Editor's Choice
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Mental health crisis surging in UK schools
What is to blame? Today is World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is “young people in a changing world”. In the UK, there has been a surge in the number of schoolchildren seeking help.
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US scientists crack secrets of personality
Should we pay attention to personality tests? American scientists have used big data to split humanity into four distinct personality types. Science like this has a controversial history.
Latest Stories
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Good boy! Puppy dog eyes evolved just for you
Is your dog really your best friend? Or is it just manipulating you? A new study has identified eyebrow-raising muscles that help puppies to produce their most irresistible expressions.
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We are built to believe, say scientists
Do humans need spirituality? An intriguing study has found that 71% of atheists believe in the supernatural. Why is belief so pervasive, even as we abandon traditional religion?
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Death, fame and the lure of the mountains
Is the heroic mountaineer who takes on superhuman challenges really just a selfish misfit? As this year’s toll mounts, climbers themselves admit that it is a dangerously addictive pleasure.
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RIP the Formula 1 legend who refused to die
Again and again, he cheated the grim reaper. But today, at 70, Niki Lauda has died. His life of indomitable willpower has been celebrated in films and books. What can we learn from his story?
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‘Idiot’ pro players accused of ruining Fortnite
Season nine is here, with new challenges to explore. However, some players say the game is being ruined by professionals who no longer play fair. Is there any point still trying to win?
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The strange habits of Twitter’s Jack Dorsey
Every morning he meditates for an hour, takes an ice bath and breakfasts on salt juice. And that’s just the beginning. Is the man with a mission to fix Twitter onto something? Or just weird?
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Measles sweeps back as fake science spreads
One of the world’s most infectious diseases is showing signs of rampant growth, says new research out today. This is partly due to the willingness of millions to believe in medical myths.
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Human conversation is dying, research shows
It’s not just that we spend more time on FaceTime, WhatsApp, Snapchat and Skype. Evidence suggests that many of us choose digital communication over face-to-face. Is this a tipping point?
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Death of minimalism as home design runs wild and free
For decades, fashionable homes have been styled in muted colours and minimal design. But is our anxiety about the modern world spilling over into bold, disordered self-expression in our homes?
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New robot ‘on the path to self-awareness’
Scientists at Colombia University have built a robot that learns about itself in the same way as a baby. It could be a major step towards machines that are fully self-aware.
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Divorce on demand to make ending marriage easy
Yesterday, the UK announced a divorce law revolution that would make it easier for couples to split without a painful “blame game”. Is the world’s most revered institution on its last legs?
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Wales to ban parents from smacking their kids
Is this a good idea? Corporal punishment of children — including smacking — is outlawed in 54 countries around the world. But some parents say it is a loving way of disciplining their kids.
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The misunderstood genius of Vincent van Gogh
Does genius go hand-in-hand with “some touch of madness”? Aristotle thought so. No one exemplifies the idea more than Van Gogh, who has a new exhibition in London. But is it really true?
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#Nemesis: ‘better than a friend or a lover’
Everyone needs a nemesis. Or do they? Social media is abuzz with the idea. And history is full of arch rivals who pushed each other to be better — or drove each other to death.
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Queer Eye takes on the world’s ‘miserable men’
Can five gay men save masculinity? The third season of Netflix’s Queer Eye is released today. Its mission: to help struggling men who “can’t articulate what they’re truly feeling.”