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WHY do we exist?

Why do we exist? The meaning of life isn’t to be found in the stars

17 November 2021

We are tiny specks of life in a vast, indifferent cosmos – but to say that decreases the value of our existence is to measure ourselves against the wrong thing


You are not one person: Why your sense of self must be an illusion

You are not one person: Why your sense of self must be an illusion

9 December 2020

We have a strong sense of continuous, coherent existence – yet from the cells that make our bodies to our defining character traits, we are in a constant state of change


Clive Wynne

For the love of dog: How our canine companions evolved for affection

1 January 2020

It's not just the food, your dog really does love you - and researcher Clive Wynne has done the studies to prove it


Twins

Why it’s time to call time on the ‘nature vs nurture’ debate

11 December 2019

How much of our make-up is predetermined by our genes, and how much by our environment? The truth is that we're asking entirely the wrong question


a head covered in sticky notes

Memory FAQ: Answers to the common questions that baffle us all

24 October 2018

Why can’t we remember being babies? Does closing your eyes help you recall? Why can’t I remember what I did 5 seconds ago? What is photographic memory? And more


Doughty

This mortician wants to fix our broken relationship with death

8 November 2017

We treat death as an emergency and hand it over to professionals. We shouldn't be afraid to spend time with the body and get involved in the process, says Caitlin Doughty


Joe Gebbia

Leap of faith: How Airbnb gets us to trust complete strangers

25 October 2017

The sharing economy is booming despite a decline in trust across society. Airbnb co-founder Joe Gebbia explains why we open our doors to people we meet online


Lustig

Candy crusher: The man who turned the world against sugar

6 September 2017

Robert Lustig’s hunch about obesity evolved into a war against sugar and the food industry. His battle for change has attracted controversy as well as praise


Spoon scooping up sugar

Sugar in your diet: The not-so-mouthwatering truth

6 September 2017

Does sugar make you hyper, or cause cancer? From obesity to sweeteners, we sort through the science on all things sweet


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