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Recommended Writing

All longform pieces recommended on The Slow Scroll

I Was Born Missing an Ear. To the World, It Was a Problem to Fix
The Walrus08 Feb 2025 • ~2650 words

In this excerpt from Kate Gies’ memoir, she reflects on her childhood experiences with the medical system that sought to "fix" her missing ear through a series of surgeries and the emotional impact of these interventions.

Ukrainian War Widows on the Edge
Nautilus07 Feb 2025 • ~5200 words

A group of Ukrainian war widows embark on a five-day journey of healing through adventure therapy in Slovenia. Led by psychologists and combat veterans, the program aims to help these women confront their grief and trauma.

Elon Musk put a chip in this paralysed man’s brain. Now he can move things with his mind. Should we be amazed - or terrified?
The Guardian08 Feb 2025 • ~5550 words

Noland Arbaugh was the first human to receive a brain chip from Elon Musk's Neuralink, allowing him to control computers with his thoughts. His story raises questions not only about the potential of this technology but also about the ethical implications of merging human minds wi...

How the Tiger Really Got His Stripes
The New Yorker04 Feb 2025 • ~2100 words

Scientists are getting closer to figuring out what determines the patterns that animals wear. Rivka Galchen’s story takes a look into how research is progressing with two examples, the patterned skin of boxfish and the stripes of African striped mice.

After the Raid
Texas Monthly07 Feb 2025 • ~2900 words

In December 2006, a mass ICE raid transformed the small Texas town of Cactus, leaving a significant portion of its immigrant workforce detained. Jack Herrera explores the immediate chaos of the raid and its long-term effects on the community, which has become one of the most dive...

How to Build a Human
The Intercept02 Feb 2025 • ~6450 words

Parabon NanoLabs claims that with their software Snapshot, DNA samples can be turned into a composite image of a suspect to help law enforcement find the perpetrator. Scientist do not agree, and raise concerns about its reliability and the potential for deepening racial bias in i...

Fouad Elkoury’s Photography Finds Poetry Amid Destruction
New Lines Magazine06 Feb 2025 • ~3750 words

Olivia Snaije writes about how Fouad Elkoury's photography captures the haunting beauty of conflict and resilience over decades of turmoil in the Middle East.

The “Inhuman” Court Case That Helped Sink a Major Law Firm
The Walrus06 Feb 2025 • ~2500 words

Adam Dodek writes about the Castor Holdings case, now a cautionary tale, illustrating how a single case can consume resources and time far beyond what is reasonable.

Hitler’s Oligarchs
The Atlantic06 Feb 2025 • ~3450 words

This brief history explores the relationship between Adolf Hitler and the industrial magnates who once reviled him, but ultimately empowered his rise. Figures like Alfred Hugenberg and Fritz Thyssen navigated their own ambitions while enabling a regime that would lead to catastro...

Full House
Urban Omnibus05 Feb 2025 • ~2750 words

Five authors contribute narratives of cohabitation among New Yorkers, revealing how shared living arrangements shape relationships and community. From the bonds formed during the pandemic to the intergenerational ties within immigrant families, the stories highlight the lasting i...