The long read
In-depth reporting, essays and profiles
-
The man who could make Marine Le Pen president of France - podcastFlorian Philippot is the strategist behind the rebranding of the extreme right Front National as a populist, anti-elite movement. But don’t mistake him for a moderate
-
Trump’s dangerous delusions about IslamThe president and his advisers paint Muslims as enemies of modernity. The neglected history of an age of Middle Eastern liberalism proves them wrong
-
The man with no nameThe Long Read: When an anonymous Mexican man was taken to an American hospital after a car crash a 16-year quest began. Lying in a persistent vegetative state, he became a source of hope for thousands of families looking for lost loved ones
-
Will Trump’s presidency finally kill the myth of the special relationship?The Long Read: Ever since Winston Churchill invented it in 1946, successive prime ministers have discovered that the bond between the US and UK is anything but sacred. So, why does this absurd idea refuse to go away?
-
Vanishing point: the rise of the invisible computer - podcastFor decades, computers have got smaller and more powerful, enabling huge scientific progress. But this can’t go on for ever. What happens when they stop shrinking?
-
The spy who couldn’t spell: how the biggest heist in the history of US espionage was foiled – podcastEver since childhood, Brian Regan had been made to feel stupid because of his severe dyslexia. So he thought no one would suspect him of stealing secrets
-
The doctor’s dilemma: is it ever good to do harm?The Long Read: If a patient’s heart stops, the doctor can resuscitate them. But how does the doctor decide if it’s the right thing to do?
-
Faultlines, black holes and glaciers: mapping uncharted territoriesThe Long Read: In the era of satellites and Google Maps there are still areas that remain a mystery
-
How statistics lost their power, and why we should fear what comes next - podcastThe ability of statistics to accurately represent the world is declining. In its wake, a new age of big data controlled by private companies is taking over – and putting democracy in peril
-
Who killed the great British curry house? – podcastWhy has Britain turned its back on its favourite food – and shut out the people needed to cook it?
-
Germ warfare: the battle for the key to modern vaccinesIn the late 1960s the scientist behind the world’s most successful antiviral vaccines went into battle against his employer and the US government for custody of the cells that he called his ‘children’
-
The hi-tech war on science fraudThe Long Read: The problem of fake data may go far deeper than scientists admit. Now a team of researchers has a controversial plan to root out the perpetrators
-
The man who could make Marine Le Pen president of FranceThe Long Read: Florian Philippot is the strategist behind the rebranding of the extreme right Front National as a populist, anti-elite movement. But don’t mistake him for a moderate
-
‘Is this what the west is really like?’ How it felt to leave China for Britain – podcastDesperate to find somewhere she could live and work as she wished, Xiaolu Guo moved from Beijing to London in 2002. But from the weather to the language and the people, nothing was as she expected
-
Among the ghosts of Cambodia’s killing fields: on the set of Angelina Jolie’s new film – podcastCan the Hollywood star’s Khmer-language film – with an all-Cambodian cast and crew – help a nation to confront the horrors of its past?
-
Vanishing point: the rise of the invisible computerThe long read: For decades, computers have got smaller and more powerful, enabling huge scientific progress. But this can’t go on for ever. What happens when they stop shrinking?
-
Sickening, gruelling or frightful: how doctors measure painThe Long Read: Suffering is difficult to describe and impossible to see. So how can doctors tell how much it hurts?
-
Wiley: the enigmatic Godfather of GrimeThe Long Read: After more than a decade of being fetishised and then written off, grime now dominates British pop culture. To understand why, you need to understand the man who created it
-
The neo-Nazi murder trial revealing Germany's darkest secrets – podcastThe only known survivor of a far-right group accused of a series of racist killings is now on trial. But the case has put the nation itself in the dock
-
Fifa: the video game that changed football – podcastFifa belongs to a select group of titles familiar to people who have no interest in gaming – or even real football. What’s the secret of its success?
-
How statistics lost their power – and why we should fear what comes nextThe Long Read: The ability of statistics to accurately represent the world is declining. In its wake, a new age of big data controlled by private companies is taking over – and putting democracy in peril
-
Libor scandal: the bankers who fixed the world’s most important numberThe Long Read: With arrogant disregard for the rules, traders colluded for years to rig Libor, the banks’ lending rate. But after the crash, the regulators were on their trail
-
Black Lives Matter: birth of a movementThe long read: The killing of Michael Brown created a new generation of black activists, with thousands taking to the streets, and a hashtag used more than 27m times. But will the movement survive the Trump era?
-
Alan Yentob: the last impresario – podcastFor decades, Alan Yentob was the dominant creative force at the BBC – behind everything from Adam Curtis to Strictly Come Dancing. He was a towering figure in British culture – so why did many applaud his very public slide from power?
-
Why time management is ruining our lives – podcastAll of our efforts to be more productive backfire – and only make us feel even busier and more stressed
-
Who killed the great British curry house?The Long Read: Why has Britain turned its back on its favourite food – and shut out the people needed to cook it?
-
Among the ghosts of Cambodia’s killing fields: on the set of Angelina Jolie’s new filmThe Long Read: Can the Hollywood star’s Khmer-language film – with an all-Cambodian cast – help a nation to confront the horrors of its past?
-
‘Is this what the west is really like?’ How it felt to leave China for BritainDesperate to find somewhere she could live and work as she wished, Xiaolu Guo moved from Beijing to London in 2002. But from the weather to the language and the people, nothing was as she expected
-
The big gamble: the dangerous world of British betting shops – podcastBookmakers have become a fixture of the British high street. But the savage murder of a lone employee at a London betting shop has revealed the risks that their workers face
-
Is sugar the world’s most popular drug?The Long Read: It eases pain, seems to be addictive and shows every sign of causing long-term health problems. Is it time to quit sugar for good?
-
Latin America’s Schindler: a forgotten hero of the 20th century – podcastUnder General Pinochet’s rule of terror in Chile, one man saved thousands of people from the dictator’s brutal secret police. How did Roberto Kozak do it – and escape death?
-
Remembrance of tastes past: Syria’s disappearing food culture – podcastFor Syrians in exile, food is more than a means of sustenance. It is a reminder of the rich and diverse culture being destroyed by civil war
-
Why time management is ruining our livesThe Long Read: All of our efforts to be more productive backfire – and only make us feel even busier and more stressed
Total recall: the people who never forget