Try GOLD - Free
Ganges river dolphin
The Observer
|August 24, 2025
The dark is my delight.
In the gloom of the river I perceive the world around me as plainly as those that live in the superficial world see in the flashbulb light of the sun. Their obscurity is my clarity. In the murk I can see for miles.
Monday
Though to be accurate I actually see very little: and that would still be true if my eyes were as powerful as an eagle's. Here in the Koshi river there's nothing to see. That's if you're narrow enough to think that seeing is something to do with eyes. I don't see the world: I hear it. For me the world is a soundscape that has depth, perspective, size and relative speed. And it's all in the rebound of my echoing voice.
Tuesday
This story is from the August 24, 2025 edition of The Observer.
Subscribe to Magzter GOLD to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 10,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
MORE STORIES FROM The Observer
The Observer
Deprived areas need attention for their own sake, not because Reform is in town
Numerous studies warn about pockets of deep poverty, but little is done by sitting governments until they feel under threat
4 mins
February 01, 2026
The Observer
Ghislaine 'took artistic pornographic photos'
In the vast trove of emails and photographs relating to the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein released on Friday, one image stands out: Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor on all fours over a woman lying on the floor.
2 mins
February 01, 2026
The Observer
‘The government still has so little understanding of hospitality. It's perplexing’
Most mornings, when Tom Kerridge finishes a session at the gym, he grabs a coffee as a reward from a cafe in a corner of Marlow, Buckinghamshire, that is far from typically quaint.
8 mins
February 01, 2026
The Observer
'Choke her lightly': twisted dating tips for boys from Tate-inspired chatbot
Posing as a child, our reporter was given disturbing advice by a ChatGPT-hosted bot that mimics Andrew Tate
4 mins
February 01, 2026
The Observer
Borrowers face debt trap over credit score squeeze
Credit card borrowing rose at its fastest rate in nearly two years in the run-up to Christmas, and those debts are now due.
2 mins
February 01, 2026
The Observer
Song thrush
If music be the meaning of life, play on!
2 mins
February 01, 2026
The Observer
Dear Keir*
Grown-up advice from everyone's favourite centrist
3 mins
February 01, 2026
The Observer
English family's protest song strikes a chord in the US
The Marsh Family from Kent joins Billy Bragg and Bruce Springsteen in releasing songs about Minnesota
2 mins
February 01, 2026
The Observer
Hundreds killed after collapse of mine at the heart of DRC conflict
A landslide caused several mines to collapse in a rebel-held region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo last week, killing at least 200 people who were digging for a black metallic ore used in smartphones.
1 mins
February 01, 2026
The Observer
Gold surge takes shine off Brown’s time in No 11
As the gold price reaches new highs, topping $5,500 an ounce last week, it makes what once seemed like prudent risk-management by Gordon Brown look like one of the worst decisions in the history of finance.
1 min
February 01, 2026
Listen
Translate
Change font size
