There’s a new theory doing the rounds called the “great fantasy migration hypothesis” — and it’s pitting psychologists against geeks. The idea is that people with narcissistic tendencies are struggling to cope with the economic hardships of the modern era. Unable to realise what they see as their full potential, they get lost in fantasy worlds, where they thrive. The experts think that people who fail offline are losing themselves in self-indulgent dream lives as champion casters-of-spells and intergalactic warriors.

But this is only the latest version of a particular kind of snobbery that dates back to the 1950s. Experts in the science of the mind have long dismissed science fiction as frivolous escapism instead of considering its potential as a medium that can actually help us understand our own world. We’ve been looking at the history of this antagonism.

Biodiversity experts shared some surprising news about lichen and moss with us this week. It seems both are thriving, against expectations. Freshwater insects such as dragonflies mayflies, stoneflies seem to be doing OK too. Read up on the current status of all kinds of little creatures with the author of a study on 5,000 species in the UK.

What makes Gwyneth Paltrow so … slippery? How come wellness industry influencers like her are allowed to peddle nonsense remedies like jade eggs and vampire repellent with apparent impunity? Regulating the wellness industry is proving a nightmare and it turns out there’s quite a specific reason behind the struggle. The potions on offer might be bereft of active ingredients but there’s a very potent formula behind the marketing strategy that helps them fly off the shelves.

Also this week, we’ve been tracing the Nigerian words that make it into the English dictionary, breaking the rules and dodging e-scooters.

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