This week on Little Atoms, featuring democracy in Africa, reform in the Gulf, drugs in Europe, and odd childhood stories from everywhere

Africa's new democratic revolution

Paul Melly says the fall of Burkina Faso's Blaise Compaoré suggests the days of the "Big Man" leader are over

African politicians such as Burkina Faso's Blaise Compaoré yearn for the days of the "Big Man" leader, but now they are forced to accept the will of the people

We asked some people to tell us what strange things they thought were true when they were young. Here are the findings of our deeply scientific survey

Follow our live blog of Channel 4's Drugs Live, including Q&A with Paul Birch, founder of CISTA, who is campaigning for drug law reform in the UK

The rise of Islamic State will give fresh impetus for the Gulf states to renew their social contracts

There was life before the dress, and somehow, life will go on after the dress. This is what it looks like.

The mazy, dusty shops of old are being replaced with clean lines and social spaces