Divorce Tapes & Science Sleuths

Featured Articles

The Divorce Tapes

The Cut • 10 Sep 2024 • ~6400 words • Archive Link

In this piece, the author unearths painful family secrets through recordings that reveal the complex dynamics surrounding her sister's trauma. As layers of denial and silence are peeled back, we glimpse the struggle for understanding and connection within a family grappling with a dark past. This intimate exploration invites readers to reflect on the ways we process pain and the stories we choose to share—or keep hidden, sometimes at the cost of the health of other family members.

. . . in 1997, I remember my father making copies of the tapes, packaging them neatly in brown paper (this is a man I never saw wrap a Christmas present), and sending them to some of our relatives in Ohio. He wanted to show that he had proof: of my mother’s secretive behavior as well as the emotional and psychological harm he felt she had inflicted upon him. My father had a name for this body of evidence. He called them the Divorce Tapes.

The Rise of the Science Sleuths

Undark Magazine • 11 Sep 2024 • ~6150 words

In a world where scientific integrity is increasingly under scrutiny, a group of dedicated sleuths uncover troubling instances of image manipulation and data fabrication in research. This article delves into their journey, highlighting their challenges in a field where questioning established findings can stir significant pushback. The article also examines the broader problems of scientific integrity and the role of the publishing industry in perpetuating these issues.

Regardless of how each express it, though, many of the sleuths share the same outrage. They are frustrated and angry at the sheer amount of research misconduct and the extent to which researchers may get away with manipulation or faking data because journals and universities don’t take a stand. Others emphasize that tackling these issues is simply part of the job of a scientist.

Recommended Articles

I was a black child raised in a white supremacist cult. When doomsday didn’t come, I had to learn how to live

the Guardian • 10 Sep 2024 • ~2500 words

Jerald Walker’s journey from a childhood steeped in a white supremacist cult to becoming a writer and professor is both profound and unsettling. In this reflective piece, he shares how the belief in an imminent apocalypse shaped his early life and the struggles he faced in breaking free from that dark past. Walker’s story is an exploration of identity, resilience, and the quest for belonging in a world that once tried to define him.

It took Walker, and many others, a while to realise that the WCG was the textbook definition of a doomsday cult. And a white supremacist one at that – which, somehow, his black parents seemed to be fine with.

How Ancient India Transformed the World

London Review of Books • 11 Sep 2024 • ~2800 words

In this book review, we reexamine the narrative of ancient trade routes, challenging the familiar story of the Silk Road. By highlighting India's pivotal role in shaping global commerce and cultural exchange, the article invites us to rethink how history has often overlooked the complexities of these connections. It argues that the sea routes, particularly those connecting India to Southeast Asia, were far more significant in shaping the ancient world's economy.

It’s a valuable achievement to shunt off the Silk Road into a permanent siding, but Dalrymple’s book has deeper and even more provoking resonances, which indirectly challenge the way history is usually written.

A Far West Texas Town Comes Together—And Then Comes Apart

Texas Monthly • 10 Sep 2024 • ~2700 words

In a tiny Texas town, the purchase of a local grocery store brings a community together—until it doesn’t. This piece follows Sam Stavinoha’s journey as he transforms the French Co. Grocer into a gathering spot, only to find himself in a bitter dispute with the store’s former owner, Marci Roberts. It’s a compelling look at how quickly connections can fray, even, and sometimes especially in the closest of communities.

In a small community, feuds can become gossip fodder, with constantly rising stakes. As one resident told me, “You fart on the south side, and by the time it gets to the north side, it’s a double murder.”

Inside the Funeral Home for New York’s Luminaries

New York Times • 10 Sep 2024 • ~3550 words • Archive Link

Step inside Frank E. Campbell, the discreet funeral home on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, where many of New York’s most notable figures have taken their final bows. This piece explores the unique blend of celebrity culture, privacy, and tradition that defines this iconic mortuary, shedding light on the rituals that surround death in the city.

The inner workings of Frank E. Campbell are almost as mysterious as the afterlife itself. Its pallbearers, doormen, cosmeticians and embalmers honor a code of silence when it comes to clients. Its website makes no mention of its illustrious customers.

