Carbon An alternative to flying less?BBC Future - Christopher J PrestonAir travel has a gigantic carbon footprint. And while carbon offsets are imperfect, they make a difference. Here’s how. You desperately want to book that flight for the family wedding. But two major reports
Culture How and why did religion evolve?BBC Future - Brandon AmbrosinoCan the roots of spiritual behaviours and feelings be found in other animals? In the first of a two-part special, Brandon Ambrosino examines the evolutionary origins of religion. “This is my body.” These
Glaciers The ancient memories trapped in the world’s glaciersBBC Future - Lou Del BelloThe tongues of ice on the world’s highest mountains are melting away, but we might be able to save the precious archive of information trapped within them before global warming causes it to disappear Speaking
Artificial Intelligence The border guards you can’t win over with a smileBBC Future - Molly KendrickGovernments are testing artificial intelligence to reduce queues at passport control, spot potentially dangerous travellers and detect smuggled goods at their borders, but can this technology be trusted?
How air pollution is doing more than killing usBBC Future - Melissa Hogenboom / Images by Emmanuel LafontThe air we breathe could be changing our behaviour in ways we are only just beginning to understand. In the future, police and crime prevention units may begin to monitor the levels of pollution in their
The cities that need a warning label?BBC Future - Jules MontagueSome cities seem to inspire psychotic breaks so frequently among their visitors, mental health syndromes have been named after them. But are conditions like Jerusalem or Paris syndrome real? Oliver McAfee
Donald Trump How to make wiser judgements about the futureBBC Future - David RobsonForecasting the future is far from easy, but there is a way to hone your skills no matter who you are. Will the UK leave the EU within 2019? Will the US House of Representatives impeach Trump this year?
Technology The violent attack that turned a man into a maths geniusBBC Future - Sarah KeatingFuton salesman Jason Padgett cared little about anything beyond partying and chasing girls, then one fateful night changed him forever. Jason Padgett sees maths everywhere. Even something as ordinary brushing
Open-Mindedness Could you be a super-forecaster?BBC Future - Amy CharlesTake part in a prediction challenge that could shine a light on skills you never knew you had. The world in 2019 can seem pretty uncertain. When there are unprecedented events in every other news cycle,
Should we drink milk to strengthen bones?BBC Future - Claudia HammondFor generations, we’ve been told milk helps build strong bones. But does science back this up? How many of us were told as children to drink our milk because it would give us strong bones? The idea does
Why catastrophes can change the course of humanityBBC Future - Seth BaumA global disaster such as a nuclear war, a pandemic or runaway AI could have much graver consequences for humanity’s future than we realise, says catastrophic risk expert Seth Baum. My father’s family
War What if California seceded from the US?BBC Future - Rachel NuwerSecession is extremely improbable. But looking at what could ensue if it happened underscores some fascinating truths about the US – and where power really lies. Americans have grown increasingly polarised
London Underground How much water should you drink a day?BBC Future - Jessica BrownWhether you’ve had fatigue or even dry skin, you’ve probably been told to drink more water as a cure. But this advice comes from decades-old guidance… and may have no scientific basis. In the early 19th
Japan The survival of Japan’s music rests on artificial ivoryBBC Future - Rachel NuwerThe loss of natural ivory could threaten traditional Japanese instruments. Now some musicians are now teaming up with scientists to find a replacement Shoin Hagioka thumps the base of his koto, marking
Speed-Dating How accurate are our first impressions?BBC Future - William ParkWe appraise people in a snapshot – and those judgements are powerful but misleading. If you are looking for love, here are the most important things to bear in mind. The science of first impressions is
Why there’s so little left of the early internetBBC Future - Stephen DowlingIt took nearly five years into the internet’s life before anyone made a concerted effort to archive it. Much of our earliest online activity has disappeared. In 2005, student Alex Tew had a million-dollar
The truth about family estrangementBBC Future - Christine RoBeing estranged from a relative comes with myths – and stigma. But it’s more common, and in some cases can be healthier, than you might think. It’s often said that food brings people together. But it also
News The young minds solving climate changeBBC Future - Chad FrischmannA new generation is becoming energised over the need to halt climate change. So how do we help them protect their future? Global warming, and its effect on climate, is one the most pressing issues facing
Five ways you could become a memory championBBC Future - Claudia HammondFrustrated at forgetting stuff? Some simple tricks could have dramatic positive effects. Most of us wish we had better memories. If only we didn’t get to the shop, knowing we must buy three things, but
Hydrogen How hydrogen is transforming these tiny Scottish islandsBBC Future - Diego Arguedas Ortiz in Stromness, Orkney IslandsScotland’s Orkney Islands produce more clean energy than their inhabitants can use. Their next step? Hydrogen. Here’s why that matters – and what the rest of the world could learn. I’ve seen thousands
Why stretching might not make you a better runnerBBC Future - Richard GrayLimbering up before and stretching after exercise might seem sensible, but there are some other more surprising ways of improving your performance. They can be seen in city streets and parks all over world,
The Brain Are we close to solving the puzzle of consciousness?BBC Future - David RobsonGiulio Tononi’s "integrated information theory" might solve neuroscience’s biggest puzzle Can a lobster feel pain in the same way as you or I? We know that they have the same sensors – called nociceptors
Inheritance Can the legacy of trauma be passed down the generations?BBC Future - Martha HenriquesOur children and grandchildren are shaped by the genes they inherit from us, but new research is revealing that experiences of hardship or violence can leave their mark too. In 1864, nearing the end of
Selfies What if we knew when people were lying?BBC Future - Rachel NuwerWe’re told that lying is always the worst option, but that isn’t always true. In Season One of the TV show The Good Place, Chidi Anagonye, an ethics and moral philosophy professor, faces a dilemma when
Avalanches An app that can save avalanche victimsBBC Future - Andrea Savorani Neri & Luis CarballoWhen people are buried in avalanche, every passing minute can mean the difference between life and death. A new app could help rescuers reach them faster. Avalanches can strike without warning, burying
Is this the space race’s most important room?BBC Future - Richard HollinghamBBC Future is given an exclusive tour of the restoration of Apollo mission control, as Nasa hurries to complete it before the 50th anniversary of the Moon landings. There is nothing special about the door
The man bringing dead languages back to lifeBBC Future - Alex RawlingsGhil’ad Zuckermann has found that resurrecting lost languages may bring many benefits to indigenous populations – with knock-on effects for their health and happiness. Like many people in Australia, Professor
What happens when we run out of food?BBC Future - Richard GrayOur modern society relies upon complex, modern supply chains for food. How would we cope if they were to suddenly collapse? It happened almost overnight. Rešad Trbonja was an ordinary teenager growing
Why we need to reinvent democracy for the long-termBBC Future - Roman KrznaricWhen politicians fail to look beyond the next election – or even the latest tweet – they are neglecting the rights of future generations, argues public philosopher Roman Krznaric. “The origin of civil
The power of our hidden sensesBBC Future - Sophie HardachWith mouth clicks, experts can detect whether a disc one metre away has been moved. Here's how we could all benefit from harnessing our hidden senses. I am sitting at my desk with my eyes closed, moving
