While we reflect on the past year, a assortment of exceptional feature-length articles stands out. These accounts explore complex themes from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly human sagas.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the 1990s with sharp commentaries on power. Although numerous of his writer peers have faced censorship or left the country, he continues to sell millions of books. This prompts a pressing question: Has the author evolved into an defender for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Civil War
The story of a young man, who at eighteen was given an ultimatum that his only route to escape prison was to enlist in the government military. After fourteen years, his past as one of the Syrian leader's fighters may now put him in mortal danger.
A Fierce Dispute Over Humanity's Ancient Beginnings
The unearthing of ancient bones in the Djurab desert in 2001 was proclaimed as radically re-writing the narrative of our human race. But, some scholars was persuaded. The ensuing intense scholarly debate has taken over the careers of scholars ever since.
A UK Religious Group That Hid in the Open
One woman was only a child when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she helped uncover the appalling breadth of exploitation it had committed.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on Human Rights
Many voters expected that the prime minister would renew the the nation's commitment to international law. However, the track record over the past year has been strikingly mixed.
Challenging a Country's Self-Image
A film tracking a remorseful master criminal as she ensnares unscrupulous individuals with hidden cameras asks complex questions: Is she genuinely reformed, and what are the director's true motives?
The Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Most Difficult Stains
From crime scenes to biological waste, Ben Giles has encountered – and cleaned – everything. In their darkest times, people turn to him to bring back peace.
Will an Famous Museum Weather an "Omni-Crisis"?
Plagued by debates over its collection, precarious funding and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's premier museum is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it repair its reputation?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'dangerous sickness' by the Victorians, this condition has for centuries lacked an reliable medical solution – up until perhaps now.
The Ghost of Extremism in Modern Politics
A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Now, his ideas shape the highest levels of the state.
The British Gentleman With a Dishonest Secret
With his brilliant intellect and flawless credentials, it's understandable that affluent individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get uneasy.
The Small State That Became the World's Diplomatic Hub
An astonishingly rich Gulf state has risen as a major actor on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most intractable disputes. Which factors are fueling this unprecedented role?
A Close-Up View at a Leader Preparing for Global Summitry
Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international stage, where he projects himself as the leader uniquely positioned to handle a certain sitting American leader. Seven years after their previous encounter, a journalist accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Tragic Story
How did 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 baby?
An Dismantling of a Global Aid Organization: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a prominent aid agency, many around the world were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was not unforeseen.
A Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on Indian Women
When information about a medical experiment in the 1960s became public, there was widespread outrage. But the precise nature of what happened is still partially unclear.
The "Mozart" of the Attention Economy
He's endured 24 hours in slime, 48 hours underground – and given away vast amounts of cash to selected participants. But are these productions simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or acts of avant garde genius?
Existence in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's population is confronting the prospect that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The critical question is: To where are they going to go?
One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Homelessness
When I encountered a young boy he was 13 and without a home. I still thought his situation could turn around. That hope was devastatingly wrong.
The International AI Competition and a Pivotal Defection
In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he could hold the key to who wins the global technological rivalry.
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