02/02/2022 GMT

Play is universal across human cultures and time. Most mammals play, even into adulthood, but it’s an evolutionary puzzle: at best, time spent playing looks like time wasted; at worst, having your attention diverted by play puts you at risk of being eaten by a predator. But humans are the pre-eminent playful species, from babies’ rattles through to bridge clubs for seniors. It’s claimed that play makes us creative, helps us select mates, and staves off cognitive decline. This series looks at play across cultures, through time, and during the course of a single human life. It’s a universally-relevant exploration of why play is both the most joyful and the most serious part of all of us.