Behavioural scientist Michael Norton: ‘When a tennis player ties their shoes in a particular way, they feel they can play at Wimbledon’

The Harvard professor reveals how everyday rituals can help us cope with pressure, unlock our emotions and define our identities

The Ritual Effect by Michael Norton review – standing on ceremony

From Rafael Nadal’s ball-bouncing to families’ Christmas traditions, what purpose does ritualistic behaviour serve?

Vernor Vinge obituary

Sci-fi author and computer scientist who coined the term ‘the Singularity’ to describe the rapid acceleration of AI

Frans de Waal obituary

Primatologist whose studies showed that non-human apes can behave with compassion, cooperation and cunning

The big idea: why am I so forgetful?

A failing memory can be frustrating, but it may be a sign your brain is working exactly as it should

Did you solve it? Lewis Carroll for insomniacs

The answers to today’s puzzles

Can you solve it? Lewis Carroll for insomniacs

It’s not all about Alice

‘Ageing isn’t inevitable’: The 100-Year-Life co-author on how to live well for longer

Andrew Scott says we can stop one of humanity’s biggest achievements turning into a dystopian near-future

Gay, lesbian and intersex whales: our queer sea has much to teach us

The first documented sex between two male humpback whales is just the latest challenge to our presumptions about sexuality

The big idea: should we all be putting chips in our brains?

Implants like Elon Musk’s Neuralink offer great promise, but come with massive ethical questions

Gift of the gab: how to become a supercommunicator

For some, the art of conversation remains elusive and awkward. But others find it easy to put people at their ease and steer their way through difficult topics without giving offence. Charles Duhigg asks how they do it – and whether we can get better at it

Contents of Charles Darwin’s entire personal library revealed for first time

300-page catalogue details thousands of books, journals, pamphlets and articles in naturalist’s library

I felt lost in early adulthood, so coined the term ‘quarterlife’ as a focus for study

Adrift after leaving university, Satya Doyle Byock turned to psychology to bridge the journey to adulthood

Breaking Through: My Life in Science by Katalin Karikó review – real-life lessons in chemistry

This vivid account of the Hungarian biochemist who endured decades of derision before pioneering Pfizer’s Covid vaccine is a tribute to her tenacity and self-belief

‘Gloom is good’: after my wife died I found solace in poetry and music

You can’t fight death, sickness, ageing and life’s various indignities, but you can play very loud rock’n’roll