As we reflect on the past year, a assortment of outstanding feature-length articles emerges. Such pieces probe complex topics from geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human journeys.
The Enigmatic Writer and the Soul of a Nation
Victor Pelevin rose to fame in the 1990s with sharp commentaries on authoritarianism. Although many of his writer peers have encountered suppression or left the country, he continues to move vast numbers of copies. It raises a pertinent question: Has he evolved into an supporter for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Civil War
The story of a young man, who at 18 was told that his sole way out of prison was to join the regime military. After fourteen years, his former role as one of the Syrian leader's fighters could now get him killed.
A Bitter Dispute Over Our Earliest Beginnings
The discovery of ancient bones in the Chadian sands in 2001 was proclaimed as fundamentally re-writing the history of our human race. However, not everyone was convinced. The resulting bitter scholarly debate has taken over the lives of scholars ever since.
A UK Cult That Operated in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her household joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the shocking scale of abuse it had perpetrated.
A Prime Minister's Puzzling Stance on Human Rights
A great many supporters hoped that the former human rights lawyer would restore the UK's commitment to human rights. However, the record over the first year in office has been strikingly ambiguous.
Breaking a Nation's Self-Image
A documentary tracking a remorseful con artist as she ensnares corrupt clients with hidden cameras raises complex queries: Is she really changed, and what are the director's true intentions?
The Person Who Cleans the UK's Darkest Scenes
From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen – and dealt with – everything. In their stickiest moments, people turn to him to bring back peace.
Can an Famous Institution Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by colonial controversy, precarious finances and the revelation of an insider theft, Britain's number one museum is in a major crisis. The challenge remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Suffering of Extreme Pregnancy
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the 19th century, this illness has long been without an effective treatment end – until possibly now.
A Legacy of Radicalism in Modern Politics
A violent fanatic and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideas shape the very highest levels of government.
An English Gentleman With a Dishonest Secret
With his keen intellect and impeccable credentials, it's no surprise that wealthy individuals entrusted him with their wealth. Until they began to get uneasy.
The Small State That Became the Global Diplomatic Center
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a significant actor on the international scene, striving to broker peace in some of the most long-standing conflicts. What are behind this ambitious project?
An Inside Look at a Leader Gearing Up for International Summitry
Extremely unpopular at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international arena, where he presents himself as the leader best placed to handle a particular former American leader. Seven years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the summit.
During the Court Case of a Tragic Story
How did the child of an aristocrat find herself at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their newborn baby?
The Dismantling of a Global Aid Organization: Far From Universal Regret
When actions were made to wind down 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 not unforeseen.
The Shocking 1960s Study on South Asian Mothers
When information about a scientific experiment in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the full truth of the procedures is still somewhat contested.
A "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and showered enormous sums of money to lucky participants. But are these videos simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or acts of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Nation Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's population is confronting the possibility that their home may soon cease to exist. The urgent question is: Where are they supposed to relocate?
One Sorrowful Case of Childhood Destitution
When I encountered a young boy he was thirteen and without a home. Even then thought his life could improve. That hope was tragically wrong.
A International AI Competition and a Crucial Move
In 2020, after spending decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a permanent move to China. Now, he may possess the answers to who wins the worldwide technological rivalry.
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