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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Pitcairn Island: The Devastating Price of Paradise
Discover the dark history of Pitcairn Island, from the HMS Bounty mutineers who founded this remote paradise to the shocking sexual abuse scandal that exposed the devastating price of isolation.
Taiwan: Bastion of Democracy or Rogue State?
Explore Taiwan's complex history from prehistoric cultures through colonial rule, the Chinese Civil War, and its modern democratic transformation, examining both Taipei's and Beijing's perspectives on sovereignty.
Vietnam: The Nation After the War
Explore the difficult history of post-war Vietnam: brutal repression, Soviet dependency, the boat people crisis, economic transformation through doi moi, and reconciliation with the United States.
Kaliningrad: Why Russia Owns a Random Piece of Europe
Explore the complex history and strategic importance of Kaliningrad, Russia's isolated exclave between Poland and Lithuania, from medieval fortress to Cold War stronghold and modern geopolitical flashpoint.
Malawi: The Dictatorship that Nobody Noticed...
Discover how Malawi endured one of history's most oppressive dictatorships under Hastings Banda, and how this small African nation found its own path to democracy without foreign intervention or civil war.
The Pacific Ring of Fire: Nature's Greatest Threat
Explore the Pacific Ring of Fire, where 90% of earthquakes and most volcanic eruptions occur. Learn about plate tectonics, historic disasters, and the future of this volatile region.