All the lonely people

Chatting with a barista in the coffee shop, nodding at that woman you see every day as you walk your dog. Sociologists call this type of connection ‘weak ties’, but their impact is anything but weak, writes Kellie Gillespie Wright.

Human beings are social animals. We evolved in groups and conquered the world in great big family units that we call civilisations. At a fundamental level, we need the company of other people. So why

Thought-provoking culture, insightful science and inspirational snippets to bring you up to date on all things uplifting, hopeful and happy-making

Research reveals there’s a gap between how ‘liked’ you think you are and how much your friends, colleagues and acquaintances really do enjoy your company. Acting health editor Chloe Gray reports on how to bridge it

Was it five years ago already? THE pandemic ...

Midlife – and all the stresses that come with it, like divorce, redundancy and bereavement – can take its toll on long-established female friendships. As we saw in the last series of The White Lotus,