Dan Akroyd, John Belushi, cocaine, and the making of The Blues Brothers.

The legendary artist has radically upended his distinctive style of portraiture—and his entire life. Why?

A 16-year-old journalist goes on tour with a band on top. The article that inspired Almost Famous.

Why utopias are best understood as fiction games, and how they quickly become dystopias when realized.

On the producer Timbaland, then best known for collaborations with Missy Elliott, Aaliyah, and Ginuwine.

A profile of Ayman al-Zawahri, the Egyptian doctor who became Bin Laden’s #2 and has now taken over Al-Qaeda.

The life history of an unassuming Sudanese man, Noor Uthman Muhammed, who has spent the last nine years in Guantánamo Bay prison.

An investigative reporter goes undercover at a dealership to learn the tricks of the trade, of which there are many.

Ronnie O’Sullivan is the best snooker player in the world. He’s also the most tormented.

How an up-and-coming Boston surgeon became best known for leaving a patient on the operating table while he skipped out to cash a check.

The story of a young man on the run in the slum he dreams of escaping.

A profile of Suge Knight, 29 and the C.E.O. of Death Row Records, before the deaths of Tupac and Notorious B.I.G.

An investigative look at the killing of Trayvon Martin.

On conspiracy theories in sports, from the ‘85 NBA draft lottery to Michael Phelps’ gold medal performance in the 100-meter butterfly.

The Penn State sex abuse scandal as told through a father, a son and “Victim 1.”

On his journey from phenom to champion to wannabe rock star to Emmy-winning commentator, John McEnroe hasn’t changed much.

Inside the real lives of people who came early to intentionally provoking, confusing, and generally screwing with strangers online.

The bloody, often surreal, fight for Kosovo’s independence was led by a man moonlighting as a roofer in Switzerland.

A blow by blow account of the seizure of a French cruise ship by Somali pirates.

How misdirected incentives in the bewildering medical supply industry keep innovative, life-saving equipment from reaching hospitals.

The comeback of Marty Reisman, the most flamboyant figure in the history of table tennis, and the self-proclaimed greatest hardbat player ever.

How two Italian teenagers hacked the Soviet space program and may have heard the dying breaths of a lost cosmonaut.

You watch your best friend jump off a bridge trying to end his life. What do you do? Vino Richemond jumped in after him.

The fever-dream life and death of Chinese poet Gu Cheng.

How a burst blood vessel transformed the mind of a deliberate, controlled chiropractor into that of an utterly unfiltered, massively prolific artist.