTIMES.COMFOR DE TAIL S

Prof Brian Cox and Dara O Briain travel to

Cape Canaveral in Florida. They hear

first-hand from astronaut General Charlie

Duke what it was like to guide Neil Armstrong

and Buzz Aldrin to the surface of the Moon.

James Lovelock

interviewp56

GAIA: A NEW LOOK AT LIFE ON EARTH

BY JAMES LOVELOCK

(£8.99, OXFORD UNIVERSITY PRESS)

In this seminal work, Lovelock puts forward

the idea that he’s best known for today – that

the Earth functions as a single, self-regulating

organism. Wrien for non-scientists,

Lovelock explains Gaia theory with

characteristic simplicity and clarity.

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SQUEEZE EXTRA JUICE OUT OF THE TOPICS IN THIS ISSUE OF

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RADAR

How to argue

with a Moon

landing denier p64

MOON BASE CLAVIUS

This organisation of amateur and professional

space enthusiasts was set up to debunk the

conspiracy theory that the Moon landings

were hoaxes. Their site contains analysis of

photos and comprehensive responses to all of

the conspiracy theorists’ main arguments.

clavius.org

SUSPICIOUS MINDS: WHY WE BELIEVE

CONSPIRACY THEORIES

BY ROB BROTHERTON

(£9.99, BLOOMSBURY SIGMA)

For a broader look at how conspiracy theories

come about in the first place, this fascinating

book by psychologist Dr Rob Brotherton is a

good place to start. He explores the long

history of conspiracy theories, and delves into

the reasons why so many of us are drawn to

ideas that make lile logical sense.

A scientist’s

guide to life p98

WHY BOREDOM IS GOOD FOR YOU

This short film by BBC Reel, narrated by

psychologist Dr Sandi Mann, explains some of

the surprising benefits of boredom.

bit.ly/boredom_good

HOW BOREDOM CAN LEAD TO YOUR

MOST BRILLIANT IDEAS

Always have your best ideas while standing in

the shower? In this TED talk, journalist, author

and podcaster Manoush Zomorodi explores

the connection between spacing out and

creativity. She also wroteBored And Brilliant.

bit.ly/bored_brilliant