BBCFocus - December 2014 {bk}.pdf

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THEY’VE MADE A REAL THINKING CAP!
Can this gadget boost your brainpower and is it safe?
The world’s
worst smells
Chemistry of pongs
S.A.D. season
Seasonal Aective
Disorder re-examined
Alien contact
Scientists decode
mystery signals
sciencefocus.com
ISSUE 275 / DECEMBER 2014 / £4.25
MISSION TO THE
CENTRE OF
THE EARTH
Plans to drill deeper than ever will
uncover clues to our planet’s past and
reveal new forms of life
LIGHT: IS IT WAVES
OR PARTICLES?
How we discovered nature’s
most incredible phenomenon
Q&A
Do we use all of our genes?
Can you hear a meteor?
Are there colours we can’t see?
TABLETS
ON TEST
We reveal which
you should buy
WELCOME
JULES VERNE’S NOVEL
A Journey To The Centre Of
The Earth
was published 150 years ago this month.
You’re perhaps more familiar with the film adaptations,
depicting underground caverns, dinosaurs and, er,
giant mushrooms. In reality we’ve never come close
to visiting the Earth’s core. But now scientists have
ambitious plans to drill through the Earth’s crust and
beyond. Jheni Osman investigates on p41.
One of the oldest science fiction dreams is, of
course, contact with alien civilisations. I never thought
it would happen in my lifetime. But now? An odd signal might – just might – be
the first evidence of ET making contact. Hazel Muir turns detective on p51.
Moving from old ideas to brand new ones: today we know more about the
brain than ever. This has led some to believe we could design a ‘thinking cap’
to enhance our brain power. But is it just wishful thinking? Christian Jarrett
finds out on p99. We also take a look at the new science behind seasonal
affective disorder on p57, turn up our noses at the world’s worst smells
(p48) and check out a gadget that turns cars into driverless vehicles (p105).
And as it’s that time of year, we’ve compiled a list of must-buy gadgets (p110)
and books (p129) to satisfy the science lovers in your family. Enjoy!
FOCUS DIGITAL
Available for Android iOS Kindle Fire
Kindle e-reader
THIS MONTH WE…
…drove the new
1.0-litre Ford Fiesta
Red/Black
– the most
powerful production car
ever made with that size
of engine. Visit our
YouTube channel to
watch it in action.
…gathered stinky
foods
such as Vieux
Boulogne cheese and
surströmming in
preparation for a
Focus
video on the smelliest
things in the world. Turn to
p48 to read the article.
…spoke to Andreas
Wagner,
author of
Arrival Of The Fittest,
on
his new theory of
evolution and what’s
wrong with Charles
Darwin. Listen to
Andreas on the podcast.
Graham Southorn,
Editor
PS
Don’t miss our January
issue,
on sale
11 December 2014
CONTACTS
ADVERTISING
steve.grigg@immediate.co.uk
0117 314 8365
EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES
editorialenquiries@sciencefocus.com
0117 314 7388
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THE ALL-NEW
BIG BOOK OF
ANSWERS
Our new special issue is
crammed with answers
to all your questions.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
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LETTERS
FOR PUBLICATION
reply@sciencefocus.com
OTHER CONTACTS
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APPEARING IN THIS ISSUE…
Jheni
Osman
Focus’s
previous editor
is an accomplished
writer and broadcaster.
This month she looks at how deep into
the Earth we have drilled. Her latest
book is
The World’s Great Wonders.
Mun Keat
Looi
Mun Keat is a science
writer, a senior editor
at the Wellcome Trust
and co-author of
The Big Questions In
Science.
In this issue he tackles a hot
issue - Australian bushres.
Hazel
Muir
Hazel contributes to
BBC Sky At Night
and
New Scientist.
She is
also the author of
Eureka!
and
Science
In Seconds.
She asks whether aliens
are trying to make contact on p51.
Christian
Jarrett
Christian is one of
Britain’s best-known
psychology writers. His
most recent book is
Great Myths Of The
Brain.
On p99 he asks whether a cap
could boost your brain power.
COVER: MAGICTORCH
WANT TO
SUBSCRIBE?
Turn to p38 to
save 30%
on
the shop price of
BBC Focus
SUBSCRIBER
BONUS
On p38, evolutionary biologist
Mark Pagel
investigates
the origins of language and speech in humans
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