While we reflect on the year gone by, a curated list of remarkable in-depth articles emerges. These pieces probe intricate topics including political intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal sagas.
The Puzzling Writer and the Soul of a Country
An author rose to fame in the post-Soviet era with scathing commentaries on power. Although many of his writer contemporaries have faced suppression or left the country, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. This raises a key question: Has he become an supporter for the regime?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Horrific Conflict
The account of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only route out of prison was to join the government forces. After fourteen long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could now put him in mortal danger.
A Fierce Argument Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The unearthing of ancient bones in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically changing the narrative of our species. Yet, a faction was convinced. The subsequent heated scholarly debate has dominated the lives of scholars ever since.
A British Cult That Hid in the Open
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the shocking breadth of exploitation it had perpetrated.
The Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on International Law
Numerous supporters expected that the prime minister would reaffirm the the nation's dedication to human rights. But, the record over the past year has been curiously mixed.
Challenging a Country's Myth
A documentary tracking a remorseful master criminal as she sets up unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras raises complex queries: Is this person truly a new person, and is the filmmaker's own motives?
A Man Who Remediates Britain's Most Difficult Stains
From crime scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has witnessed – and restored – it all. In their darkest times, people turn to him to restore normalcy.
Will an Iconic Institution Weather an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Burdened by restitution claims, difficult funding and the discovery of an insider theft, the UK's premier museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?
More Than "Morning Sickness": The Agony of Extreme Pregnancy
Referred to as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an effective treatment remedy – until potentially now.
A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Government
A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. In the present day, his ideology influence the uppermost levels of government.
An English Professional With a Fraudulent Side
With his keen intellect and flawless credentials, it's understandable that high-net-worth individuals trusted him with their wealth. Then they began to become wary.
The Tiny State That Emerged as the Global Diplomatic Capital
An incredibly rich Gulf state has become a significant player on the international scene, working to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. What are driving this unprecedented project?
A Close-Up View at a President Gearing Up for Global Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, President Macron enjoys the world arena, where he presents himself as the leader most equipped to handle a particular former American leader. 7 years after their previous encounter, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the summit.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case
What led to the child of an wealthy family find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old baby?
The End of a Major Development Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest betrayal was far from unforeseen.
A Disturbing 1960s Study on Indian Women
When details about a scientific study in the 1960s became public, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact story of the procedures is still partially unclear.
The "Genius" of the Online Age
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and showered huge sums of cash to selected participants. But are these videos simply incredibly clever clickbait – or acts of daring brilliance?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of Tuvalu's population is facing the reality that their homeland may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: Where are they going to relocate?
A Tragic Story of Youth Homelessness
As I encountered a young boy he was 13 and homeless. I still believed his situation might change for the better. That hope was sadly wrong.
A International AI Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he could hold the secret to who wins the global technological rivalry.
The best journalism
