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
Kowloon Walled City: Inside the Most Crowded Place on Earth
Explore the remarkable history of Kowloon Walled City, Hong Kong's infamous shanty town that housed 2 million people per square kilometer and became one of humanity's most unique urban experiments.
The Darién Gap: The Deadliest Place on Earth
The Darién Gap is a lethal stretch of jungle between Colombia and Panama, now a desperate migration route for half a million people annually. Explore its dangers, history, and humanitarian crisis.
The World’s Last Hunter-Gatherers
Discover the Hadza people of Tanzania, among the last true hunter-gatherers on Earth. Explore their ancient culture, unique language, genetic isolation, and the modern threats to their survival.
Turkmenistan: The World’s Wackiest Dictatorship?
Explore Turkmenistan's bizarre dictatorship, from rap videos and golden statues to brutal repression. Discover how the Berdimuhamedov dynasty maintains power through eccentricity and fear.
North Sentinel Island: The Truth Behind the World's Most Isolated Tribe
Discover the real history of the Sentinelese people, from ancient cartographers' warnings to the 2018 killing of John Allen Chau, and the complex dilemma of whether to leave them alone or seek contact.
Zheleznogorsk/Krasnoyarsk-26: Siberia’s Secret Nuclear City
Explore the hidden history of Krasnoyarsk-26, a Soviet secret city built to produce weapons-grade plutonium, its luxurious gilded cage existence, and the devastating environmental legacy that outlasted the Cold War.