It’s been an interesting year on The Conversation Insights desk. We’ve produced a raft of compelling stories from academics carrying out research all over the world in an attempt to answer some of life’s most important questions. Whether it’s a millionaire bunker builder living in a revamped intercontinental ballistic missile silo in Texas or a doctor on the frontline of the coronavirus pandemic in Liverpool, our long reads have featured fascinating people with amazing tales to tell. This being 2020, there have also been stories tinged with sadness. But what all our stories have in common is a sense of hope. Here are some of our personal highlights.