Walter Tevis, the author of the book upon which the Netflix hit is based, spent his life gambling and drinking in pool halls before turning to chess.

Almost five years ago, the author’s 13-year-old niece was murdered in her bedroom in suburban New Delhi. Since then, both of her parents have spent time in jail. Evidence, bungled by police, points to another possible killer. The trial has not yet begun.

He set a world record in the 100-yard dash as a teenager. He was mentored by Muhammad Ali and a man who orchestrated the largest bank embezzlement in U.S. history. He was homeless for part of his adult life before making a comeback at age 34. Throughout it all, Houston McTear was really, really fast.

On a desolate, six-mile stretch of Indian beachfront, the bulk of the world’s big ships are dismantled for scrap. Though a ship is usually worth over $1 million in steel, the margins are low, the leftovers are toxic, and the labor—which employs huge numbers of India’s poor—is wildly dangerous.

An interview with Steve Albini on art, commerce, and ethic.

On the appearance of an angel.

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In 1980, Richard Pryor doused himself in rum, lit himself, and streaked though the streets or Northridge in a ball of flames. He would go on to live another 25 years.

An East German weightlifter ingested more anabolic steroids than any other athlete in recorded history. It didn’t end well.

A glimpse of life on the suburban road, featuring Russian mobsters, Fox News rage addicts, a caged man in a sex dungeon, and Dick Cheney.

When IP mapping goes awry dozens of strangers show up to the same home again and again looking for their stolen gear.

Just a few years ago, universities had a chance to make a quality education affordable for everyone. Here’s the little-known and absolutely infuriating history of what they did instead.

A profile of the actor following a car accident that left him briefly in a coma and ultimately with a settlement so large he never has to work again.

How detectives from Scotland Yard, Romania, Germany, and Italy nabbed the so-called Mission: Impossible gang, which pulled off a string of daring warehouse heists.

The once-utopian accommodations site, now headed by an alum of surveillance-analytics firm Palantir, has gone back on its always-free ethos.

How volunteer firefighters responded to a lethal West, Texas explosion.

How New York City built its own CIA.

Bernie Kerik and Jack Abramoff on “Club Fed.”

On living in Syria as an Alawite loyalist.

Nine innings with Mr. Baseball.

A young woman with a rare condition navigates El Paso.

A flamboyant player, a charismatic coach, and a sex predator.

Juries trust DNA. But should they?

How one man terrorized a small Illinois town.

Five murders. Two confessions. A mysterious envelope.