| Read time: 8 minute(s)

Debate this: Can we turn back time by banning phones? End ‘phone-based childhood’ now say experts

In the last decade, something astonishing has happened. Young people’s reading abilities have come down across the board and across the world. In the same time period, students’ mental health plummeted. Loneliness, anxiety and depression are all at record highs. Some pin the blame on the little box in your hand. But can we do […]
| Read time: 8 minute(s)

Debate of the Week: Are humans the best healers?

Can robots save the day? Maybe. Technologically, robots may never be as good at caregiving as humans can be, but—given the huge demand and low supply—they may be good enough. Demand for existing consumer robots—not just Roomba, the robot vacuum cleaner, and its kind, but also some caregiving robots—is already skyrocketing. According to an industry […]
| Read time: 12 minute(s)

The good news that nobody wants to read

Are we missing the truth? The headlines are full of horror, doom and gloom. Some experts say there is plenty of positive news, but we’re hardwired to focus on the bad. When you read the news, sometimes it can feel like the only things reported are terrible, depressing events. Why does the media concentrate on […]
| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the WEEK: Do we need to relearn the art of hanging out?

IN THE NEWS: Loneliness is being described as the “modern leprosy”, a debilitating personal and social problem. But what is so hard to solve about being alone? Loneliness can feel like a universal, and ubiquitous, emotion. Almost 50% of adults report feeling lonely at least some of the time in the UK, with 3.3 million […]
| Read time: 10 minute(s)

This teenager cycled from Alaska to Argentina

He’d longed to go on a “crazy adventure” for years, and as Liam Garner’s high school graduation day grew closer, the teenager was more determined than ever to make his escape. An experienced cyclist, Garner, who is from Long Beach, California, had previously ridden from Los Angeles to San Francisco, and realized that he could […]
| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the WEEK: Can you really change your character?

IN THE NEWS: An age-old psychological myth has been busted, as scientists gather increasing proof that we can change our personality at will. It can feel like a lottery. Are you an extrovert? Congratulations! You have a greater chance of being happy. Are you conscientious? Brilliant! You have a higher life expectancy. But people who […]
| Read time: 9 minute(s)

Five ways to practice gratitude this festive season.

For many people, the festive season can bring on the blues. Science shows that, while it’s no fix-all, nurturing gratitude can help by shifting our attention to what’s positive. For some it’s instinct, others have to practise it, but giving thanks is good for our bodies, minds and our relationships. Scientists at the University of […]
| Read time: 6 minute(s)

Debate of the Week: Is sleep the key to health?

THE NEWS: A revolutionary new book on natural bodily rhythms reveals how the way we sleep affects our weight, our relationships and our decision-making. Tina woke up at 2am. She checked her phone for messages, then went to the kitchen and ate a large bowl of cereal. Back in bed, she picked up her tablet […]
| Read time: 4 minute(s)

Positive Messages from Kids Make Hotline a Hit

Students at an elementary school in California, with the help of their art teacher, created a telephone hotline that people can call to get cheerful advice from kids during difficult times. In just days, the hotline began getting thousands of calls an hour. The hotline is available in English and Spanish. It offers the happy […]
| Read time: 4 minute(s)

Celebrate Happiness Day with these fantastic tricks

When was the last time you looked out of the window and marvelled at the beautiful blue sky? When was the last time you sat with a mug of coffee and read a book in your cozy corner? Can’t remember? Well, maybe this week you can do all that which makes you happy, officially. Yes, […]
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