While we look back on the past year, a selection of remarkable long-form articles stands out. Such pieces delve into complex subjects including geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to deeply personal journeys.
The Enigmatic Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country
A certain Russian novelist became known in the 1990s with biting critiques on power. While several of his writer peers have encountered suppression or left the country, he continues to sell vast numbers of books. It raises a pressing query: Has the author evolved into an defender for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Civil War
The tale of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his sole path out of incarceration was to join the regime military. After 14 years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers could still put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The unearthing of ancient remains in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was heralded as fundamentally re-writing the story of our human race. But, not everyone was in agreement. The resulting heated scholarly debate has taken over the careers of researchers ever since.
A British Cult That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped expose the disturbing breadth of mistreatment it had carried out.
The Leader's Curious Stance on International Law
Many followers hoped that the former human rights lawyer would renew the UK's commitment to international law. However, the performance over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A film featuring a remorseful fraudster as she ensnares corrupt individuals with covert recording asks complex questions: Is she really a new person, and what are the filmmaker's own methods?
A Man Who Cleans Britain's Most Traumatic Stains
From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has seen – and cleaned – it all. In their stickiest times, people turn to him to restore order.
Can an Renowned Museum Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the exposure of an internal thief, the UK's number one cultural institution is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Can it repair its legacy?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Severe Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has for centuries lacked an reliable medical end – until perhaps now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings shape the uppermost echelons of government.
An British Professional With a Dishonest Secret
With his keen intellect and impeccable background, it's understandable that high-net-worth clients entrusted him with their wealth. Until they started to get uneasy.
A Small State That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Center
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has transformed into a key actor on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. What are fueling this unprecedented endeavor?
An Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle
Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international arena, where he presents himself as the statesman best placed to manage a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Case
What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the a major court with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
The Dismantling of a Global Development Organization: Not Universal Mourning
When actions were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was far from unforeseen.
The Shocking Mid-Century Study on Indian Women
When information about a medical experiment in the sixties became public, there was widespread anxiety. But the precise story of what happened remains partially contested.
The "Mozart" of the Online Economy
He's endured 24 hours in slime, 48 hours buried alive – and showered huge sums of money to lucky participants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With sea levels increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's residents is confronting the possibility that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The urgent issue is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution
As I met Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his life could change for the better. That hope was sadly mistaken.
A International AI Competition and a Crucial Defection
In the recent past, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he could possess the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
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