As we consider the year gone by, a curated list of exceptional feature-length articles shines. Such pieces explore multifaceted themes from political intrigue and scientific discoveries to profoundly human sagas.
A Puzzling Author and the Conscience of a Country
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the nineties with sharp commentaries on power. While several of his writer contemporaries have faced censorship or fled the nation, he continues to move millions of copies. This prompts a pressing question: Has he evolved into an apologist for the Kremlin?
Survival and Complicity in Syria's Devastating Conflict
The account of Mustafa, who at eighteen was informed that his sole path out of prison was to enlist in the government forces. After fourteen long years, his history as one of the Syrian leader's soldiers might still get him killed.
A Bitter Feud Over Our Ancient Beginnings
The unearthing of fossilised remains in the Djurab sands in 2001 was proclaimed as completely changing the story of our human race. But, not everyone was in agreement. The subsequent heated controversy has consumed the lives of scholars ever since.
The British Sect That Operated in the Open
One woman was just a young girl when her family joined the Jesus Fellowship. As an adult, she played a key role in expose the disturbing extent of mistreatment it had committed.
The Leader's Curious Record on Human Rights
A great many followers hoped that the prime minister would renew the the nation's commitment to human rights. But, the track record over the past year has been notably inconsistent.
Breaking a Nation's Myth
A documentary featuring a repentant fraudster as she ensnares corrupt clients with hidden cameras poses difficult questions: Is she really reformed, and is the director's own motives?
A Person Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has witnessed – and dealt with – it all. In their most challenging times, families rely on him to bring back peace.
Can an Iconic Institution Survive an "Omni-Crisis"?
Burdened by debates over its collection, difficult finances and the discovery of an internal thief, the UK's premier cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it salvage its standing?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Torture of Extreme Condition
Called a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an effective treatment end – up until possibly now.
A Spectre of Extremism in Modern Government
A violent fanatic and pioneer of bigotry, Meir Kahane died a political pariah 35 years ago. Now, his ideas shape the highest levels of the state.
An English Gentleman With a Dishonest Side
With his keen intellect and sterling reputation, it's little wonder that affluent clients entrusted him with their wealth. Then they started to get uneasy.
The Small Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Hub
An astonishingly wealthy country has become a key actor on the world stage, attempting to broker peace in some of the most intractable disputes. What are driving this unprecedented endeavor?
A Close-Up View at a President Preparing for Global Summitry
Deeply disliked at home, the French leader thrives on the international stage, where he positions himself as the leader uniquely positioned to manage a certain sitting US president. 7 years after their last encounter, a writer accompanied him as he readied himself for the fray.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
How did the child of an wealthy family end up at the a major court with her companion, facing charges with the death of their two-week-old baby?
The End of a Major Aid Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to drastically cut a major US aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was not unforeseen.
The Shocking 1960s Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the sixties became public, there was widespread anxiety. But the exact nature of what happened is still somewhat unclear.
A "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's endured a full day in slime, two days underground – and given away enormous amounts of cash to selected participants. But are these videos simply very clever entertainment – or works of avant garde brilliance?
Existence in a Country Endangered by the Rising Ocean
With the ocean rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is grappling with the prospect that their homeland may in the near future be submerged. The urgent question is: To where are they going to relocate?
One Sorrowful Story of Childhood Destitution
When I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then thought his situation might turn around. I was devastatingly misplaced.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Race and a Key Defection
In the recent past, after spending decades in the US, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he may possess the key to which nation wins the global technological rivalry.
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