Like ‘Italy’s Robinson Crusoe’, many of us crave the idea of aloneness – even after lockdown

Mauro Morandi had to leave his solitary island life. Having been cooped up with others for months, it could be appealing, says Guardian columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett

Cheer up! The happiness guru on how to feel better

Meik Wiking is a world expert on what makes us feel happier. So, is there a simple fix?

Dog-bite Britain: the problem with the pandemic puppy explosion

Over the past year, dog ownership has surged, and they have brought many of us untold joy. But the lack of proper training or socialisation has led to a growing danger of attacks

Secular pilgrims: why ancient trails still pack a spiritual punch

Where kings and abbots walked, tourists now follow. Are these increasingly popular trips just another holiday or are we getting more religious?

Screen Covid patients and NHS staff for post-traumatic stress, expert urges

Head of Royal College of Psychiatrists warns that the emotional toll from the pandemic could last for years

Scientists need to face both facts and feelings when dealing with the climate crisis

I was taught to use my head, not my heart. But acknowledging sadness at what is lost can help us safeguard the future, says professor of sustainability science Kimberly Nicholas

‘A letter tells someone they still matter’: the sudden, surprising return of the pen pal

In the pandemic, many have rediscovered the sheer pleasure of writing to strangers, with new schemes spreading hope and connection around the world

Come True review – blow-out imagery in visionary sleep disorder thriller

An insomniac student is haunted by a demonic figure in this flamboyant and stylised waking dream of a film

Not a sprint: endurance experts on how to make it through lockdown

Marathon runner Eddie Izzard, solo sailor Pip Hare and explorer Levison Wood explain what they have learned about enduring the seemingly unendurable

My partner is pregnant – and the cost of giving birth in the US is stressing me out

It is the most expensive country in the world to have a baby, there is no way of knowing the bill in advance, and you can potentially be charged just for holding your newborn, writes Arwa Mahdawi