Why do we laugh? The obvious answer is that something is funny. But if we look closer at when and how laughter occurs in ordinary social situations, we see that it's not so simple.

Intermittent fasting may have anti-ageing benefits.

Self-disgust is a relatively new area for psychological research and is being seen as increasingly relevant in helping us better understand a whole range of health behaviours.

Angelina Jolie Pitt has announced she has had her ovaries and fallopian tubes removed to mitigate cancer risk.

Children allowed an occasional sip of wine at the dinner table may be more at risk of drinking as teenagers.

As Elle Macpherson joins a growing trend among older mothers, Antonia Hoyle meets a couple who achieved success with their very last attempt.

Who volunteers to have sex in a laboratory? I was struck by this question when reading about an experimental study of ideal sexual positions for men with back pain.

I have never smoked, but friends introduced me to e-cigarettes, and now I am addicted.

It's no secret that the internet presents a bevy of distractions. Many of us have grudgingly accepted perpetual scatterbrain as a hallmark of modern life.

Why would a single, middle-aged woman endure years of fertility treatment in order to have twins? Diana Williams explains why it was the best decision she's ever made.

An Auckland teen has ticked off another milestone on her bucket list.

An attack of the giggles can sometimes appear at the strangest moments, but laughter often isn't to do with comedy value.

While many people find the salt and pepper look appealing, others go to great lengths to conceal these locks.

Children whose ears stick out may be self-conscious. But a new study shows that while large ears may catch the eye, the trait doesn't carry a social stigma.

Scientists believe the gene Plexin D1 tells fat to gather around the middle, rather than the bottom and thighs.

Nutrition celebrities often promote "fad diets". In fact, they often demonstrate a misunderstanding of biochemistry and other basic nutrition science.

My best friend had her stomach stapled and is really slim now, but tells everyone it was done through dieting and exercise and that is just not true. Shall I squeal?

Biting your nails or pulling at your hair has long been thought to be a sign of nervousness and anxiety.

As a documentary-maker, Leanne Pooley had seen what serious illnesses can do. Now she is the patient. Here, she tells what happened when she was diagnosed with cancer and what it has taught her.

I really want to get bum implants as mine is flat, and people have always made jokes about it. But my fiance says we cannot afford it.

Experts including comedian Ruby Wax, author Gretchen Rubin, and behavioural science professor Paul Dolan explain how to find happiness in everyday life.

Why is there such variation in our reaction to cold? The perception of cold begins when nerves in the skin send impulses to the brain about skin temperature.

For many people hearing voices is synonymous with schizophrenia and severe mental illness. But is this always the case?

Homeopathy is based on the idea that the body's own healing response to disease can be stimulated by using specially prepared, highly diluted substances.

My own, very loose, approach is to tell her off when she does something wrong and reward her with praise when she does something well. What's wrong with that?

Australian men have a higher chance of dying from prostate cancer than Americans and Canadians, a new study shows.

If the proliferation of raw-food products at the health-food store is any indication, it's a trend that has gotten a serious foothold.

Just about everybody has one raging narcissist to deal with, sooner or later - on the job, in social situations or (God forbid) in the home. How did he get this way, we wonder?

How do you protect your daughter from the pressure to score top grades - and look like a supermodel? Tanith Carey, author of a new book on the subject, has some advice.

Binge drinking in men peaks at 25 before every day boozing starts later in life, says study. Similar patterns were found in women, but with less dramatic results.