FROM THE EDITOR
There’s a certain genre of social media that sets my teeth on edge, and that’s celebrity routines. If you haven’t seen them, it’s when the rich and famous share what they do in a day. It turns out the secret to their success is actually a meticulously devised routine: they wake up at 2:30am, play golf at 7:30am, and they’re in the cryo-chamber by 9:30am while the rest of us are still scratching around for coffee. For them, breakfast might be a nourishing Buddhist chant or perhaps an algal powder cocktail because they haven’t earned a meal yet. By the end of the day, the only way to really recharge is to sit in front of a Himalayan salt lamp for half an hour. If you can’t find one of those, then some Tibetan throat singing should do the job. The whole charade is so absurd, only one of the above is made up.
Though the truth is, I’d love to know how to be more productive. I’d really like to get more done with my day, even if it’s just so I can spend more of my free time in sloth mode. My brain, however, doesn’t always play ball. Concentration, motivation or inspiration aren’t always within my grasp. And my solutions are a little less extravagant than those favoured by the Hollywood set. Instead, coffee, biscuits and tea are my go-tos, when I find I need a little mental focus. Fortunately, it turns out that experts have some better solutions to this problem. That’s why for this issue we’ve asked neuroscientist Dr Dean Burnett to bust some of the most common myths purported to boost your productivity, and share some tips, backed by scientific research, that might help you get your brain closer to peak performance. Head to Your productive brain to find out more.
CONTRIBUTORS
PROF BILL MAGUIRE
A professor of geophysical and climate hazards at UCL, Bill looks back at a year of volcanic activity to explain what it’s taught us about Earth’s geology.
DR KAELI SWIFT
Crows are incredibly smart: they can learn, imitate sounds, and even carry out rituals for their dead. Bird expert Kaeli tells us more.
HAYLEY BENNETT
What if we could have spotted COVID-19 sooner? Science writer Hayley finds out whether it’s possible to create a system that could stop a pandemic in its tracks.
PROF DANN MITCHELL
Tornadoes, waterspouts, fire devils and snowspouts. Professor of climate science Dann gives us the lowdown on twisters and how they form.
ON THE BBC THIS MONTH…
Discovery: Tooth and Claw
Pop culture gives hyenas a bad rap, when in fact, these creatures lead fascinating lives. Their intelligence is comparable to that of chimps, their laughs indicate social status and they’re matriarchal. Zoologist Adam Hart explores what we know about these incredible animals.
Available now on BBC Sounds
The Museums That Make Us
“What are museums for in 2022?” That’s the question asked by art historian Neil MacGregor at the heart of this fascinating radio series. Join Neil as he tours the breadth of the UK to discover the ambitions of museums within local communities. BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4, starts Monday 7 March
Fantastic Beasts: A Natural History
If you think that unicorns and mermaids are the stuff of fiction, think again. Stephen Fry presents this documentary uncovering the ancestors of our favourite mythical creatures and reveals the relatives that still walk among us.
Available now on iPlayer
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