Recommended Writing
All longform pieces recommended on The Slow Scroll
Chatbots of the dead are AI technologies that simulate conversations with the deceased using their personal data. There are important questions about the ethics of these technologies, but the authors are optimistic, arguing for them to be viewed as artistic props, fostering imagi...
The evolution of Italy's railway system is an ongoing effort that spans over a century. Marco Chitti explores how the Italian railways transformed from outdated infrastructure into a network capable of meeting modern demands. Chitti details the technical and political challenges ...
Kathryn Hughes writes about the lives of Victorian London's "cat's meat men," who sold cheap meat to pet owners. This took place during a time when public attitudes toward cats were shifting—from being seen primarily as rat catchers to becoming beloved domestic companions. The tr...
The history of the bulldozer is darker than you might think, and its evolution goes beyond simple construction and demolition. Joe Zadeh explores its origins in violent voter suppression, to its weaponization in war and state-sanctioned home demolitions, and how it has been a sym...
Urban rats are thriving in a warming world, and the implications are troubling. As temperatures rise, rate are finding more opportunities to eat and reproduce, leading to a surge in sightings across major cities like New York and Washington, D.C. Benji Jones explores the links be...
As Chile commemorated the 50th anniversary of Augusto Pinochet's coup, President Gabriel Boric's unveiling of the National Search Plan aimed to confront painful historical wounds. The initiative seeks to find the remains of many Chileans who disappeared during the regime, but tru...
In a major cryptocurrency scam, Shan Hanes, the president of a small Kansas town bank, made unauthorized wire transfers totaling over $47 million. He converted the funds into cryptocurrencies, only to lose them to a crypto crime network. The town has been left devastated by the l...
Ben Kodres-O’Brien reviews Sandeep Vaheesan's new book, "Democracy in Power: A History of Electrification in the United States." The book explores the dominance of corporate interests in electricity generation, advocating for a more democratic approach to decarbonization.
Lisa Schiff, once a prominent art adviser, now faces the possibility of two decades in prison for stealing millions from her clients. This piece not only recounts how this happened, but also how Schiff reflects on her descent.
Despite committing to become a "zero waste" nation, Turkey has become a dumping ground for Europe’s plastic waste, with dire consequences for local farmers and the environment. Alexander Clapp reports on how much of the imported plastic is either burned, dumped illegally, or con...