Is it true that … we should all drink more water?

Do we really need to gulp down eight glasses of water a day – or is it a myth? We ask an expert

‘I’d always enjoyed alcohol – but my mother’s sudden, violent death made me a heavy drinker overnight’

When she died, my life plunged into darkness and I turned to the bottle. It quickly became clear to me how trauma could change a moderate habit into a dangerous one

Misrule and martyrs: 10 dark midwinter traditions

This year, why not welcome the shadowy side of winter with an ancient ritual or two?

Brian Thompson’s death has elicited little sympathy. I don’t need to spell out why

UnitedHealthcare is egregious among US insurers for charging enormous premiums, then denying care

Experience: I was bitten by a spider – and nearly lost my leg

My entire leg was on fire. It was as if someone had slit it open with a knife

Lately I’ve become less engaged with the world. How do I find something to be interested in?

The world is a big thing to get interested in, writes advice columnist Eleanor Gordon-Smith. What if you start with the little things instead?

Buying up baby: five products to avoid and two that are worth the money

Newborns are big business, with a bamboozling array of products to cater to them. Here five families with young children share their shopping regrets – and the items that actually helped

The ChatGPT secret: is that text message from your friend, your lover – or a robot?

People are turning to chatbots to solve all their life problems, and they like its answers. But are they on a very slippery slope?

What does the tightness of our clothes say about our emotions? You’d be surprised

Desperate to be swaddled, embraced or comforted? You may find yourself reaching for a skintight T-shirt or some Kim Kardashian shapewear

Is it true that … running destroys your knees?

Do those who run have a higher risk of osteoarthritis? And what should you do if you start to feel pain? We ask an expert