The long read
In-depth reporting, essays and profiles
Slash and burn: is private equity out of control? – podcast
From football clubs to water companies, music catalogues to care homes, private equity has infiltrated almost every facet of modern life in its endless search to maximise profits. By Alex Blasdel
Inside the Paris attacks trial: ‘A man stood up and said: “Stop it, what are you doing?” One of the killers shot him’
The long read: On 13 November 2015, 130 people were murdered by Islamist extremists. Six years later, the trial began. I attended court every day to try to understand the killers’ motivations and hear from those whose lives had been irrevocably changed
10 years of the long read: Hand dryers v paper towels: the surprisingly dirty fight for the right to dry your hands (2019) – podcast
This week from 2019: For a century, the humble paper towel has dominated public toilets. But a new generation of hand dryers has sparked a war for loo supremacy. By Samanth Subramanian
Has poppymania gone too far?
The long read: Over the past 20 years, the symbol of remembrance for the war dead has become increasingly ubiquitous – and a culture of poppy policing has grown with it
Hidden traces of humanity: what AI images reveal about our world – podcast
As generative AI advances, it is easy to see it as yet another area where machines are taking over – but humans remain at the centre of AI art, just in ways we might not expect. By Rachel Ossip
The other British invasion: how UK lingo conquered the US – podcast
It used to be that Britons would complain about Americanisms diluting the English language. But in fact it’s a two-way street. By Ben Yagoda
‘I couldn’t cry over my children like everyone else’: the tragedy of Palestinian journalist Wael al-Dahdouh
The long read: After his wife and two of his children were killed in Gaza, Al Jazeera journalist Wael al-Dahdouh became famous around the world for his decision to keep reporting. But this was just the start of his heartbreaking journey
10 years of the long read: Why Silicon Valley billionaires are prepping for the apocalypse in New Zealand (2018) – podcast
This week from 2018: How an extreme libertarian tract predicting the collapse of liberal democracies – written by Jacob Rees-Mogg’s father – inspired the likes of Peter Thiel to buy up property across the Pacific. By Mark O’Connell
‘You tried to tell yourself I wasn’t real’: what happens when people with acute psychosis meet the voices in their heads?
The long read: In avatar therapy, a clinician gives voice to their patients’ inner demons. For some of the participants in a new trial, the results have been astounding
‘Places to heal, not to harm’: why brutal prison design kills off hope – podcast
From razor-wire fences and crumbling cells to no windows and overcrowding, conditions in most jails mean rehabilitation is a nonstarter. Here’s how we can create better spaces for prisoners. By Yvonne Jewkes
The trial of Björn Höcke, the ‘real boss’ of Germany’s far right – podcast
As leader of the AfD’s most radical faction, he is infamous in Germany and his critics have long accused him of using language that echoes the Nazis. This year, a court put that question to the test. By Alex Dziadosz
The rollercoaster king: the man behind the UK’s fastest thrill-ride
The long read: John Burton was just 27 when he was put in charge of creating Thorpe Park’s biggest-ever project. Once too scared to go on rides himself, how did he become the architect of so many daredevils’ dreams?
10 years of the long read: How the sandwich consumed Britain (2017) – podcast
This week from 2017: The world-beating British sandwich industry is worth £8bn a year. It transformed the way we eat lunch, then did the same for breakfast – and now it’s coming for dinner. By Sam Knight
The brain collector: the scientist unravelling the mysteries of grey matter
The long read: Using cutting-edge methods, Alexandra Morton-Hayward is cracking the secrets of ancient brains – even as hers betrays her
‘For me, there was no other choice’: inside the global illegal organ trade – podcast
I spoke to dozens of people – from ‘donors’ to brokers – to find out how this exploitative trade thrives on chaos and desperation. By Seán Columb
How oligarchs took on the UK fraud squad – and won – podcast
It began as a routine investigation into a multinational called ENRC. It became a decade-long saga that has rocked the UK’s financial crime agency. Now new documents illuminate a case that has rewritten UK law and is set to end with a huge bill handed to taxpayers. By Tom Burgis
After Marie Kondo: the return of Japan’s joyful clutter
The long read: The world has long been in thrall to the idea that Japan is a haven of controlled, ordered minimalism. But the reality is much different – and far messier – than you might expect
10 years of the long read: Man v rat: could the long war soon be over? (2016) – podcast
This week from 2016: Rats spread disease, decimate crops and very occasionally eat people alive. For centuries, we have struggled to find an effective way of controlling their numbers. Until now… By Jordan Kisner
Journalist or Russian spy? The strange case of Pablo González
The long read: As a Spanish reporter, Pablo González charmed his way into Russian opposition circles and covered Putin’s wars. Then, in 2022, he was arrested on suspicion of espionage. Many former associates now believe that he betrayed them
Morality and rules, and how to avoid drowning: what my daughters learned at school in China – podcast
Our twins spent two years at primary school in Chengdu. Their lessons featured alarming cautionary tales and stories of Chinese superiority, but there was fun and irreverence, too. By Peter Hessler
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