This column will change your life: With friends like these…

We all know not to judge a book by its cover, so why do we take people we 'meet' on social networking sites at face value, wonders Oliver Burkeman

Safe sex with the stars of retro gaming

Leicestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership is using a vintage platform game parody to convey its 'use a condom' message.

Professor Ian Shanks: ‘It’s nice to have been able to help tens of millions of people around the world in controlling their diabetes’

With the aid of a toy microscope, Professor Ian Shanks came up with an idea that has improved the lives of millions and spawned an $80bn industry. Now he is battling Unilever for his fair share

The player: Learning to move forward

A new breed of games seeks to impart some lessons about real life

The player: Tetris may stop trauma flashbacks

Naomi Alderman: Researchers believe the way we use our brain when playing this computer game may be key to its beneficial effect

Homing in on fitness

Can the new generation of video games give you a real workout in your living room, asks Keith Stuart

Mobile phone kits to diagnose STDs

Plan aims to cut UK's rate of infection among young, who experts say are often too embarrassed to visit GP

Children’s computer and television time linked to psychological problems

A study found that children who spent the most time in front of a computer or television were more likely to have psychological problems