An ambitious piece looking at observer selection effect – where a data set’s composition or properties are correlated with the very existence of its observer. The first example the piece calls on is an analysis of planes returning from WWII bombing raids with the goal of identifying which areas of the fuselage to reinforce, but it rapidly expands in scope to extinction events for our world, and our universe.
The story of the Tarahumara people of Northern Mexico, used by drug cartels to smuggle due to their capacity to run extremely long distances.
The remarkable life story of Ron Porambo, a crusading investigative journalist, whose achievements in reporting riots in 1960s Newark were eventually obscured by his own criminal exploits.
A wide ranging look at recent advances in criminal forensics, from using hair for DNA matches, to the value of teeth bite matches, fingerprinting, arson investigations and facial reconstruction.
When he wasn’t satisfied with the answers to his questions about his son’s death in police custody, a preacher in Louisiana decided to investigate himself.
The story of five different Houston residents as they faced Hurricane Harvey.
A piece relating the experiences of former IS recruits living in Europe and the military and ideological education they received when living in the caliphate.
The investigation into the strange case of Eugene Mallove, a fervent believer in cold fusion, something he hoped would revolutionise nuclear energy.
An essay examining smuggling activities taking place along the China-North Korea border.
A look at the work of the people who are convinced that a Viking treasure ship is buried somewhere in the California’s Colorado Desert.