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While we look back on the past year, a selection of remarkable long-form pieces stands out. These narratives delve into complex themes ranging from geopolitical intrigue and scientific discoveries to deeply personal journeys.

A Mysterious Novelist and the Conscience of a Nation

An author gained prominence in the post-Soviet era with biting critiques on power. While many of his writer contemporaries have encountered censorship or left the nation, he still sell millions of books. It poses a pertinent question: Has the author evolved into an defender for the establishment?

Endurance and Collaboration in Syria's Brutal Conflict

The account of a young man, who at eighteen was informed that his sole way out of prison was to enlist in the government military. After 14 years, his past as one of Assad's soldiers might still cost him his life.

A Bitter Dispute Over Humanity's Ancient Origins

The unearthing of ancient bones in the Djurab desert in the early 2000s was proclaimed as radically rewriting the story of our human race. But, a faction was in agreement. The subsequent heated scholarly debate has dominated the lives of paleoanthropologists ever since.

The British Sect That Operated in the Open

One woman was just a child when her household became part of the a religious community. As an adult, she played a key role in reveal the shocking extent of exploitation it had committed.

A Leader's Unexpected Stance on International Law

Many voters expected that the former human rights lawyer would restore the the nation's commitment to international law. However, the performance over the past year has been strikingly inconsistent.

Shattering a Country's Identity

A documentary tracking a remorseful master criminal as she records unscrupulous clients with hidden cameras asks thorny queries: Is she genuinely changed, and what are the director's own methods?

A Man Who Cleans the UK's Darkest Scenes

From crime scenes to biological waste, an extreme cleaner has encountered – and restored – everything. In their most challenging hours, families turn to him to restore normalcy.

Will an Renowned Museum Endure an "Perfect Storm"?

Burdened by colonial controversy, difficult funding and the revelation of an internal thief, the UK's premier cultural institution is in serious difficulty. The question remains: Can it repair its standing?

Beyond "Pregnancy Nausea": A Agony of Extreme Pregnancy

Known as a severe form of pregnancy sickness and once labeled 'pernicious vomiting' by the Victorians, this illness has for centuries been without an consistent treatment end – until perhaps now.

A Spectre of Extremism in Contemporary Politics

A militant extremist and early advocate of hate, a rabbi died a political pariah thirty-five years ago. Today, his ideology influence the uppermost levels of government.

The English Professional With a Fraudulent Secret

With his keen mind and sterling credentials, it's understandable that wealthy clients entrusted him with their assets. Until they began to get suspicious.

A Tiny State That Emerged as the World's Mediation Capital

An incredibly wealthy country has become a key force on the world stage, working to solve some of the most complex conflicts. What are driving this ambitious project?

An Inside View at a Leader Preparing for International Battle

Extremely unpopular at domestically, President Macron relishes the international stage, where he presents himself as the leader most equipped to handle a certain former US president. 7 years after their previous meeting, a journalist joined him as he prepared for battle.

During the Trial of a Tragic Story

What led to the daughter of an wealthy family find herself at the Old Bailey with her companion, charged with killing their newborn baby?

An Dismantling of a Major Development Organization: Far From Widespread Mourning

When actions were made to wind down a prominent development organization, many around the globe were shocked. But on the ground in a West African nation, this most recent betrayal was not unexpected.

The Unethical Mid-Century Experiment on South Asian Women

When details about a medical study in the sixties were revealed, there was immense outrage. But the precise nature of what happened remains partially contested.

A "Mozart" of the Online Economy

He's endured a full day in a vat of goo, two days buried alive – and distributed vast sums of money to selected participants. But are these productions simply very clever clickbait – or works of avant garde brilliance?

Life in a Country Endangered by the Encroaching Ocean

With sea levels rising, much of Tuvalu's residents is grappling with the possibility that their home may in the near future become uninhabitable. The urgent question is: Where are they going to go?

A Tragic Case of Childhood Homelessness

As I met Craig he was thirteen and homeless. Even then thought his situation could turn around. I was tragically misplaced.

The International AI Competition and a Key Defection

In 2020, after spending half his life in the United States, a leading AI scientist took a permanent move to his home country. Now, he could possess the answers to who wins the worldwide AI race.

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