Humphrey’s world: how the Samuel Smith beer baron built Britain’s strangest pub chain
Since the 1970s, Humphrey Smith has acquired scores of pubs and historic properties around the UK. But time after time, he has left the buildings empty. Why has he allowed his empire to moulder? By Ma...
24 Jan 202543min
From the archive: Inspired by nature: the thrilling new science that could transform medicine
We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2016: Jeffrey Karp is at the forefront of a ne...
22 Jan 202533min
‘Look, they’re getting skin!’: are we right to strive to save the world’s tiniest babies?
Doctors are pushing the limits of science and human biology to save more extremely premature babies than ever before. But when so few survive, are we putting them through needless suffering? By Sophie...
20 Jan 202544min
Inside the Vatican’s secret saint-making process
Canonisation has long been a way for the Catholic church to shape its image. The Vatican is preparing to anoint its first millennial saint, but how does it decide who is worthy? By Linda Kinstler. Hel...
17 Jan 202534min
From the archive: ‘A deranged pyroscape’: how fires across the world have grown weirder
We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2022: Despite the rise of headline-grabbing me...
15 Jan 202540min
The inspiring scientists who saved the world’s first seed bank
During the siege of Leningrad, botanists in charge of an irreplaceable seed collection had to protect it from fire, rodents – and hunger. By Simon Parkin. Help support our independent journalism at th...
13 Jan 202535min
The ‘mad egghead’ who built a mouse utopia
John Calhoun designed an apartment complex for mice to examine the effects of overcrowding. It was hailed as a groundbreaking study of social breakdown, but is largely forgotten. So what happened? By ...
10 Jan 202526min
From the archive: Cold comfort: how cold water swimming cured my broken heart
We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors. This week, from 2021: After a painful breakup and the death of...
8 Jan 202535min
