Experts
Regulars
James May Heston Blumenthal Michio Kaku Update 13
AKA ‘Captain Slow’, May has A self-taught chef, Blumenthal A founder of string fi eld theory,
owned cars at both ends of the now works with food historians, Kaku is a theoretical physicist Mindgames 92
motoring spectrum, from Bentleys psychologists, biochemists and trying to unite the four fundamental
to Fiat Pandas. Find out what he’d perfumists to perfect his recipes. forces of nature. Could he be the
Post 94
really like to drive on page 26 Find out more on page 58 real Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown (p68)?
The last word 98
The first word
MegaPixel
Check out the most amazing
A McCain presidency would amount we’ve designed the ultimate fl ying car
sights to have found their way
into a viewfi nder this month
to a third term for George Bush – this for Top Gear’s James May after he gave
6
is Obama’s main line of attack on the us his wish list of the tech and gadgets
Republican presidential candidate. he’d want included (p26).
In return McCain is accusing Obama Also in this issue, we reveal why
of being too inexperienced to lead. you are what your ancestors ate (p34), The Guide
Surely, all this mud-slinging isn’t the real science behind Hollywood
making anyone look good? Well, movies (p68), the scientists taking a
Objects of desire 75
contrary to what you might think, leaf out of nature’s book (p61), the 10
Tech to make your mates jealous
bitching about your opponent is things we still don’t know about the
Four of the best 78
actually the key to getting the votes Universe (p66) – and as usual, the
A buyer’s guide to netbooks
because your brain responds more to experts answer all the questions that
threatening information. Read more have been bugging you this month,
How to… 79
about the political brain in Prof Drew starting on page 42.
Make your iPhone even better
Westen’s column on page 21. Plus, there’s loads of stuff for Tried & Tested 80
After watching one US Government all you tech-heads: the top 10 Toy robots reviewed and rated
after another hesistating over downloadable applications for your
52
Games 84
environmental policy, active pledges iPhone (p79), the best mini-laptops
The best digital distractions
from both McCain and Obama hold that are perfect for your commute
great promise. So at last it seems we (p78) – and for a bit of frivolous fun,
Online 85
Have the computers that
all agree that things here on Earth we’ve pitted the best toy bots against
What can the web do for you?
calculate the weather
are hotting up, and we need to do each other (p80). Why ever not, I say.
got their sums wrong?
Books & DVDs 86
something about it. There’s been a Let the robot wars commence…
Entertainment on paper and plastic
vain attempt to invest in renewables
R&D and we’re all trying to do our bit
What’s on 90
Things to do if you’re going out
by fl ying less, recycling and catching
the bus more. All well and good, but
what happens if our predictions on
Features
global warming are slightly skewed
because the data from meteorological
The Car of 2030 24
instruments is, to say the least,
Will it still be you doing the driving?
unreliable? Focus science consultant
Diet and Evolution 34
Robert Matthews takes a look at Change the menu, change the man
the problems inherent in climate
Climate Modelling 52
modelling on page 52.
The problems of weather prediction
Your future car
Quick Chat 58
So, with fuel bills and CO
Top chef Heston Blumenthal
2
levels
rising, what’s going to happen to our
Back to Nature 61
four-wheeled friend? We’ve already
Adapting nature’s best designs
met the Toyota Prius, adored by celebs
on the hunt for a green brownie point
10 Cosmic Mysteries 66
or two. Now fi nd out what you’ll be
Unanswered Universe questions
driving in 2030 on page 24. Plus, Scientist Fiction 68
Hollywood versus real life
What I’ve learnt this month
42
How changes
z 60,000 phones were left in London’s cabs in six months (p17)
to our diet have z Carmakers around the world spend £20bn annually on R&D –
changed us
34
Q&A
enough to build four Large Hadron Colliders (p32)
Your questions answered
z iPods are bulletproof – one saved a soldier’s life in Iraq (p45)
www.bbcfocusmagazine.com November 2008 5
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