How architecture shapes our cities – and our lives

Communities which design their own buildings are more likely to be happy and healthy, says Lily Bernheimer

The spray’s the thing: how actors use perfumes to get into character

Playing Thatcher? Dab on Bluebell. Got a part in Hairspray? Reach for the Madame Rochas. We lift the lid on how actors use smells – from the finest fragrances to cheap tinned mackerel – to nail a role

Why do analysts use the couch?

Reclining in order to talk to a therapist is a powerful experience, says Nathan Kravis. But the reasons remain unclear

Are our dreams trying to tell us something – or should we sleep on it?

Night after night, elaborately crazy stories plant themselves in your mind through no choice of your own. Don’t tell me something intriguing isn’t going on

Is there any benefit to daydreaming?

We spend up to 50% of our waking time letting our minds wander. Is this just wasted time or does it perform a useful function?

Art and soul: how sparking your creativity helps you stay well

Linking creativity to madness is a myth. But making things is good for everyone’s wellbeing, says Lydia Ruffles

What is your biggest regret? Here are people’s devastatingly honest answers

When I posed this question on Twitter, the stories poured out and patterns emerged. Real regrets are about bad choices in love, learning and loss, being held back by fear – and self-blame

Awe inspiring: do moments of wonder make us nicer people?

Experiencing awe helps us to feel more human, says Caspar Henderson. We would do well to seek it out

What makes a child psychopathic?

Damage to the amygdala, not bad parenting, is to blame for psychopathic children, believes Abigail Marsh

How our visual memories are made

Meeting a young Syrian refugee inspires Mark Cousins to imagine how different our defining images can be