As scientists learn more about how humans make decisions, new interdisciplinary fields of study are emerging that use brain scans to discover what people really think.

Many Native Americans are unhappy with the way their culture is portrayed in Second Life. Some take one look at how their culture is being used and never return. Others are fighting back.

Meditation can have both practical and spiritual dimensions, and those suffering from chronic illnesses may find relief in the practice.

The nearness of death causes people to reminisce and to contemplate life, say hospice workers. The process, known as life review, can be therapeutic, they say, but it can also lead to depression, anxiety and guilt.