🔗 Share this article

While we reflect on the past year, a assortment of remarkable long-form stories shines. These accounts probe multifaceted subjects ranging from geopolitical machinations and scientific discoveries to deeply personal sagas.

A Mysterious Writer and the Conscience of a Country

A certain Russian novelist became known in the nineties with scathing critiques on power. While numerous of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or fled the nation, he continues to sell vast numbers of copies. It prompts a pressing query: Has he evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?

Endurance and Collaboration in the Syrian Brutal Civil War

The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his only way to escape prison was to join the regime forces. After 14 long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may still cost him his life.

A Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Earliest Origins

The finding of ancient remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was hailed as radically rewriting the narrative of our species. Yet, some scholars was convinced. The subsequent heated scholarly debate has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

The British Sect That Operated in Plain Sight

One woman was only a child when her family became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she played a key role in expose the appalling scale of abuse it had committed.

A Leader's Curious Record on International Law

Many followers hoped that the prime minister would reaffirm the Britain's dedication to international law. But, the record over the past year has been strikingly ambiguous.

Breaking a Nation's Self-Image

A film featuring a remorseful master criminal as she ensnares unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras poses difficult queries: Is this person truly a new person, and what are the filmmaker's own motives?

A Person Who Decontaminates the UK's Darkest Stains

From crime scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and restored – it all. In their darkest times, individuals depend on him to restore normalcy.

Will an Renowned Institution Endure an "Perfect Storm"?

Beset by colonial controversy, difficult finances and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's leading museum is in a major crisis. The question remains: Is it possible to salvage its standing?

Beyond "Morning Sickness": The Torture of Severe Pregnancy

Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'dangerous sickness' by the 19th century, this condition has long been without an consistent treatment remedy – until potentially now.

A Legacy of Extremism in Modern Politics

A militant extremist and early advocate of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his ideology influence the very highest levels of the state.

The English Gentleman With a Fraudulent Secret

With his brilliant mind and flawless credentials, it's understandable that affluent individuals entrusted him with their assets. Until they began to become wary.

A Tiny Nation That Became the World's Mediation Capital

An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has become a key force on the international scene, attempting to solve some of the most complex disputes. What are behind this unprecedented role?

An Inside Look at a President Gearing Up for Global Battle

Extremely disliked at domestically, the French leader relishes the world arena, where he positions himself as the leader best placed to deal with a certain former US president. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist joined him as he prepared for the summit.

During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Case

What led to the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with killing their two-week-old infant?

The Dismantling of a Global Development Agency: Not Widespread Regret

When actions were made to drastically cut a major US development organization, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent disappointment was not unexpected.

The Shocking 1960s Experiment on South Asian Women

When details about a scientific study in the sixties came to light, there was immense shock. But the precise truth of the procedures is still partially contested.

A "Master" of the Attention Age

He's spent 24 hours in slime, 48 hours underground – and distributed huge sums of money to selected contestants. But are these stunts simply incredibly savvy clickbait – or works of daring genius?

Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Ocean

With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is confronting the prospect that their homeland may in the near future cease to exist. The urgent issue is: Where are they going to relocate?

One Tragic Story of Childhood Homelessness

As I encountered Craig he was 13 and without a home. I still hoped his life could change for the better. That hope was devastatingly wrong.

A International Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Crucial Defection

In the recent past, after spending half his life in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he could possess the secret to who wins the worldwide technological rivalry.

The finest narratives