‘False hope syndrome’: why we’ll quit our New Year’s resolutions this weekend

There’s a scientific reason why resolutions are broken – we need to understand that in order to be smarter about making goals for ourselves

ASMR and ‘head orgasms’: what’s the science behind it?

Pete Etchells: Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response is the technical term for what some call ‘head orgasms’, or ‘brain tingles’. But what is the state of scientific research behind the sensation?

Can money buy happiness?

If poverty makes us miserable, it stands to reason that wealth makes life worth living. But does it? Psychologists aren’t so sure

Unforbidden Pleasures review – taking liberties

Psychoanalyst Adam Phillips’s study of desire and restraint asks more questions than it answers

Is it OK to cry in the workplace?

Crying in the workplace can be seen as embarrassing and demeaning. Is this fair? Can it actually be a good thing?

If you’re being chased in a dream, does your body produce adrenaline?

Readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific concepts

Hearts attack: is Twitter trying to kill its users?

Dean Burnett: Might Twitter’s seemingly-frivolous recent changes be part of a plan to kill off the most dedicated users?

Just the one? The misconceptions of the only child

Taylor Glenn: The common beliefs about only children are unscientific and unfounded.

Why too much choice is stressing us out

From jeans to dating partners and TV subscriptions to schools, we think the more choices we have the better. But too many options create anxiety. Could one answer lie in a return to state monopolies?

The Book of Human Emotions by Tiffany Watt Smith review – a thought-provoking tour around our feelings

This compendium of emotions from around the world makes you feel we need more words for our feelings, not fewer