Skip to content

Why an 'epidemic' of loneliness affects health

A report by the former top doctor in the US, Vivek Murthy, says 40% of adults in the US report feeling lonely. Why?

Video by Nadeem Shad.

17 November 2017

Explore More

BBC News

One-minute World News

Country home blanketed in snow

Snowy Saturday as Storm Bert sweeps the UK

With some travel disruption, children and dogs have been enjoying the cold weather

Watch: Scotland under a blanket of snow from Storm Bert

Science & Environment

BBC Middle East correspondent Hugo Bachega at scene of destroyed building in Beirut, Lebanon

Beirut strike 'so powerful it was felt across the city'

BBC Scotland's Judith Ralston says snow will extend into northern Scotland over the next few hours.

The latest weather forecast for Scotland as Storm Bert hits

90s boy band Damage in a black and white promotional photo

Watch: Boy band Damage on their journey to stardom

Phone footage of a skate surfacing out of grey waves to a rigid inflatable boat.ttack the side of a inflatable

Watch the moment a skate attacks a fisherman's boat off Shetland

NE, Orkney & Shetland

People in high-vis jackets walk next to a car submerged in floods on the left of a split screen with a snowy road on the right

Atmospheric river dumps snow and record rain on California

Science & Environment

Smoke billows from house fire.

Video shows flames and thick smoke at house fire

A view from an EasyJet plane window as it flies above and to the side of an erupting volcano

Plane passengers film Iceland volcano lava from above

BBC News

East of England weather forecast

Composite image of Sir Keir Starmer and BBC Radio WM presenter Kath Stanczyszyn, who is pictured wearing headphones and speaking into a purple microphone

Will there be a Birmingham pub bombings inquiry?

Birmingham & Black Country

A huge Christmas tree on a flatbed lorry in font of the US Capitol building

US Capitol Christmas tree arrives in DC

Blurred still image from video clips shows people being taken out of a car

Migrants asked to rate trip in smuggler review videos

John Darvall sat on the left of a composite image, in a purple studio with a microphone in front of him. On the right is Keir Starmer with grey hair and brown glasses.

PM challenged on West's councils facing bankruptcy

BBC Newsline

BBC Newsline signed summary

BBC Scotland weather presenter Christopher Blanchett in front of a weather map of Scotland showing snow warnings.

Watch the Storm Bert weather forecast for Scotland

Mural of The Smiths bassist Andy Rourke unveiled

Parts of West Burton A power station being demolished

Power station demolition captured by drone

Man clinging to a cliff being rescued

Moment person clinging to cliff is rescued by helicopter

Ryan Borgwardt

US kayaker who faked own death thought to have fled to Europe

US police appeal for a missing man to come back home for Christmas with his family.

Composite image of Donald Trump and Elon Musk alongside the Starship taking off

Trump joins Musk to watch Starship test launch

The president-elect visited the launch site in Texas to watch the spacecraft's sixth test flight.

Firefighters helping people stuck on ride.

Riders stuck midair for hours on California park ride

The spinning ride left 22 people stranded after it encountered technical difficulties.

Pete, Trump and Pam are next to each other.

A look at Trump's new top team... in 85 seconds

Among the allies the president-elect has chosen to join his administration are contentious figures, including among fellow Republicans.

Meteor lights up the night sky.

Meteor lights up night sky over parts of US and Canada

The American Meteor Society received at least 170 eyewitness reports of the falling star from both countries.

Kennedy is speaking a crowd while Trump looks at him.

Trump names vaccine sceptic RFK Jr for health secretary

The president-elect has nominated RFK to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.

Smoke is seen from the top of a building.

Watch: Thick smoke billows from New York skyscraper

Approximately 80 firefighters responded to a blaze in a luxury Manhattan apartment building.

Why is Kamala Harris still asking for campaign donations?

A week after losing the election, Kamala Harris's team are still appealing for funds.

Police officer smashing sunroof of vehicle submerged in pool

Police bodycam shows man being rescued from submerged car

The man told officers he "accidentally stepped on the gas too hard" driving the vehicle into a pool.

Sumi Somaskanda stands on the left and Trump stands on the right.

What a Republican trifecta means for Trump's second term

Republicans have won control of both chambers of Congress, yielding Trump limited congressional oversight for at least 2 years.

A huge cloud of dust sweeps over fields and trees.

Giant wall of dust sweeps across central California

The huge dust storm - also known as a haboob - limited visibility and left many residents in the dark.

Flame and smoke billow over train tracks

Watch: Moment large fire explodes on New York train line

A transformer fire in the Bronx has caused an explosion, suspending train services between New York and New Haven.

Donald Trump and Joe Biden in Oval Office

‘Welcome back’ - Watch moment Biden congratulates Trump

The president and president-elect shook hands as part of a long-standing tradition signifying the transfer of power.

Biden is on the left and Trump is on the right.

What we can expect from Trump and Biden's meeting

Given all the things they’ve said about each other, Joe Biden and Donald Trump’s meeting could be really awkward.

split screen of building damage and a man

Watch: Drone footage captures Kentucky explosion damage

An "unknown" explosion at factory in Louisville, Kentucky injured 11 people on Tuesday.

Firefighter crew drives down street with burning trees

Crews battle deadly Jennings Creek wildfire

A teenage park ranger was killed while battling the blaze over the weekend.

A large burst of fire is seen breaking out over a street with several cars

Moment vehicle explodes on quiet New York street

Officials are still investigating the cause of the blast, which damaged homes and vehicles.

Truck crashing into parked vehicle narrowly missing worker

Watch: Moment road worker dodges high-speed truck crash

Footage shows a truck crash and almost hit a highway worker on the side of an Interstate in New York.

Woman taking picture of a helicopter and wildfire smoke filling the sky

Smoke towers over homes as wildfire spreads near Los Angeles

The fast-moving fire has burned homes and engulfed more than 14,000 acres in Ventura County, according to officials.

Joe Biden wearing a suit holding up a fist

Watch: Biden urges Democrats to 'get back up' after Trump win

The president addressed Americans from the White House for the first time since Donald Trump's election victory.