Here was a plague
A sobering, finely wrought and hugely powerful narrative of the Aids epidemic in the 1980s.
How Will Police Solve Murders on Mars?
As a deep dive into the policing of Mars colonies, this piece is by definition somewhat speculative, but it is no less interesting for it.
Who Really Stands to Win from Universal Basic Income?
This piece kicks off with an insight – “Economics is at heart a narrative art, a frame across which data points are woven into stories about how the world should work.” It then proceeds to examine universal basic income as an economic narrative, its roots in English history, and the lessons learned from its application in countries around the world.
China’s Selfie Obsession
A piece examining the phenomenal success of MeituÕs social apps, installed on over a billion devices, and changing self-image across their user base.
Dry, the Beloved Country
A piece that examines the response to a severe drought in Cape Town. Whilst undoubtedly a crisis, it has also become “a kind of vast, unplanned, crazy—and fabulous—social experiment”.
An Ad Hoc Affair
A profile of Jane Jacobs, a writer and urban planning activist, that lauds her “clear-eyed vision of humanity”.
The Man Who Solved His Own Murder
An account of the murder of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian spy killed in London ten years ago – a story of incompetence, intrigue, criminality and authoritarianism. It’s worth listening to the audio too.
The Real Scandal Behind the Panama Papers
A Nobel prize winning economist describes his experience serving on a commission convened after the release of the Panama Papers.
The Prisoner
The story of Edwin Debrow, a 37 year old man who has been incarcerated since he was convicted of murder at the age of 12.
Going underground: inside the world of the mole-catchers
A look at the surprisingly bitter infighting that exists in the mole-catching community. The profession has been in existence in the UK since the 16th century.