As we reflect on the past year, a selection of remarkable in-depth pieces shines. These accounts explore multifaceted themes including political intrigue and scientific discoveries to deeply personal sagas.
The Mysterious Writer and the Moral Fabric of a Country
An author rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with biting commentaries on authoritarianism. While several of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or fled the country, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. It raises a pertinent question: Has the author become an defender for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Conflict
The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his only way out of incarceration was to join the government military. After fourteen years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could now put him in mortal danger.
The Fierce Feud Over Our Ancient Origins
The finding of ancient bones in the Chadian sands in the early 2000s was heralded as completely changing the history of our species. However, a faction was in agreement. The subsequent bitter argument has taken over the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.
The British Sect That Hid in the Open
One woman was only a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the disturbing breadth of exploitation it had carried out.
The Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
A great many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to human rights. However, the record over the past year has been strikingly ambiguous.
Breaking a Country's Identity
A documentary tracking a remorseful master criminal as she sets up corrupt individuals with hidden cameras raises difficult questions: Is she truly reformed, and what are the director's true methods?
A Man Who Decontaminates Britain's Darkest Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging hours, families turn to him to restore normalcy.
Will an Renowned Museum Weather an "Perfect Storm"?
Plagued by restitution claims, difficult finances and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's premier museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an effective treatment solution – up until perhaps now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas influence the uppermost levels of government.
An English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret
With his sharp intellect and impeccable reputation, it's understandable that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their assets. Then they began to get suspicious.
The Tiny State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Hub
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has transformed into a major player on the international scene, striving to mediate some of the most long-standing disputes. What are behind this unprecedented role?
A Inside View at a President Gearing Up for International Battle
Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader relishes the international stage, where he presents himself as the statesman most equipped to handle a certain former US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a writer joined him as he prepared for battle.
Inside the Court Case of a Tragic Story
What led to the daughter of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with killing their two-week-old baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Development Organization: Far From Widespread Regret
When efforts were made to dismantle a major US development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent letdown was far from unforeseen.
A Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women
When details about a medical experiment in the 1960s came to light, there was widespread anxiety. But the full story of the procedures is still partially shrouded.
The "Master" of the Attention Economy
He's spent a full day in a vat of goo, two days underground – and given away enormous sums of cash to selected contestants. But are these productions simply incredibly clever entertainment – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean
With sea levels increasing, much of Tuvalu's people is grappling with the reality that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: Where are they going to relocate?
One Tragic Case of Youth Destitution
As I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. I still thought his situation might improve. I was tragically wrong.
A Global AI Competition and a Crucial Move
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Now, he may hold the answers to who prevails in the worldwide technological rivalry.
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