A Foot in the Door

The Baffler • 9 Sep 2024 • ~3550 words

This piece explores the Vatican's complex relationship with LGBTQ issues, particularly in light of recent statements from the Pope. As the Church navigates its traditional teachings and the evolving attitudes of its followers, this article raises important questions about acceptance, love, and the ongoing struggle for recognition within the Church.

. . . do these modern shifts in guidance and attitudes mean the Church is finally coming around on homosexuality? The answer is, in true Vatican tradition, undoubtedly yes and undoubtedly no.

How Sudan’s devastating civil war became a global battleground

Financial Times • 8 Sep 2024 • ~2700 words • Archive Link

In the midst of Sudan's brutal civil war, rival factions are not just battling for control but also drawing in global powers like Russia and the UAE, each seeking their own stake in the chaos. This article delves into the complexities of a conflict that has already claimed 150,000 lives and displaced millions while exploring the troubling dynamics of international involvement and the dire humanitarian crisis unfolding on the ground.

This is arguably the world’s most devastating war, and there is no sign of a decisive winner, still less a tangible peace deal. As well as fighters from neighbouring countries, it has sucked in a string of global and regional actors, each tussling to compete for influence and power in a land that is one of Africa’s top gold producers.

How Corruption Fuels Inequality in China

Foreign Affairs • 9 Sep 2024 • ~1500 words • Archive Link

This article examines the relationship between corruption and income inequality in China. It analyzes data from China's anti-corruption campaign to understand how corruption at the highest levels of the Chinese government and state-owned enterprises has contributed to growing inequality within Chinese cities.

Through corruption, however, the median defendant made between four to six times as much as their legal earnings. The defendants thus climbed to the very top of China’s urban income distribution. Factoring in their illegal income, 82 percent of those guilty of corruption were among the top one percent of city dwellers, and almost all were in the top five percent.

Imagining a World of Open Borders

The Nation • 10 Sep 2024 • ~2800 words

This is a review of John Washington’s book, in which he challenges conventional views on borders and immigration, arguing for their abolition. He dives into the complex dynamics that underpin border enforcement, revealing how it perpetuates exploitation and violence. This piece invites you to rethink the very idea of borders and consider what a world without them might look like, as unrealistic as it might be.

The border—its tactics and agents of repression, its zero-sum logic of competition, its hatreds and dehumanizations—extends over the continent, over the world. The preservation of borders in the face of climate catastrophe, global conflict, and regular economic crises will require ever greater internal and external violence.

Meet the Rock Band the U.S. Enlisted to Help Win the Vietnam War

Rolling Stone • 8 Sep 2024 • ~3800 words

Imagine being a soldier in Vietnam, but instead of fighting, you're playing music to entertain troops and locals. This piece tells the story of the Screaming Eagles Combo, a band that found themselves in the heart of the jungle during the war.

But the sight of the automatic weapons, as well as mysterious men wearing what looked like black pajamas, made them realize they’d crossed into the DMZ that divided North and South Vietnam. They were now in the north — enemy territory. The musicians always carried weapons (after all, they were soldiers), but this time they decided to leave them in the truck. “I said, ‘We just have to set up and play,’” Nevious recalls. “‘And let’s make sure we play a song that doesn’t offend anybody. I don’t want to die here.’”

We’re not going to run out of new anatomy anytime soon

Sauropod Vertebra Picture of the Week • 7 Sep 2024 • ~4050 words

This piece discusses how there is still a vast amount of new anatomy yet to be discovered, even in well-studied organisms like humans. It explores the reasons why new anatomical structures continue to be found, such as the complexity of biological systems, the challenges faced by researchers, and the potential for future discoveries through comparative anatomy and increased research efforts.

. . . compared to most other fields of inquiry, anatomy research is dirt cheap. Embalmed human cadavers cost money, but I could still get the 10,000 cadavers I’d need for my dream project for less than the cost of a Marvel movie.

Can Labour revitalise the UK’s creative industries?

Financial Times • 11 Sep 2024 • ~2550 words • Archive Link

The article discusses the challenges facing the UK's creative industries and the potential for the new Labour government to revitalize the sector. It examines the funding issues faced by arts and cultural institutions, the need for greater investment and support, and the opportunities for the creative industries to drive economic growth and boost the UK's global influence.

