Science Illustrated

Science Illustrated delivers natural science, break through discoveries and an understanding of the world for the entire family. Packed with stunning photography and in-depth editorial it’s a visually spectacular gateway to the world looking into the beginning of life to distant objects in the universe.

Science Illustrated Australia

Ice house: tower stores the water of the Himalaya

Seal fresh: pup takes dip in freezing fresh water

The Milky Way is full of water worlds like Earth • Planets such as Earth formed from dust clouds filled with ice and carbon, according to new research. This could mean that our galaxy includes many other water worlds like ours.

Fake black hole proves famous theory • After simulating a black hole, scientists have confirmed that Hawking radiation is limited but constant – just as physicist Stephen Hawking predicted.

Neanderthals understood speech • Our closest relatives, the Neanderthals, were able to speak and understand speech, and likely used a lot of consonants, according to sophisticated 3D models of their skulls.

New solar-powered electric car claims a range of 1500km • The first mass-produced electric car powered by solar energy will soon be introduced, lined with 3 square metres of solar cells..

Huge space hurricane showered Earth in electrons • A hurricane occurred above the magnetic north pole in 2014. It had a 1000km diameter and is the first observed in space above Earth. Scientists are only now realising what happened..

How does the International Space Station stay warm? • The International Space Station, ISS, orbits Earth amid the freezing cold vacuum of space. How is the temperature inside the space station kept at a pleasant level for people staying there?

TOP 5 · Which animal has the longest teeth? • Animals have teeth of many different shapes and sizes, and varying numbers of them. But which animal has the longest set of teeth?

Why do cats purr? • When we stroke cats, they often purr. But how does this characteristic sound originate, and why do cats purr at all?

Is air-con a climate problem? • Maintaining a pleasant temperature with air-con uses lots of energy in operation and in the system’s creation. Is there a better way?

Are all tears the same? • We cry for various reasons, but do the contents of our tears vary according to the different causes?

WHAT IS THIS? · How do bright rings around the Sun originate? • “I have seen bright rings appear around the Sun. What do the rings consist of, and why do they appear?”

Why does a glass function as a speaker? • A telephone plays more loudly if it is placed in a glass. Why is that?

…we can be defined by our sleep? • Chronotypes – sometimes called type A and B personalities – seem to be genetically defined, and do govern our sleep patterns. But some studies suggest there may be as many as six variants.

How do night-vision goggles work? • In adrenaline-pumping action films, night-vision googles are used by highly-trained elite soldiers and spies to let them see in the dark. But how effective are they, and how do they work?

TOP 5 · What is the oldest rock in the world?

What is a cytokine storm? • “I read that the immune system can become more dangerous than the diseases it protects against if it triggers a cytokine storm. But what is that, and what causes it?

What are microplastics, and how can we reduce them?

Can telescopes spot footprints on the Moon? • In 1969, the Apollo 11 astronauts walked on the Moon. Can we still see the marks left by the mission using telescopes?

Huge rockets make their debut: THE HIGHWAY INTO SPACE IS ABOUT TO OPEN • Missions to the Moon and Mars will soon become a matter of routine. Over the next year, four huge...