Astronomy for beginners
How to see Orion
How does the internet actually work?
How does the internet actually work? BLAIR BENSON, VIA EMAIL The internet is a collaboration between computers all over the world (although some countries restrict access). When you type in a URL (uniform resource locator, or web address) such as https://www.sciencefocus.com, your computer first has to figure out which computer to talk to… 1. Every […]
My in-laws are here for the holidays. What’s the quickest and easiest way to reduce my stress levels?
My in-laws are here for the holidays. What’s the quickest and easiest way to reduce my stress levels? CHRIS PAGE, KESWICK Any situation where you feel you can’t cope or you’re not in control is likely to make you feel stressed, so plan ahead to minimise these feelings. For instance, schedule ‘escapes’ for yourself during […]
Why don’t bees get sticky when they make honey?
Why don’t bees get sticky when they make honey? SOFIE KEARNS (AGED 6), VIA EMAIL Honey, which is made by the eight species of honeybee, is a viscous mixture of sugars and water. It’s stored inside honeycomb cells, which are sealed with wax until the energy-rich liquid is required to feed larvae or help adult […]
Stroke
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From the editor
FROM THE EDITOR Usually, I like to end the year by focusing on the positives, and this year I’ve really got my work cut out for me. That said, there has been a lot to feel hopeful about – and you’ll find most of it inside this issue. First and foremost, the James Webb Space […]
Textbook landing
HOKKAIDO, JAPAN Ignore what your eyes seem to be telling you about this image: flying squirrels can’t take off from the ground. What this sequence shows is the way a flying squirrel sweeps upwards as it comes into land, after launching and gliding down from a spot higher in the canopy. What’s most unusual about […]
Beat the heat
LANGLEY RESEARCH CENTER, VIRGINIA, USA This structure might be the key to landing experiments, equipment and possibly even people on Mars. And it’s inflatable. But it’s not for cushioning the impact of hitting the planet’s surface; it’s for surviving the heat of atmospheric re-entry. NASA is developing it as an alternative to the rigid heatshields […]
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