The UK is also one of only three net exporters of music, the largest exporter of books and second only to the US in the advertising industry.

I Do Again

Slate Magazine • 7 Sep 2024 • ~2600 words

This piece discusses the author's experience renewing his wedding vows with his wife at a mass vow renewal ceremony in Aruba. It explores the author's initial skepticism about the idea, the changes made to the event's format, and the ultimately meaningful and memorable experience of reaffirming their commitment to each other. It also touches on the broader cultural perceptions and debates around vow renewals.

And yet, the idea of an I Do Again ceremony left me queasy. There was a yeesh factor that I just couldn’t shake. The whole thing seemed corny, contrived, and made-up, like George Costanza inventing Festivus.

The Golden Age of Offbeat Arctic Research

Undark Magazine • 6 Sep 2024 • ~2000 words

In the midst of the Cold War, scientists envisioned the Arctic as a canvas for bold experiments, from nuclear waste disposal to building entire cities beneath the ice. This article explores the wild ideas and ambitious projects that emerged during that time, revealing a fascinating blend of imagination and reality in the icy expanse of Greenland.

That didn’t stop the Army from proposing Project Iceworm — a top-secret plan that might represent peak weirdness. A network of tunnels would crisscross northern Greenland over an area about the size of Alabama. Hundreds of missiles, topped with nuclear warheads, would roll through the tunnels on trains, pop up at firing points, and if needed, respond to Soviet aggression by many annihilating many Eastern Block targets.

Can globalisation survive the US-China rift?

Financial Times • 4 Sep 2024 • ~2500 words • Archive Link

The ongoing rivalry between the US and China is reshaping global trade in ways we might not fully grasp yet. This piece explores how geopolitical tensions are leading to increased protectionism and the potential fragmentation of the global economy while also highlighting the surprising resilience shown by trade networks. It raises important questions about the future of globalization and the role of non-aligned countries amid this complex landscape.

That resilience is down to two factors: the fluid adaptability of multinational companies and the pragmatic governments that have declined, so far, to take sides. Defying the growing geopolitical turbulence in the system, a number of countries, especially middle-income economies, have provided ballast against further instability.

‘Leave me alone,’ the wish that should be considered a right

EL PAÍS English • 31 Aug 2024 • ~2100 words

In a world that often equates social interaction with happiness, the idea of seeking solitude can feel counterintuitive. This piece explores the concept of "aloneliness," highlighting the benefits of embracing moments of quiet amidst our busy lives. It invites us to reconsider our relationship with being alone and its impact on our well-being.

In just over a century, solitude has gone from being idealized by romantic writers and poets, to being a subject of study and epidemiological warning for contemporary sociologists and anthropologists. In English, there’s a subtle semantic distinction between solitude and loneliness.

Dragons and Sharks on a Beach Near You: The Story of the Great Lego Spill

New York Times • 30 Aug 2024 • ~1700 words • Archive Link

The article discusses the story of the "Great Lego Spill" that occurred in 1997, where nearly 5 million Lego pieces fell into the sea from a cargo ship. It explores how these Lego pieces are still washing up on beaches around the world, 27 years later, and the efforts of people like Tracey Williams to document and study this unusual environmental event. The article also touches on the broader issue of plastic pollution in the oceans.

A Lego shark, one of 51,800 that were in the container, was caught in a fisherman’s net 20 miles off the Cornish coast in late July. It’s the first of the sharks to see daylight in 27 years. “Only another 51,799 to find,” Ms. Williams wrote on the Lego Lost at Sea account.

Taking the Long View: Why There Might Still Be Hope For the Earth’s Oceans

Literary Hub • 19 Aug 2024 • ~3600 words

The future of the world's oceans hangs in the balance, with both hopeful and concerning trends unfolding. In this piece, we go on a journey, exploring the dramatic changes underway and the glimmers of hope that remain. and we are reminded why the fate of the oceans matters to us all.

No matter where you live and what you do, even if you have never seen the sea in real life, you would not exist—none of us would—without the ocean.