“A colossal volcanic eruption in January 2022 ripped apart the underwater cables that connect Tonga to the world – and exposed the fragility of 21st-century life.”
The Guardian
Posted inTop 5
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
Recommending stories by Alice Hines, Maggie Harrison Dupré, Katie Engelhart, Pooja Bhatia, and Tom Lamont.
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Human Stain Remover: What Britain’s Greatest Extreme Cleaner Learned From 25 Years on the Job
“From murder scenes to whale blubber, Ben Giles has seen it – and cleaned it – all. In their stickiest hours, people rely on him to restore order”
Posted inEditor's Pick
‘I Love You Too!’ My Family’s Creepy, Unsettling Week with an AI Toy
“The cuddly chatbot Grem is designed to ‘learn’ your child’s personality, while every conversation they have is recorded, then transcribed by a third party. It wasn’t long before I wanted this experiment to be over …”
Posted inEditor's Pick
Madness on a Mountain: For 15 Years, My Mom was Trapped in a Mutual Psychosis
“She fell mysteriously ill while living in a remote cabin with my stepdad, and I suspected it was a cry for help. Then came the unexpected diagnosis: folie à deux.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
‘The Forest Had Gone’: The Storm That Moved a Mountain
“On a small ledge in the Swiss mountains, 200 people were enjoying a summer football tournament. As night fell, they had no idea what was coming.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
The Agony and Ecstasy of being a Viral Trickshot Video Star
“Think you could throw a basketball off a 540ft dam, into a hoop—while blindfolded? Meet the talented and ludicrously patient people putting hours into the internet’s most joyful (and pointless) clips.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
‘A Relentless, Destructive Energy’: Inside the Trial of Constance Marten and Mark Gordon
“An intimate account of an unprecedented trial.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
You Love the Outdoors. So Why Are You Pooping All Over It?
“Millions of Americans a year visit national parks and many leave their business anywhere. Contrary to popular belief, that deluge of poop is not going to decompose.”
Posted inEditor's Pick
‘My Mind was Shrieking: “What Am I Doing?”’ – When the Digital Nomad Dream Turns Sour
Between bouts of illness, relentless admin and crushing loneliness, many have found comfort in the 9-5 back home.