We are raiding the Guardian Long Read archives to bring you some classic pieces from years past, with new introductions from the authors.

This week, from 2021: The BBL is the fastest growing cosmetic surgery in the world, despite the mounting number of deaths resulting from the procedure. What is driving its astonishing rise? By Sophie Elmhirst

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© Illustration: Guardian Design/ Getty Images

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© Illustration: Guardian Design/ Getty Images

Study identifies 16,825 sites around the world where prioritising conservation would prevent extinction of thousands of unique species

Protecting just 1.2% of the Earth’s surface for nature would be enough to prevent the extinction of the world’s most threatened species, according to a new study.

Analysis published in the journal Frontiers in Science has found that the targeted expansion of protected areas on land would be enough to prevent the loss of thousands of the mammals, birds, amphibians and plants that are closest to disappearing.

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© Photograph: Jes Aznar/Getty

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© Photograph: Jes Aznar/Getty

Huge die-offs of elephant seals occurred after the virus gained nearly 20 troublesome new mutations, scientists found.

Elon Musk’s Starlink has connected an isolated tribe to the outside world — and divided it from within.

© Victor Moriyama for The New York Times

Mr. Musk has built a constellation of like-minded heads of state — including Argentina’s Javier Milei and India’s Narendra Modi — to push his own politics and expand his business empire.

© Cristiana Couceiro

A gift from abroad of more than 1,100 Brazilian fossils aims to step up efforts to rebuild the country’s National Museum, which suffered major fire damage in 2018.