BBC Knowledge June 2017

What if you were

the last person alive?

Movie makers and authors continue to spend a lot of time and money

on imagining a world when mankind has left the building, but we have

the scientific version this issue. And it’s fascinating...

To push the scenario along, but in a more fun way, we also have an

engaging feature on Mars, and how the portrayal of the Red Planet

over the years has mirrored the state of the world

Away from gloom and doom, we’re loving our portfolio of cool

photographs of flamingos; they make such a dramatic contrast

to almost-colourless landscapes. Viruses come in for rare approbation

too, with an analysis of how they play a part in keeping us alive.

On our history menu is a captivating profile of BT Barnum, aptly

nicknamed the Great Pretender, while our Great Indian Authors series

serves up the powerhouse that was Mahasweta Devi.

But, if the thought of life as we know it ending freaks you out, despite

all our attempts to distract you, here are two happy thoughts:

One, there are seven new exoplanets to plan trips to, a la Elon Musk,

and two, if you don’t sharpen your brain with our easy tips, you may

not even realise when the world is ending.

Happy planning either way! Knowledgemagazineindia

KnowledgeMagInd

KnowledgeMagIND

Download this current issue from

http://www.zinio.com • http://www.magzter.com

• http://www.reliancejio.com

Has something you’ve read in

BBC Knowledge intrigued or excited you?

Write in and share it with us. We’d love to

hear from you and we’ll publish a selection

of your comments in the forthcoming issues.

Email us at: [email protected]

We welcome your letters, while reserving

the right to edit them for length and clarity.

By sending us your letter, you permit us to

publish it in the magazine. We regret that

we cannot always reply personally to letters.

Primrose Monteiro-D’Souza

Editor & Chief Community Officer,

BBC Knowledge

SEND US YOUR

LETTERS

editor

From the

EXPERTS THIS ISSUE

Kat Arney is a freelance science writer,

speaker and broadcaster. She co-hosts

BBC’s podcast and radio programme

The Naked Science Show, and hosts

the BBC Radio 5 Live Science Show.

In this issue, she explains how infection-

causing viruses have played a pivotal

role in the evolution of humans.

Eric Rabkin is a teacher with the

University of Michigan’s Department

of English and has authored several

books on science fiction and writing.

In this issue, he shows how depictions

of Mars in literature and film often reflect

the political scenario on Earth.

Duncan Geere is a Sweden-based

science, technology, and culture

journalist, and is currently the editor

of How We Get To Next. In this issue,

he ponders upon life after our species

cease to exist.

Padma Shri Urvashi Bhutalia is

a prominent Indian author and publisher,

In this issue, she profiles feminist

powerhouse Mahasweta Devi.

June 2017 2