As we consider the previous year, a selection of remarkable long-form pieces shines. These pieces delve into multifaceted topics ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human journeys.
The Mysterious Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with sharp commentaries on autocratic rule. Although many of his writer peers have faced suppression or fled the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. It prompts a pressing question: Has the author become an supporter for the establishment?
Survival and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The tale of Mustafa, who at eighteen was told that his only route out of prison was to join the government military. After fourteen years, his history as one of Assad's fighters might still put him in mortal danger.
A Fierce Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of ancient bones in the Djurab sands in 2001 was heralded as radically rewriting the story of our human race. But, a faction was convinced. The subsequent intense argument has taken over the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The British Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
One woman was only a child when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the disturbing scale of abuse it had carried out.
A Prime Minister's Curious Record on International Law
Many followers anticipated that the prime minister would renew the the nation's commitment to international law. However, the record over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Myth
A documentary tracking a remorseful con artist as she records unscrupulous clients with covert recording raises complex questions: Is she really changed, and what are the filmmaker's true methods?
A Man Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Scenes
From homicide sites to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and restored – it all. In their darkest times, individuals depend on him to bring back order.
Will an Famous Museum Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's leading museum is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it restore its legacy?
More Than "Morning Sickness": A Suffering of Severe Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an consistent treatment solution – up until potentially now.
The Spectre of Radicalism in Contemporary Government
A violent fanatic and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas influence the very highest echelons of government.
An English Gentleman With a Crooked Side
With his brilliant intellect and flawless credentials, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their fortunes. Until they started to become suspicious.
The Tiny Nation That Became the World's Mediation Capital
An incredibly wealthy country has risen as a major actor on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most complex conflicts. What are driving this ambitious endeavor?
An Inside View at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader thrives on the international stage, where he projects himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a particular sitting US president. Seven years after their previous encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.
During the Court Case of a Tragic Case
What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old infant?
An End of a Major Development Organization: Far From Universal Mourning
When actions were made to dismantle a major US aid agency, many around the world were taken aback. But on the front lines in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was far from unexpected.
The Disturbing 1960s Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When information about a medical experiment in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the exact story of what happened is still somewhat unclear.
A "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered huge amounts of cash to selected participants. But are these productions simply very savvy clickbait – or works of daring brilliance?
Existence in a Country Threatened by the Encroaching Seas
With the ocean rising, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the prospect that their homeland may soon become uninhabitable. The pressing issue is: To where are they going to go?
One Heartbreaking Story of Youth Destitution
As I met a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still thought his situation could turn around. I was tragically misplaced.
The Global AI Competition and a Key Defection
In 2020, after living decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to his home country. Today, he could hold the secret to which nation wins the worldwide AI race.
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