While we consider the previous year, a assortment of outstanding long-form articles stands out. These accounts explore multifaceted subjects from political intrigue and historical discoveries to deeply personal journeys.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Moral Fabric of a Country
A certain Russian novelist rose to fame in the 1990s with sharp critiques on power. While several of his writer peers have faced censorship or left the nation, he still sell millions of books. It prompts a pressing query: Has the author turned into an supporter for the establishment?
Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Horrific Conflict
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his sole way out of incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After 14 long years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers may still cost him his life.
A Acrimonious Argument Over Our Earliest Origins
The finding of ancient bones in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was heralded as completely rewriting the narrative of our species. But, not everyone was in agreement. The resulting heated controversy has consumed the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her family joined the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in uncover the appalling scale of exploitation it had carried out.
A Statesman's Puzzling Stance on International Law
Numerous voters expected that the prime minister would restore the UK's dedication to international law. However, the track record over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.
Breaking a Country's Identity
A documentary tracking a repentant con artist as she records unscrupulous individuals with covert recording raises complex questions: Is she truly changed, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?
The Person Who Decontaminates Britain's Most Traumatic Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and restored – it all. In their darkest moments, families depend on him to bring back order.
Will an Iconic Institution Endure an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by restitution claims, difficult finances and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's premier museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it restore its reputation?
Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Torture of Severe Condition
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries been without an effective medical end – until potentially now.
A Spectre of Extremism in Modern Government
A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideas shape the very highest levels of the state.
The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his sharp mind and sterling reputation, it's understandable that high-net-worth individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get uneasy.
A Small State That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Center
An extremely wealthy Gulf state has become a significant player on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most complex disputes. Which factors are driving this unprecedented endeavor?
An Inside View at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader relishes the world stage, where he projects himself as the leader most equipped to deal with a certain former US president. Seven years after their last meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for battle.
Inside the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with the death of their newborn infant?
An Dismantling of a Global Development Agency: Far From Universal Regret
When actions were made to dismantle a prominent development organization, many around the world were surprised. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was not unforeseen.
A Shocking 1960s Study on South Asian Mothers
When information about a medical experiment in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the exact nature of the events is still partially contested.
The "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's endured a full day in slime, two days underground – and showered vast sums of money to selected participants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or acts of artistic genius?
Existence in a Nation Threatened by the Encroaching Ocean
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's residents is grappling with the prospect that their home may in the near future cease to exist. The critical issue is: Where are they going to go?
A Heartbreaking Case of Childhood Destitution
When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and homeless. I still believed his situation might change for the better. I was tragically mistaken.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Now, he could possess the answers to which nation prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
The most impactful stories
