Self-knowledge and personal growth

Self-knowledge and personal growth Relationships, work and leisure Values and ethical living

A group of people engaged in a heated discussion outdoors with diverse expressions and gestures.

Communication and language

idea

Why every utterance you make begins with a leap of faith

Time pressure and the limitations of memory compel you and your listener to engage in a fascinating linguistic trade-off

by Julie Sedivy

Photo of a person driving at night with dashboard lights on and a road visible ahead through the car windscreen.

Technology and media

idea

The reason that even hands-free calls are risky for drivers

Cars are filled with ever more communication and entertainment tech, but our minds are stuck with the same limitations

by Robert Rosenberger

Photo of various name badges with colourful lanyards laid out in rows for an event or conference.

Memory and nostalgia

guide

How to get better at remembering

Frustrated by elusive names and misplaced phones? The science of memory reveals ways to improve your powers of recall

by Elizabeth Kensinger & Andrew Budson

A Nigerian ballerina in a white tutu dancing atop yellow minibuses in a crowded urban setting.

Dance

film

Nigeria’s first ballet school brings tutus and joy to the streets of Lagos

Directed by Jacob Krupnick

Social history

idea

Bunkerised society – why prepping for end times is so American

Millions are preparing for doomsday, not together, but by closing the hatch. It’s a logical response to a hollowed-out state

by Robert Kirsch & Emily Ray

Blurry photo of a vibrant bar scene with a table of drinks, red lighting and indistinct figures moving around.

Neurodiversity

idea

Living without mental imagery may shield against trauma’s impact

Discovering I have aphantasia helped me understand my response to being assaulted and why I wasn’t debilitated by PTSD

by J B Smith

Two men smiling in low light, seated at a round table with drinks. One man is wearing a hat.

Stories and literature

guide

How to tell a better story

Personal stories have the power to connect, entertain, persuade. Use a pro storyteller’s tips to pick and prepare a great one

by Micaela Blei

A Chinese middle-aged woman tending plants on a rooftop garden with residential buildings and a blue sky in the background.

Sex and sexuality

film

Shuli’s mother has known he was gay for years. Can they finally talk about it?

A film by Shuli Huang

Woman seated at a cafeteria table reading a book, with her shoes kicked off.

The body and physical health

idea

In defence of slouching: the bad science behind good posture

The idea that we should all stand straight is widely accepted. But this modern obsession has dubious origins

by Beth Linker

An ancient Greek clay jug with red stripes and inscriptions against a dark background.

Communication and language

idea

I am an article about the speaking objects of ancient Greece

Talkative drinking cups and threatening oil flasks tell us how the written word asserted its authority in an oral society

by Teddy Fassberg

A person lying on their back, silhouetted against a blue background with dim lighting, creating a contemplative mood.

Sleep problems

guide

How to sleep when you’re a perfectionist

As a high achiever, your problem-solving skills can backfire at night. You need a different way to beat insomnia

by Nick Wignall

Two silhouetted people stand against a dramatic orange and purple sunset sky.

Freedom and choice

film

In the outback, a town of two awaits visitors to their emergency airport

Directed by Yannick Jamey