‘You go to a job and it’s absolutely alive with rats or bedbugs’: on the road with a pest controller

It’s boom time in the world of extermination. With rodents rampaging through hospitals and bedbug infestations up 65%, one seasoned pro has never been busier. Our writer tags along to find out why

Our world is in chaos. Here are six ways to take care of yourself (and others)

Disastrous events affect us all – some directly, others through exposure – and can make preserving mental health difficult

‘Wellness’ makes you feel bad. Our new section focuses on living a good life

Most of us want to feel better – but what is in our hands and what is beyond our control? Well Actually will explore this question

Will my genital herpes mean I never have sex again?

I tell men about my condition and they never stick around. I don’t know what to do

A dinner party for dead guests serves up surprising connections

My friends came to a silent supper with their dead friends and relatives so that we could grieve our loved ones together

Want to live to 116? The secret to longevity is less complicated than you think

Good humour, a positive outlook and staying away from toxic people is more important than genes, ice baths or spartan diets

A moment that changed me: I had a heart attack at 37 – so I went to live in a cave

I wanted to heal and thought the Colorado wilderness was the best place to do it. So I began six months of hunting and foraging, with a pile of leaves for a bed

Time for separate beds? What to do when your partner snores, hogs the duvet, can’t sleep without a light on …

It’s hard not to hate someone whose sleeping style keeps you awake night after night. Here’s how everyone can get some shuteye

Brisk 22-minute walk could offset harmful effects of sitting, study suggests

People who sit for long periods more likely to die earlier – but moderate-to-vigorous activity can eliminate risk

Where did I find the courage to talk to my mum about her cancer? At parkrun, far behind the racers

Every Saturday morning, thousands of people get off their sofas to cover 5km in their local park. Like me, a growing number are there to walk rather than run – and to talk about their deepest feelings