While we reflect on the previous year, a selection of remarkable long-form articles stands out. These pieces delve into intricate topics including geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply personal stories.
The Enigmatic Author and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
An author became known in the 1990s with biting commentaries on authoritarianism. While several of his literary contemporaries have faced censorship or left the country, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. It poses a key query: Has the author become an defender for the regime?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Conflict
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole route to escape prison was to enlist in the government forces. Following fourteen years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers could still put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in the early 2000s was hailed as radically changing the narrative of our human race. However, some scholars was convinced. The resulting bitter scholarly debate has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.
A UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her household became part of the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the shocking extent of exploitation it had perpetrated.
A Leader's Puzzling Record on International Law
A great many followers anticipated that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the record over the past year has been curiously inconsistent.
Challenging a Country's Self-Image
A documentary tracking a repentant master criminal as she records unscrupulous clients with covert recording asks thorny queries: Is this person truly a new person, and is the filmmaker's own methods?
The Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Stains
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and cleaned – it all. In their darkest hours, people rely on him to bring back order.
Will an Iconic Institution Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, precarious funding and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The question remains: Can it repair its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an consistent medical end – up until perhaps now.
The Legacy of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology influence the highest echelons of government.
An English Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his sharp intellect and impeccable reputation, it's little wonder that high-net-worth clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to get wary.
The Small Nation That Emerged as the World's Diplomatic Hub
An incredibly rich country has become a key actor on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. Which factors are fueling this ambitious endeavor?
An Close-Up Look at a Leader Preparing for Global Battle
Deeply disliked at domestically, President Macron thrives on the world arena, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a particular sitting US president. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Development Agency: Not Universal Mourning
When actions were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the globe were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was not unforeseen.
The Unethical 1960s Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When information about a scientific study in the 1960s were revealed, there was widespread shock. But the full story of the procedures is still somewhat shrouded.
A "Genius" of the Attention Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and given away huge sums of money to lucky contestants. But are these stunts simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of daring genius?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's people is facing the reality that their homeland may soon be submerged. The critical question is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Youth Destitution
When I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. Even then thought his situation could turn around. That hope was sadly mistaken.
A Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Move
In 2020, after spending half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he might hold the secret to who prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
The finest narratives
