While we reflect on the previous year, a assortment of exceptional long-form stories stands out. Such pieces probe complex topics from political machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply human journeys.
A Puzzling Author and the Conscience of a Nation
A certain Russian novelist became known in the post-Soviet era with biting satires on authoritarianism. While many of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or left the country, he continues to move millions of copies. This raises a pressing question: Has he turned into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was informed that his sole path to escape prison was to join the government forces. Following fourteen years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters might still put him in mortal danger.
The Bitter Argument Over Humanity's Earliest Origins
The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Chadian sands in 2001 was heralded as completely changing the story of our human race. Yet, a faction was convinced. The ensuing bitter scholarly debate has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
One woman was only a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she played a key role in reveal the appalling extent of abuse it had perpetrated.
A Leader's Curious Record on International Law
Numerous supporters expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to international law. However, the performance over the first year in office has been notably mixed.
Breaking a Country's Self-Image
A film featuring a repentant con artist as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with covert recording raises difficult questions: Is she truly a new person, and what are the filmmaker's true intentions?
The Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and restored – everything. In their stickiest times, people depend on him to restore peace.
Will an Famous Institution Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Plagued by debates over its collection, difficult finances and the exposure of an insider theft, Britain's number one cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it restore its standing?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Severe Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has long lacked an consistent treatment remedy – until potentially now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A militant fanatic and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas permeate the uppermost echelons of government.
The British Professional With a Fraudulent Side
With his keen intellect and flawless reputation, it's little wonder that affluent clients trusted him with their assets. Until they started to get wary.
A Small State That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Capital
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has become a major force on the international scene, attempting to mediate some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are behind this ambitious project?
A Close-Up Look at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle
Deeply unpopular at home, President Macron relishes the world stage, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to deal with a particular sitting American leader. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer joined him as he readied himself for the fray.
Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?
An End of a Global Aid Agency: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to wind down a major US development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this latest disappointment was not unforeseen.
The Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the sixties were revealed, there was immense shock. But the exact truth of the events is still somewhat shrouded.
A "Master" of the Online Economy
He's spent a full day in slime, two days buried alive – and distributed vast sums of money to selected contestants. But are these videos simply very savvy clickbait – or works of avant garde genius?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is grappling with the possibility that their home may soon become uninhabitable. The critical question is: To where are they supposed to relocate?
One Sorrowful Case of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. I still thought his life could turn around. I was tragically mistaken.
The International Artificial Intelligence Race and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he may hold the secret to which nation prevails in the worldwide AI race.
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