This week is a big one for much of the UK: in most places, people can now go inside their favourite pub once again, head to the cinema to see a film, and even travel overseas to select green-list locations. But, perhaps most exciting of all, is that the effective ban on hugs has finally been lifted.

While Prime Minister Boris Johnson still asks people to exercise caution, especially given rising concern about new coronavirus variant B16172, many people have waited months for the chance to finally give friends and loved ones a cuddle. And no wonder – as hugs actually play an important role in helping us maintain social bonds. Not only have humans evolved special “cuddle nerves” that are the reason hugs feel so good, hugs actually have a number of surprising health benefits.

This easing of physical distancing rules has also led to predictions that the UK could be heading straight into a “summer of love” filled with abandon, romance – and a flurry of sexual activity. But as one expert writes, that might not actually be the case. Months of lockdown have left many feeling nervous about going back to “normal” – while others might actually prefer the style of “slow dating” that has emerged in lockdown.

Elsewhere, we strap on our sneakers and learn about how they’ve gone from part of our gym kit to an essential piece of fashion. And, we look to the glaciers of Greenland to learn about how the microbes inside them might shape global climate.

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