Cities
The peculiar logic behind how metropolises grow, die, and reinvent themselves.
72 articlesLatest Cities
The Region That Can't Stop Poisoning Itself
The World Health Organisation calls it the greatest mass poisoning in human history. How India's arsenic belt became a nationwide catastrophe—and why it's been so hard to fix.
The Endless Ills of Yekaterinburg.
From imperial fortress to Soviet industrial powerhouse to cosmopolitan hub, Yekaterinburg embodied Russia's contradictions. Now Putin's war is dragging this once-vibrant city back into darkness.
Life Sucks in the Coldest City on Earth.
Discover how residents of Yakutsk, Russia survive in the world's coldest major city, where temperatures drop to -64°C and daily life requires extraordinary adaptations.
Ghana is Simply Destroying Itself.
How illegal gold mining known as galamsey is contaminating Ghana's water, destroying forests and farmland, and threatening the country's very survival.
The World's Most Controversial Museum.
Buried in Central Tokyo near the Imperial Palace lies the Yūshūkan museum, a place so egregious it doesn't just get protested or vandalised—it gets bombed. Discover why this shrine-museum complex sparks international outrage.
Mount Everest is Way More Dangerous Than You'd Think.
From the lethal "death zone" above 8,000 metres to ruthless weather, hidden crevasses, and deadly human overcrowding, discover why Mount Everest claims lives in ways most people never imagine.
More in Cities
San Francisco is Becoming a Nightmare
Is San Francisco really collapsing? This deep dive separates viral narratives from reality—exploring homelessness, fentanyl, crime, tech inequality, and downtown's decline while revealing why the city might actually be recovering.
The Most Secretive Place in the US.
Discover the true history of Area 51, from its origins testing the U-2 spy plane to its role in developing stealth technology and beyond. Separating fact from fiction about America's most famous secret base.
The Prison Where Jeffrey Epstein Met His End.
An in-depth look at the Metropolitan Correctional Center New York, where Jeffrey Epstein died in August 2019, examining the facility's history, security failures, and the lingering questions surrounding his death.
Chukotka: Russia's Most Inhospitable Region.
Discover Chukotka, Russia's most isolated and inhospitable region. From Soviet boom to post-collapse decline, explore how this vast Arctic territory became a place where hope goes to die.
Pakistan's Brick Kilns: Millions Trapped in Slavery
Over 3.2 million people remain enslaved in Pakistan's brick kilns through the peshgi debt bondage system, officially abolished in 1992. Children as young as five work alongside their families, inheriting debts they never signed.
Vorkuta: Hell on Earth
Explore the haunting story of Vorkuta, Russia's largest ghost city built on Gulag labor, where 200,000 prisoners perished and survivors now face abandonment in the Arctic.