Obamacare ‘on the cusp of falling apart’ as insurers flee health exchanges

Frustration grows among subscribers as companies are threatening to back out of health marketplaces, but some experts urge patience over growing pains

US teen pregnancy rate drops to record low due to ‘increased contraceptive use’

New analysis finds percentage of sexually active teens who used some form of birth control the last time they had sex increased significantly from 2007 to 2012

Black Americans are less likely to be prescribed painkillers – why?

Studies shows that black patients with back or abdominal pain are less likely to be given opioid drugs in the US. Can doctors’ ‘unconscious biases’ be tackled?

Is there a bit of Donald Trump in all of us?

The US presidential hopeful criticises others for faults he suffers from himself. Do we do the same?

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?