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.
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Alnwick Poison Garden: The Deadliest Plants in the World
Explore England's Alnwick Poison Garden, where deadly plants require government permission to grow and visitors risk fainting among nature's most dangerous killers.
Dzerzhinsk: Russia's Insane Chemical Weapon Wasteland
Explore Dzerzhinsk, the Russian city where chemical weapons manufacturing created one of the world's most polluted places, with life expectancy 20 years below the national average.
The Wolf’s Lair: Hitler’s HQ on the Eastern Front
Explore the history of Wolfsschanze, Adolf Hitler's largest military headquarters on the Eastern Front, from its construction in 1940 to the 1944 assassination attempt and beyond.
CECOT: The Alcatraz of Latin America
Explore CECOT, El Salvador's maximum-security mega-prison built to house 40,000 gang members. Discover how President Nayib Bukele's controversial crackdown transformed the nation from one of the world's most violent countries to one of the safest.
The Cayman Islands: Where the Rich Get Richer
Explore the history, financial system, and future of the Cayman Islands, the Caribbean territory that became the global capital of offshore banking and tax-free wealth.
Hashima Island: Japan's Ghost Island
Explore the haunting history of Hashima Island, Japan's abandoned "Battleship Island." From its coal mining boom and brutal Korean forced labour to its UNESCO controversy and James Bond fame, discover why this ghost island remains a battleground over historical truth.