Photo of a person’s toned torso in shadowy light hands on hips wearing a dark top and trousers showcasing abdominal muscles.
MIND-BODY INTERACTIONS

Stronger

When grief and distraction spun my mind out of control, only the strain of my muscles could keep it intact

by Nancy Uddin

Illuminated currency symbols yen, pound and dollar in red, orange and purple on a textured background.
FAIRNESS AND EQUALITY

Blame the ‘greedy bastards’, and you protect the greedy systems

The most vehement and damaging charges of ‘greed’ get directed at precisely those who are being stripped of everything

by David Keen

Photo of a charred landscape with a narrow path leading through burnt terrain towards a distant hill under a clear blue sky.
CAREGIVING
7

Defensible space

My husband was in crisis and our home faced wildfire. When it came, I saw the cost of holding the line

by Moonshine Matthiessen

Ideas

View all
A collapsed apartment building leaning between other damaged buildings in twilight
THE SELF

Do you weave historical events into your own life story?

by Şebnem Ture

A close-up view of a cheeseburger with multiple beef patties, melted cheese and crispy onion rings.
PLEASURES AND PASTIMES

Guilty pleasures are more than just giving in to temptation

by LaCount ‘JJ’ Togans

A bronze statue of a girl facing a large bull sculpture on a cobblestone street in an urban setting.
FEAR AND PHOBIA
3

True courage isn’t being fearless, it’s fearing well

by Andrew Culbreth

Guides

View all
Photo of a hand holding a smartphone displaying a chat app interface asking “How can I help you this afternoon?”
THINKING AND INTELLIGENCE
5

How to use chatbots to make you smarter, not dumber

Use AI thoughtlessly and it dulls your mind. But with a strategic approach and the right prompts, it can be a powerful tool

by Nick Kabrel

Black and white photo of passengers seated and standing inside a crowded train carriage, some holding bags and flowers; a woman seated in the foreground has an annoyed look on her face.
EMOTION REGULATION

How to tolerate annoying things

Hassles are part of life, but the way we react often makes them worse. ACT skills can help you handle them with greater ease

by Patricia E Zurita Ona

Life stories

View all
An elderly hand resting being held by younger hands against a dark background.
VALUES AND BELIEFS
12

Let the mystery be

As a hospital chaplain, I watched lives end, faiths fracture and certainties crumble. My job was holding hands in the dark

by Nettie Reynolds

Editor’s picks

Photo of an ornate underground station with arched ceilings, mosaic details pedestrians and a yellow train on the platform.
ARCHITECTURE
3

How to appreciate buildings

It’s easy to become blasé about the built world. Tune in more deeply and architectural adventures await around each corner

by Colin Ellard

Photo of a man sitting on grass near a bridge with people relaxing and walking in a park setting.
THINKING AND INTELLIGENCE

Being alone with your thoughts is a skill you can practise

People go to extreme lengths to avoid time with their own thoughts. We’ve found some ways to make it more pleasurable

by Rémy Furrer

Latest videos

View all
Digital art of a glowing purple figure floating against a dark background with small blue dots.
TRANSCENDENT EXPERIENCE

What can we learn by taking transcendent UFO stories seriously?

Directed by Matthew Salton

Photo of a man in profile with grey hair and a moustache wearing a denim shirt against a black background.
VIRTUES AND VICES

From prison, a bank robber and acclaimed author reflects on time

Ethereal photo of a person lying down under a blue haze with ghostly hands reaching towards them.
SLEEP AND DREAMS

When dreams touch reality – the liminal world of sleep paralysis

Drawing of six people in a living room having tea and cake around a table, with a window and plant in the background.
NEURODIVERSITY

Hand-drawn animation brings a meeting of ‘voice-hearers’ to life

Illustration of a masked healthcare worker in multiple colours against a pixelated background.
DECISION-MAKING

Every choice has an energy cost. Learn to manage your budget

Notes to self

View all
A microphone in focus with a blurred background of people seated at tables in a dimly lit room.
FEAR AND PHOBIA

A memory hack to help you face your fears

by Christian Jarrett

Popular

A home entrance with a black front door, mirrored wall, umbrella stand and carpeted stairs.
MEMORY AND NOSTALGIA

How to build a memory palace

Upgrade your ability to recall dates, names or other details with an ancient trick of the memory trade: the ‘method of loci’

by Lynne Kelly

Black and white photo of passengers seated and standing inside a crowded train carriage, some holding bags and flowers; a woman seated in the foreground has an annoyed look on her face.
EMOTION REGULATION

How to tolerate annoying things

Hassles are part of life, but the way we react often makes them worse. ACT skills can help you handle them with greater ease

by Patricia E Zurita Ona

A close-up view of a cheeseburger with multiple beef patties, melted cheese and crispy onion rings.
PLEASURES AND PASTIMES

Guilty pleasures are more than just giving in to temptation

Psychologists are discovering what’s going on when you do something you enjoy, but also feel weird or embarrassed about

by LaCount ‘JJ’ Togans

Photo of a group of young people taking a selfie with a smartphone outdoors in a busy urban setting.
PERSONALITY
5

Is narcissism really on the rise among younger generations?

A fresh investigation of vast numbers of young people from around the world has thrown up some surprising results

by Jakob Pietschnig & Sandra Oberleiter

A subway sign with red neon text and large images of eyes on illuminated red panels above.
FEAR AND PHOBIA
1

How to overcome a fear of fear

When you become afraid of your own reaction to perceived threats, it creates a vicious cycle. Here’s how to break free

by Nick Wignall

A person wearing sunglasses looking at their reflection in a window with a blurry outdoor scene visible.
PERSONALITY DISORDERS

How to start recovering from BPD

Borderline personality disorder is often misunderstood. Here’s what you should know about it and how to get real support

by Sara Rose Masland & Thea McAfee

A drone flying above a whale’s surfaced back in the ocean with water droplets in the air.
ANIMALS

Even if we could speak to animals, should we?

AI could satisfy our deeply held desire to talk to other creatures. But the potential for harm might outweigh the benefits

by Virginie Simoneau-Gilbert & Leonie Bossert

Photo of an art installation featuring multiple monitors displaying black and white images in a dimly lit room.
TECHNOLOGY AND MEDIA
10

Why AI’s hallucinations are like the illusions of narcissism

Unable to handle uncertainty, AI mimics the narcissistic compulsion to fill voids with plausible but false narratives

by Jennine Gates

Explore: Compassion and empathy

Illustration of a person in a purple shirt sitting at a table with a yellow mug, receiving a supportive hand on theirs.
COMPASSION AND EMPATHY

How one man saved 160 lives with an extended hand and a warm cup of tea

Directed by Alec Green and Finbar Watson

Painting of two people sitting at a table with blurred green foliage in the background, one person resting their head.
FRIENDSHIP
6

How to support a struggling friend

by Elise Kalokerinos

Photo of a small porcelain statue of a serene figure in robes, holding a vase on a dashboard with a blurred background.
ETHICS
1

Morality aside, there’s another good reason to love your enemies

by Alex Moran

Photo of a person with eyes closed, hands on cheeks, wearing a wristband and large hoop earrings in a dimly lit setting.
MUSIC

Can you ‘feel’ the music? You’re probably an empathetic person

by Benjamin Tabak & Zachary Wallmark