Science

Science

Voyager: Mankind’s Love Letter to the Stars

Humanity’s boldest messenger carries our hopes across the Cosmic Sea

There is something intrinsically romantic about a lone spacecraft drifting through the infinite horizon. It valiantly continues to communicate, even if its time is finite. In February this year, travelling at 61,197 km/h (38,026 mph) relative to the sun, Voyager 1 crossed the 25-billion-kilometre mark (about 15.6 billion miles) from Earth. Radio signals now take about 22.5 hours one way. It is the fourth fastest and furthest-travelled human-made object.

Launched on 5th September 1977, Voyager 1’s mission was to study the boundaries of the heliosphere. It also aimed to begin exploring interstellar space. On 25th August 2012, it became the first spacecraft to cross the heliopause. This theoretical boundary is where the sun’s solar wind can no longer repel stellar winds from surrounding stars. Voyager confirmed this by detecting a surge in cosmic rays and a sharp drop in solar protons.

On its journey, the probe made flybys of Jupiter, Saturn, and Titan – Saturn’s largest moon. NASA chose Titan over Pluto due to its substantial atmosphere. Voyager 1 studied magnetic fields, weather systems, and returned the first detailed images of the solar system’s…

Science

The astronaut wears Prada

The famed Italian fashion house and Axiom Space reach next frontier

Space is an unforgiving environment. It is cold and inhospitable and has no understanding of fashion designers and their processes. There is no “air kissing” in the vacuum of space. Yet, in October 2024, at the International Astronautical Congress, Axiom Space and Prada revealed the flight design of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit […]

Science

Men and their bodies, a complicated relationship

Bigorexia, the reverse form of anorexia plaguing male teenagers

Bigorexia in teenagers is growing at an alarming pace. This form of reverse anorexia is described as the obsession with achieving a bulky and heavily muscled body, often resulting in unhealthy changes in diet, obsessively going to the gym, social isolation and in some cases, taking dangerous steroids which can lead to severe health problems. […]

Science

Catching the Aurora Borealis in 2024

In pursuit of the Northern Lights

Since the beginning of human history, the elusive Northern Lights have inspired artists and puzzled scientists in equal measure. As we reach the peak of a solar cycle in 2024, chances of witnessing the spellbinding spectacle of the Aurora Borealis dramatically increase. In this article, our Editor-in-Chief, Julia Pasarón, explains why. Our sun is just […]

Science

The Many Worlds Hypothesis

Quantum mechanics

Quantum mechanics (QM) is the study of matter and energy at the microscopic level. QM makes bizarre predictions about how matter works. For example, quantum entanglement occurs when two or more particles become correlated such that measuring the state of one instantaneously affects the state of the other, even if they are separated by vast […]

Science

A Pain In The Neck

A physiotherapist’s view on the importance of good posture

With the rise in desk-based jobs and digital dependence, our posture often falls victim to the demands of the workplace. A sedentary lifestyle, prolonged hours hunched over screens and poor sitting positions have led to a significant increase in back and neck problems among working professionals. As an extended-scope practitioner, I am deeply invested in […]

Lifestyle, Science

Nourishing Hair and Skin

A Nutritionist's Guide to Autumn Care

As the crisp autumn air sets in, it’s not just our wardrobe that needs a change; our skin and hair also require extra care and nourishment. As a nutritionist, I’ve witnessed the profound impact that diet can have on our outward appearance. In this article, I’ll explore how to support your hair and skin during […]

Science

The M word

The ageing effects of the menopause

Referred to as “the change”, “ovarian retirement”, “reverse puberty” and many other slightly derogatory terms, menopause is clinically defined as the time of life when a woman’s ovaries reduce hormone production and menstrual periods stop for at least a year. In this article, Dr Alba Pereira MD, a GP and menopause specialist working at Imperial […]

Science

Antikythera

The real celestial mechanics behind the dial of destiny

Until Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was released a couple of weeks ago, only a bunch of nerds in the world knew of the Antikythera, an Ancient Greek orrery used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses decades in advance. In this article, our watch editor, Dr Andrew Hildreth, investigates the history of this […]

Science

Far Above The World

The International Space Station (ISS) turns 25

When Russia launched the first module of the International Space Station (ISS), Zarya, on November 20th, 1998, it was the beginning of a new space age. The unit provided the first basic systems for the nascent orbital platform. Two weeks later, NASA launched Unity, aboard Space Shuttle flight STS-88, and attached it to Zarya using […]

Science

When Doctors Get It Wrong

Stories of Medical Confusion

We all trust in doctors to diagnose whatever is wrong with us when we feel ill. After years of training, perhaps some form of specialisation, we have confidence that a doctor will be able to pinpoint the cause of the ailment and prescribe a way to fix it. Understandably, as there might be a miscommunication […]

Science

Can a leopard change its Spots?

A study of hyperpigmentation and the most effective treatments

Hyperpigmentation is the darkening of patches of skin due the production of excess melanin, the pigment that gives skin its colour. It can affect anyone, but it is more common on darker-skin types, as they already have a higher melanin content. Burns, bruises, acne, rashes, or other trauma can cause the production of more melanin […]