Upon look back on the previous year, a curated list of exceptional feature-length articles stands out. These accounts probe multifaceted topics ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific revelations to profoundly human journeys.
The Puzzling Novelist and the Conscience of a Country
Victor Pelevin gained prominence in the nineties with biting commentaries on authoritarianism. Although many of his writer contemporaries have encountered suppression or left the country, he continues to move millions of books. This prompts a key query: Has the author become an supporter for the establishment?
Survival and Complicity in the Syrian Brutal Conflict
The story of a young man, who at 18 was given an ultimatum that his only path out of prison was to enlist in the regime military. After 14 years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers may still put him in mortal danger.
The Fierce Argument Over Our Ancient Origins
The finding of ancient remains in the Chadian desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as fundamentally re-writing the narrative of our species. But, a faction was convinced. The subsequent bitter scholarly debate has dominated the careers of paleoanthropologists ever since.
A British Religious Group That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was only a young girl when her household became part of the Jesus Fellowship. As an grown woman, she helped uncover the disturbing breadth of exploitation it had perpetrated.
A Statesman's Unexpected Stance on Human Rights
Numerous voters expected that the prime minister would reaffirm the Britain's dedication to human rights. Yet, the record over the past year has been notably inconsistent.
Challenging a Nation's Identity
A documentary featuring a remorseful fraudster as she records corrupt clients with covert recording asks difficult queries: Is she truly changed, and what are the director's true intentions?
A Man Who Remediates the UK's Most Traumatic Stains
From murder scenes to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has seen – and cleaned – it all. In their most challenging times, families rely on him to bring back normalcy.
Can an Iconic Museum Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by restitution claims, strained funding and the discovery of an insider theft, Britain's premier cultural institution is in deep trouble. The challenge remains: Can it repair its reputation?
More Than "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Extreme Condition
Known as hyperemesis gravidarum and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries lacked an effective treatment solution – until possibly now.
The Spectre of Extremism in Modern Government
A violent extremist and pioneer of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah 35 years ago. In the present day, his teachings shape the uppermost levels of the state.
The English Professional With a Dishonest Side
With his sharp mind and impeccable reputation, it's little wonder that wealthy clients trusted him with their fortunes. Then they began to become uneasy.
The Tiny Nation That Emerged as the World's Mediation Hub
An astonishingly wealthy Gulf state has risen as a major actor on the international scene, working to broker peace in some of the most long-standing disputes. What are driving this ambitious endeavor?
An Close-Up Look at a President Preparing for International Summitry
Deeply disliked at domestically, the French leader thrives on the international arena, where he projects himself as the statesman best placed to deal with a certain former American leader. 7 years after their previous meeting, a writer accompanied him as he prepared for the summit.
Inside the Trial of a Heartbreaking Case
How did the daughter of an aristocrat find herself at the a major court with her companion, charged with the death of their two-week-old infant?
The Dismantling of a Major Development Agency: Not Widespread Mourning
When efforts were made to wind down a major US aid agency, many around the globe were shocked. But on the front lines in a West African nation, this latest letdown was far from unforeseen.
The Disturbing Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Mothers
When details about a scientific study in the sixties came to light, there was immense outrage. But the precise truth of the procedures remains somewhat shrouded.
A "Genius" of the Online Age
He's endured 24 hours in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and distributed enormous amounts of money to lucky contestants. But are these videos simply very savvy entertainment – or acts of artistic brilliance?
Life in a Country Threatened by the Rising Seas
With the ocean increasing, much of this Pacific island nation's people is facing the prospect that their home may soon cease to exist. The critical question is: To where are they going to go?
One Sorrowful Case of Youth Destitution
As I met Craig he was thirteen and without a home. Even then hoped his situation could improve. I was devastatingly misplaced.
A Global AI Competition and a Crucial Defection
In the recent past, after living decades in the United States, Song-Chun Zhu took a one-way ticket to his home country. Today, he could hold the answers to which nation wins the global AI race.
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