2024
I spoke with a researcher (and sometime psychonaut) investigating the potential harms caused by psychedelic drugs, for Nautilus Magazine→, and interviewed the filmmaker Deborah Stratman about how her experimental explorations of science and landscapes take shape, for the Creative Independent.
2023
I whiffed my way through Norwegian researcher and artist Sissel Tolaas’ olfactory installations for Pioneer Works’ Broadcast→ explored the uncanny history of ether for Broccoli Magazine→ looked into a theory of perception that might help crack the mysteries of psychosis for Nautilus Magazine→, and stopped by an exhibit of ancient Buddhist art at the Met for India Today.
2022
I reflected on how exactly therapy might be said to “work” for a non-fiction anthology (forthcoming)→, and drew up a recipe for convening a successful dinner party using the tricks of “gastrophysics”, for Pioneer Works’ Broadcast→.
2021
I examined the history and queasy allure of psychiatric art for Psyche→, considered an intriguing book about the utopian community Auroville for India Today→, and used the homeward journey of a looted artifact to explore the debate around the restitution of cultural objects, for the Believer→. I also broke down the neuroscience of tripping for the magazine Mushroom People→. And I wrote and edited a report on combating tax evasion for a panel composed of central bankers, lawyers, politicians, and social workers convened by the Department of Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations.
2020
I looked into a quirky array of surrogate-touch devices for the Believer→, profiled seven podcasters for Timber→, and produced/scripted two seasons of the interview podcast Standing on the Shoulders→, hosted by Aleks Krotoski.
2019
I looked at road fatalities in Southeast Asia and Africa for Devex→, treatment for multi-drug tuberculosis in Kyrgyzstan for Devex→, and the history of hemp in the United States for Broccoli Magazine→. And I reconsidered a childhood relic for Broccoli Magazine→.
2018
I looked into sex addiction for Science Vs.→, and examined a few lingering cases of Lyme Disease for Science Vs.→.
2017
I looked into the intensifying worldwide bee die-offs for Science Vs.→, dove into the history of vaccine hesitancy for Science Vs.→, examined the alleged benefits of detoxes and cleanses (and drank a sickening amount of green juice) for Science Vs.→, explored the mysteries of meditation for Science Vs.→, and delved into the fears and promises of GMO foods for Science Vs.→. And I visited Rachel Chancey, a foley artist who brings movies and documentaries to noisy, crunchy life in her Brooklyn basement, for the Transom Story Workshop→.
2016
I looked at an attempt to tackle domestic violence in Mumbai for Al Jazeera English→, at multi-generational homelessness in Mumbai for the Guardian→, fossil sites in India for Nautilus Magazine→, a threatened urban wilderness in Mumbai for Orion Magazine→, and mangroves in Mumbai for Hakai Magazine→. And I looked into a number of forensic science techniques including the “smell of death” for Science Vs.→.
2015
I looked into a trippy theory about synesthaesia for Aeon Magazine→ and examined research that listened carefully to hallucinated voices, instead of viewing them as aural garbage to be medicated into oblivion, also for Aeon Magazine. I went to a Bangalore back-office to visit some digital janitors keeping dating sites free of gore and porn for GQ India→. I also looked into the intensifying suicides of Indian farmers for the Guardian→, India’s alarming mental health treatment gap for Grist Media→, roadblocks to Indian government-funded research for Science Magazine→, and the ancient/persistent infectious disease leprosy in India for Quartz India→. And I wrote about a judgment on a high-profile drunk driving case, and used it to pinpoint the real villain behind most traffic fatalities in South Asia for the Guardian→.
2014
I examined the empirical evidence against solitary confinement for Aeon Magazine→. And I looked at flood risk in Mumbai for the Guardian→, extreme heat in Mumbai for the Guardian→, India’s push for renewable energy for the National Geographic→, pyrethroids for the Verge→, an endangered island-dwelling bird for the National Geographic→, and a new way to count India’s tigers for Quartz India→.
2013
I met the Early Man in New York's Paleo scene for Open Magazine→, looked at climate change impacts in the tropics for the Verge→, vultures in Africa for Scientific American→, wolves in the Rockies for Scientific American→, and the toxicological aftermath of the Exxon oil spill for InsideClimate News→.
2012
I met a prolific pulp fiction author in prison for Motherland Magazine→, spent firefly season in the hills of Madikeri for Open Magazine→, met with a medical maverick for Open Magazine→, India’s first transgender priest for Open Magazine→, talked to Teju Cole about how he writes for Open Magazine→, and profiled a Dalit feminist author for Open Magazine→. And I wrote about a village that resisted the dogged attempts of journalists to turn it into a sensational story for Open Magazine→.
2011
I investigated a few startlingly common cases of women being made to marry their rapists in rural India for Open Magazine→, met Sri Lankan refugees languishing in Tamil Nadu camps for Open Magazine→, examined the case of a prisoner unjustly condemned to death row for Open Magazine→, looked into a taxonomical dispute involving some large macaques for Open Magazine→, visited a few notable open-air romancing grounds in Indian cities for the Indian Express→, and met a group of parents headed to the Indian Supreme Court to reclaim their LGBT kids’ rights for the Indian Express→. I checked into India's most expensive hotel suite for Open Magazine→. And I reconsidered a seemingly unpopular park project by the politician Mayawati in a New Delhi suburb for Indian Express.
2010
I scrutinized Martin Parr’s Indian oeuvre—and got scrutinized by him in turn—for Caravan Magazine→, and I commented on India’s ossified Republic Day Parade for Outlook Magazine→.
2009
I visited some members of foreign cults gaining popularity in India for Tank Magazine→, critically examined India’s copycat institutional architecture for Outlook Magazine→, and wrote about some neglected indigenous Indian animal breeds for Outlook Magazine→.
2008
I met some self-destructively inventive Indian record breakers for Outlook Magazine→.