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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Singing mice surprise scientists
Scientists now accept that mice, like many animals, can communicate by singing. But now a study has found that they can even teach one another new tunes.
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Scientists draw up league of world’s worst noises
Scratching blackboards, scraping plates and the screech of tyres: according to a new study, these are the world’s nastiest noises. Why do we find them so excruciating?
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Syria’s children suffer shocking war trauma
A charity has captured the world’s attention by revealing first hand stories of children caught in Syria’s bloody civil war. Its report, Untold Atrocities, details appalling suffering.
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Science awards for dead fish and ponytails
Every year, the scientific community comes together to celebrate its most bizarre and offbeat discoveries. The Ig Nobel Prizes are entertaining – but do they trivialise science?
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Norway’s worst terrorist jailed for 21 years
After a year in court, Anders Breivik has been found guilty of killing 77 people in the politically motivated Utoya attacks. He has been sentenced to 21 years in jail. Is this the right...
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Poor maths means shoppers pay more, study finds
Shoppers are making basic maths errors that are costing them money, researchers have found. Successful retailers are experts at exploiting our natural inability to think properly about price.
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‘Magical thinking’ piles pressure on England hero
As England prepare to take on Ukraine in tonight’s crucial match, fans put their faith in talismanic striker Wayne Rooney. Is this hero worship a symptom of so-called ‘magical thinking?’
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‘Iconic’ comic book superhero to come out as gay
Is Batman gay? Superman? Aquaman? The internet is bursting with rumours. The cause: an announcement by DC Comics that one of its main characters will soon come out of the closet.
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Ape’s war with humans displays advanced thinking
What do a chimp’s aggression and a whale’s compassion have in common? Both are evidence that animals are more intelligent than we ever thought. Is it time for a new approach on animal rights?
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Iconic ‘Scream’ painting to go on sale at last
Art lovers are set for the auction of the decade, after it was announced that Edvard Munch’s ‘The Scream’ is to be put up for sale. This great portrait of despair could fetch up to $80 million.
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To win, exercise willpower, says top psychologist
From hitting snooze to eating fatty foods, most people have temptations they find hard to resist. Now a new book says our willpower is like a muscle that we can train.
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‘Insane’ mass murderer may escape prison term
Anders Breivik killed 77 people, mostly teenagers, in a horrifying shooting spree in July this year – but psychological evaluators say he was insane, and needs treatment, not punishment.
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Top selling video game sparks anxiety over violence
A new game in the hit ‘Call of Duty’ series has just been released. Critics love it. Fans are buying it in record numbers. But the brutal violence of the series has some people worried.
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Monkeys move virtual limbs using brainwaves
A new brain implant has allowed monkeys to move virtual arms and to feel physical sensations from objects inside a computer. It's a major step towards fully functioning artificial limbs.
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Mental health gets a global campaign boost
Millions worldwide suffer from mental health disorders, but only a minority will receive treatment, especially in poorer countries. World Mental Health Day is pushing for more investment.