As we consider the year gone by, a selection of exceptional in-depth pieces shines. These narratives delve into complex topics including geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly personal journeys.
A Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country
An author rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with sharp critiques on autocratic rule. While many of his literary peers have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he continues to sell millions of copies. It prompts a key query: Has the author evolved into an apologist for the establishment?
Endurance and Complicity in the Syrian Devastating Conflict
The tale of a young man, who at eighteen was informed that his sole way out of prison was to enlist in the regime military. Following fourteen years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may still put him in mortal danger.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The finding of ancient bones in the Djurab desert in 2001 was proclaimed as radically rewriting the story of our human race. But, some scholars was convinced. The ensuing intense scholarly debate has consumed the careers of scholars ever since.
The UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in uncover the shocking breadth of mistreatment it had perpetrated.
The Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on International Law
A great many followers expected that the prime minister would renew the the nation's commitment to international law. Yet, the performance over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A film featuring a remorseful master criminal as she sets up unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras asks complex queries: Is she truly a new person, and is the director's true motives?
A Person Who Remediates Britain's Darkest Stains
From murder scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has witnessed – and restored – it all. In their stickiest hours, people turn to him to bring back peace.
Can an Renowned Institution Survive an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's premier cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The challenge remains: Can it repair its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Torture of Severe Pregnancy
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an reliable medical remedy – until potentially now.
The Legacy of Extremism in Modern Government
A militant extremist and pioneer of bigotry, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas influence the highest levels of government.
An English Professional With a Fraudulent Secret
With his sharp intellect and flawless reputation, it's little wonder that affluent individuals trusted him with their fortunes. Until they began to become suspicious.
A Small Nation That Became the Global Diplomatic Center
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major player on the international scene, working to mediate some of the most intractable conflicts. What are fueling this unprecedented endeavor?
A Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron thrives on the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman uniquely positioned to deal with a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a journalist accompanied him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the child of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her partner, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby?
The End of a Major Development Organization: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent disappointment was not unexpected.
A Unethical 1960s Study on South Asian Women
When details about a scientific experiment in the sixties became public, there was widespread anxiety. But the precise nature of the events remains partially shrouded.
A "Master" of the Online Age
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, 48 hours underground – and showered enormous amounts of money to lucky participants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or acts of avant garde brilliance?
Life in a Nation Threatened by the Rising Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is facing the prospect that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The pressing question is: To where are they going to go?
A Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Homelessness
As I encountered Craig he was 13 and homeless. Even then believed his situation might improve. That hope was devastatingly wrong.
A International AI Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to China. Today, he might possess the answers to who prevails in the global technological rivalry.
The most impactful narratives
