FROM THE EDITOR
This month you might notice we’ve made some changes. Nothing dramatic, just a touch of evolution. Our goal, as always, is to try and give you more of what you love. So, for a start, we’ve brought in some new columnists, who we hope will provide fresh insight into your favourite subjects. This month, astrophysicist Dr Katie Mack talks about time travel, psychologist Dr Julia Shaw digs into research about sexuality, and technologist Dr Kate Darling explains why we’ve been getting artificial intelligence all wrong. Next month they’ll be joined by Dr Radha Modgil, who’ll separate facts from fads in the world of health, medicine and wellness. You’ll find these new articles in the Discoveries section. You might also notice we’ve given the rest of Discoveries a refresh and spruced up our tech coverage in Innovations. As ever, do let us know what you think about the changes via email.
As for the main event, this issue we’re looking at the new story of how our tiny, scurrying ancestors inherited the Earth after an asteroid struck the planet. I always thought it was our intelligence – our big brains – that helped us outlast the dinosaurs, but as ever, it turns out the story is more interesting and a little more complicated than that. In Life as we know it, palaeontologist Dr Steve Brusatte reveals how fossils found at dig sites around the world are refining how we see the mammals that managed to thrive on a post-apocalyptic planet.
Enjoy the issue!
Daniel Bennett, Editor
CONTRIBUTORS
DR KATIE MACK
As a theoretical astrophysicist who holds the Hawking Chair in Cosmology and Science Communication, Katie will providing a monthly digest of the most mind-blowing ideas in physics.
DR JULIA SHAW
Every issue, Julia, the co-host of the Bad People podcast on BBC Sounds, will explore the cutting edge of psychology research.
DR KATE DARLING
Kate studies human-robot interaction, tech policy and ethics at MIT’s pioneering Media Lab. Every month she’ll help us navigate where humans and robots might find ourselves in the future.
DR STEVE BRUSATTE
A professor of palaeontology, Steve explores how new evidence is rewriting the story of how mammals came to rule the Earth.
ON THE BBC THIS MONTH…
The future will be synthesised
Henry Ajder, a deep fakes expert, examines how synthetic video – where a politician or celebrity can be faked with some clever computer graphics – could affect democracy.
Available on BBC Sounds
A Thorough Examination With Drs Chris And Xand: Addicted To Food
The van Tulleken twins explore our relationship with food, and ultra-processed food in particular, to find out whether it’s the major driving force in the global obesity crisis.
BBC Radio 4 31 May, 3:30pm. Also available on BBC Sounds
The Truth About Tourette’s
Aidy Smith has Tourette’s Syndrome. In this programme he hopes to shine a light on the fact that 90 per cent of those with the condition don’t actually swear. He meets people who have overcome the struggles and stigma of their condition.
BBC Radio 4 31 May, 11am. Also available on BBC Sounds
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