Dictators and Dry Bones
The powerful figures of the 21st century seek control over humanity’s greatest equalizer — death. It is just this kind of grandiosity that Franciscan monks were trying to tackle when they built the Chapel of Bones at Evora, Portugal.
Inside the Arab-Owned Cafes Bringing the Middle East to the West
A form of Middle Eastern nightlife is gaining popularity in the West, with late-night cafes popping up across North America. Offering a space for socializing that fosters culture and community, they represent an alternative to the more expensive, alcohol-infused scene of bars and clubs.
The Battle To Define the Arabian Horse
For centuries, tribes recorded matrilineal pedigrees for Arabian horses, forged by migration and anchored in communal memory. But the rise of global stud books redefined authenticity through centralized paperwork, transforming both the horse’s form and its social meaning.
In Homs, Revenge Is the Only Law Left Standing
Homs, once the capital of Syria’s revolution, has become a violent landscape of sectarian killings, property seizures and unrestrained impunity. As neighbors and armed factions exploit the security vacuum, the new government is using selective enforcement and deliberate neglect to reshape the city’s demographics and power balances.
Why the Internet Got Bad, and How To Fix It
Cory Doctorow joins Faisal Al Yafai on the podcast to discuss his new book “Enshittification” and how the internet got so bad.