While we consider the previous year, a selection of outstanding feature-length articles emerges. Such accounts probe complex topics ranging from political machinations and scientific discoveries to profoundly personal sagas.
The Mysterious Novelist and the Soul of a Nation
An author gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with scathing satires on autocratic rule. While many of his literary peers have encountered suppression or left the nation, he continues to sell millions of copies. This prompts a pertinent query: Has he turned into an defender for the Kremlin?
Endurance and Complicity in Syria's Brutal Conflict
The tale of Mustafa, who at 18 was told that his only path out of incarceration was to enlist in the government military. After 14 long years, his former role as one of Assad's soldiers might now cost him his life.
A Fierce Feud Over Our Earliest Origins
The unearthing of fossilised bones in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as completely changing the story of our species. However, a faction was convinced. The subsequent bitter controversy has taken over the lives of scholars ever since.
A British Sect That Hid in Plain Sight
Philippa Barnes was just a young girl when her household joined the a religious community. As an grown woman, she helped expose the appalling breadth of mistreatment it had carried out.
The Prime Minister's Puzzling Record on International Law
A great many supporters expected that the prime minister would renew the UK's dedication to international law. Yet, the record over the first year in office has been curiously mixed.
Shattering a Country's Myth
A film tracking a remorseful master criminal as she records corrupt individuals with hidden cameras asks thorny questions: Is this person truly a new person, and is the filmmaker's true motives?
A Man Who Cleans the UK's Darkest Scenes
From homicide sites to whale blubber, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and dealt with – it all. In their darkest hours, families depend on him to bring back order.
Will an Iconic Museum Survive an "Multifaceted Crisis"?
Beset by restitution claims, precarious finances and the revelation of an insider theft, the UK's number one cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Is it possible to restore its legacy?
Beyond "Morning Sickness": A Torture of Severe Condition
Called hyperemesis gravidarum and once termed 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this condition has long lacked an consistent medical remedy – until perhaps now.
A Legacy of Radicalism in Contemporary Politics
A violent extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a marginalized outcast thirty-five years ago. Today, his teachings shape the highest echelons of the state.
The British Gentleman With a Dishonest Side
With his keen intellect and sterling background, it's little wonder that affluent clients entrusted him with their assets. Then they began to become suspicious.
A Tiny Nation That Emerged as the Global Mediation Capital
An extremely rich country has risen as a key force on the world stage, attempting to solve some of the most intractable conflicts. Which factors are behind this ambitious project?
A Close-Up Look at a Leader Gearing Up for Global Battle
Extremely unpopular at home, President Macron thrives on the international stage, where he positions himself as the leader most equipped to manage a certain former US president. Seven years after their last encounter, a journalist joined him as he readied himself for battle.
During the Court Case of a Heartbreaking Story
What led to the child of an aristocrat end up at the Old Bailey with her partner, charged with killing their two-week-old baby?
The Dismantling of a Global Development Organization: Far From Universal Regret
When efforts were made to drastically cut a prominent development organization, many around the globe were surprised. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, this most recent letdown was not unforeseen.
The Disturbing Mid-Century Study on South Asian Women
When details about a scientific study in the 1960s came to light, there was immense anxiety. But the precise story of what happened remains partially shrouded.
The "Genius" of the Attention Economy
He's spent 24 hours in a vat of goo, 48 hours buried alive – and given away vast sums of cash to lucky participants. But are these productions simply very clever entertainment – or works of avant garde genius?
Life in a Country Endangered by the Rising Seas
With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's population is grappling with the possibility that their islands may soon be submerged. The critical issue is: To where are they going to go?
A Heartbreaking Story of Youth Homelessness
As I encountered Craig he was thirteen and without a home. I still hoped his life could turn around. That hope was sadly wrong.
The Global Artificial Intelligence Competition and a Pivotal Move
In the recent past, after living half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a one-way ticket to China. Today, he could possess the answers to which nation prevails in the global AI race.
The most impactful journalism
