![Loneliness: Is It Inevitable In A Modern World?](https://cdn.magzter.com/1390553155/1639985489/articles/61fa63fed997e/Loneliness.jpg)
It may seem an obvious outcome of a pandemic where social contact is discouraged, even made illegal, but concerns about rising levels of loneliness were common before the coronavirus and will likely persist for the foreseeable future. Humans are an incredibly social species. It’s one of the reasons we have such powerful brains and advanced intelligence – to better keep track of and maintain numerous relationships. Our social interactions are a huge factor in how we think, act and see ourselves, because much of our brains are dedicated to social cognition. Completely depriving someone of human contact is a recognised form of torture.
Human wellbeing depends on interpersonal interactions and relationships. It’s no wonder that prolonged loneliness is associated with many serious health consequences, such as an increased risk of depression, anxiety, dementia, stroke and heart disease, so an epidemic of it should be taken very seriously.
Is it inevitable, though? Are humans destined to experience loneliness, no matter what we do? That may seem to be the case when you look at it from a certain angle. While we’re undeniably social, humans also evolved in a tribal setting, where a few dozen individuals stuck together for their entire (short) lives. This has undoubtedly shaped how we work and what we’ve become. In the grand scheme of things, until relatively recently, in the developed world at least, the average human lived an existence that didn’t much deviate from this. We typically lived, worked and raised families as part of tight communities, where everyone knew everyone else and there was always someone around.
Denne historien er fra Volume 14 - Issue 1-utgaven av BBC Earth.
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Denne historien er fra Volume 14 - Issue 1-utgaven av BBC Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
![World's First Malaria Vaccine](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e06e2cc2a1/crp_WORLDS-FIRST-MALARIA-VACCINE.jpg)
World's First Malaria Vaccine
The World Health Organization’s director-general hails ‘historic moment’ as mass immunisation of African children begins
![Is River Pollution Putting The Species In Jeopardy Again?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e0d80e1ce1/crp_HOME-BUT-NOT-QUITEDRY.jpg)
Is River Pollution Putting The Species In Jeopardy Again?
Ten years ago, it was jubilantly announced that o ers had returned to every county in England. But is river pollution putting the species in jeopardy again?
![The Big Burnout](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e03ab6c987/crp_THE-BIG-BURNOUT.jpg)
The Big Burnout
Long hours, low pay and a lack of appreciation — among other things — can make for a stressful workplace and lead to burnout. It’s something we should all be concerned about, because over half of the workforce reports feeling it
![Putting Nature To Rights](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e1ab0c769b/crp_PUTTING-NATURE-TO-RIGHTS.jpg)
Putting Nature To Rights
More countries are enshrining the right to a clean environment into law. So if a company or government is impinging upon that right, you could take them to court
![Mega Spaceship: Is It Possible For China To Build A Kilometre-Long Spacecraft?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e0571402e3/crp_MEGA-SPACESHIP-IS-IT-POSSIBLE-FOR-CHINA-TO-BUILD-A-KILOMETRE-LONG-SPACECRAFT.jpg)
Mega Spaceship: Is It Possible For China To Build A Kilometre-Long Spacecraft?
Buoyed on by its successful Moon missions, China has launched a five-year study to investigate the possibility of building the biggest-ever spacecraft
![Are We Getting Happier?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e1bf1d38d0/crp_ARE-WE-GETTING-HAPPIER.jpg)
Are We Getting Happier?
Enjoying more good days than bad? Feel like that bounce in your step’s getting bigger? HELEN RUSSELL looks into whether we’re all feeling more cheery…
![“Unless the Japanese got the US off their backs in the Pacific, they believed they would face complete destruction”](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e0a823ca13/crp_Unless-the-Japanese-got-the-US-off-their-backs-in-the-Pacific-they-believed-they-would-face-complete-destruction.jpg)
“Unless the Japanese got the US off their backs in the Pacific, they believed they would face complete destruction”
Eighty years ago Japan’s surprise raid on Pearl Harbor forced the US offthe fence and into the Second World War. Ellie Cawthorne is making a new HistoryExtra podcast series about the attack, and she spoke to Christopher Harding about the long roots of Japan’s disastrous decision
![Your Mysterious Brain](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e138786c0d/crp_YOUR-MYSTERIOUS-BRAIN.jpg)
Your Mysterious Brain
Science has mapped the surface of Mars and translated the code for life. By comparison, we know next to nothing about what’s between our ears. Over the next few pages, we ask leading scientists to answer some of the most important questions about our brains…
![Why Do We Fall In Love?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e16c2e3b76/crp_WHY-DO-WE-FALL-IN-LOVE.jpg)
Why Do We Fall In Love?
Is it companionship, procreation or something more? DR ANNA MACHIN reveals what makes us so willing to become targets for Cupid’s arrow
![Detecting the dead](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5447/878537/621e159a177ad/crp_Detecting-the-dead.jpg)
Detecting the dead
Following personal tragedy, the creator of that most rational of literary figures, Sherlock Holmes, developed an obsession with spiritualism. Fiona Snailham and Anna Maria Barry explore the supernatural interests of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle