Do civilisations collapse?
A piece reassessing common tropes we use to explain how civilisations decline, from Easter Island to the Maya.
Art by algorithm
An article looking at the impact of computational advances on art and aesthetics, and the potential for a future of bland, algorithmically-driven perfection. The piece also considers a more appealing path for art, exemplified by changes in chess since Gary Kasparov was defeated by the Deep Blue supercomputer, where human and computer now unite to elevate and evolve the game into something altogether different.
The Mysterious Madame Giselle
A story about friendship and trust, told through a case of high society fraud allegedly perpetrated by a woman who claimed to be the Egyptian President’s secret wife, an ex-wife of Hugo Chavez, and a mentor to Ivanka Trump.
China’s Camel-Milk Mogul
A look at the camel milk industry of China, thriving in a remote northwestern region bordering Kazakhstan, Russia, and Mongolia.
Seven Days of Heroin
A piece with striking video and images, looking at the opioid crisis in America.
The Oldest Restaurant in Kabul: Where Tradition Trumps Rockets
A look at the recent history of Kabul through the story of an enduringly popular restaurant.
The Word Choices That Explain Why Jane Austen Endures
A piece that analyses Austen’s writing to try to understand her success in the “Darwinian struggle for literary immortality”.