Meditation in virtual reality: it’s like French philosophy meets the Matrix

There’s no paradox in finding your true self via virtual reality because everyday reality is a simulation, says self-help guru Deepak Chopra of his latest venture

Beware copycat websites overcharging for Esta and Ehic documents

Holiday season has brought a rise in the number of unofficial sites charging unnecessary fees for Esta permits and EHIC cards

Want an antidote to chaos in the world? Maybe Barack Obama has the answer

Oliver Burkeman longs for the quiet life – like the president of the US

UK growth not being converted to increased wellbeing, says report

Britain ranks in the bottom 25 out of 162 countries when it comes to boosting the wellbeing of its citizens, survey finds

Half of all US food produce is thrown away, new research suggests

The demand for ‘perfect’ fruit and veg means much is discarded, damaging the climate and leaving people hungry

Suck at meditation? You may just be doing it right

For me, successfully meditating has involved letting go of the need to do it well. So what if my mind flits from thumbprint cookies to lyrics by the Au Pairs?

Time 100: FGM campaigner Jaha Dukureh makes prestigious list

US campaigner made Obama take action on female genital mutilation, and got practice banned in the Gambia

Sober is the new drunk: why millennials are ditching bar crawls for juice crawls

Is being sober finally trendy? Juice crawls are just one of many booze-free events in the US catering to millennials who are ditching the hooch in favor of clarity

UnitedHealth’s Obamacare exit won’t hurt system but is a PR blow, say experts

The practical impact of the US’s largest health insurer quitting insurance exchanges created by Obamacare is small, but it adds fuel to critics’ arguments

How antibiotic resistance could wreak havoc on health, food and travel

In addition to the estimated 700,000 deaths caused by drug-resistant infections each year, the lack of new antibiotics could have serious extended consequences