I submitted my day to fate – and plunged headfirst into bananas and burpees

In an age in which the algorithm constantly guides us towards things we already like, I tried to stop being a control freak, imprisoned by my preferences. It wasn’t easy, writes Emma Beddington

Sound baths are supposed to help relax and ‘soothe’ your nervous system. But do any of these claims ring true?

Social media is awash with clips of people paying to be ‘bathed’ in sound. But what’s the science behind the practice?

After her remission from cancer, Christine felt her friends abandoned her when she needed them most

While her friends expected a seamless return to pre-illness life, Christine feared a relapse, feeling a sense of limbo between her old and new self

Stop the brain rot! 12 ways to stay sharp in a mind-frazzling world

Feel like too much low-quality screen time is making you … dumber? From focusing on your environment to ‘washing’ your brain, experts share tips on how to sharpen up and keep your mind fighting fit

Marriage over, €100,000 down the drain: the AI users whose lives were wrecked by delusion

One minute, Dennis Biesma was playing with a chatbot; the next, he was convinced his sentient friend would make him a fortune. He’s just one of many people who lost control after an AI encounter

We can’t all be heroes but as a species we can become more altruistic – with a bit of practice

Humans are hard-wired to care for and protect each other. Becoming kinder is just like riding a bike

Now we have proof: dealing with difficult people really does age you

Researchers have found evidence of what many of us always suspected: ‘hasslers’ shorten your lifespan. And they know by exactly how long

Should you overshare more?

We may cringe at influencers and friends who let it all hang out, but research shows that keeping quiet might be worse

Readers reply: can you acquire courage?

The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions ponders how to overcome fear and do what is needed