Are Deep Sea Reefs Really a Lifeboat for Our Vanishing Corals?
A new study has cast doubt on the extent to which mesophotic reefs may be a refuge for shallower species hit by overfishing, warming waters, and extreme weather.
Inside the Effort to Install Independent Oversight of the Texas Criminal Justice System
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice currently has an ombudsman within the agency, but two state politicians argue that making the position independent will lead to more objectivity.
The Genetic Case Against Designer Babies
The science does not support the idea that we can alter a child's DNA to ensure certain health and intelligence outcomes.
How Small-Scale Gold Mining Is Devastating the Peruvian Amazon
Small-scale gold mining has led to the destruction of more than 170,000 acres of primary rainforest in the Peruvian Amazon over the past five years, according to new research.
Our 20 Most-Read Stories of 2018
Pacific Standard's most widely circulated articles of the past year.
Our Best Education Stories of 2018
Our best reporting on education inequality—and those working to remedy it.
The Democrats' Innovative Primary Format Relies Largely on Chance
The Democrats' new randomized debate plan is a gold mine for campaign researchers.
Viewfinder: Austria's Capital City Celebrates Vienna Modernism
Visitors stand on a suspended bridge to take a closer look at paintings by Austrian painter Gustav Klimt at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna.
Will a New Running Shoe Antagonize the Marathon's Culture War?
Nike's new $250 shoe that makes a faster runner might be cause for celebration, but it plays into a long-running debate over the deeper meaning of the marathon and who should participate in it.
Our Best Social Justice Stories of 2018
They're not all sad—many are stories of persistence, problem-solving, and triumph in the face of adversity.
How Climate Change Is Affecting Glaciers Around the World
NASA satellites are offering new insights into how glaciers in Antarctica and Asia are responding to warmer temperatures.
Viewfinder: Venezuelan Migrants Bring the Holidays With Them
A Venezuelan migrant rests next to a Christmas tree at an improvised camp near a bus terminal in Bogota, Colombia.
Rising Sea Levels Are a Threat to World Heritage Sites
New research finds that rising sea levels due to climate change will put dozens of World Heritage Sites in the Mediterranean region at increased risk of flooding and erosion—threats many of the sites are already facing.
How Human Bones Reveal the Fallacy of a Biological Sex Binary
Science keeps showing us that sex also doesn't fit in a binary, whether it be determined by genitals, chromosomes, hormones, or skeletons.
Our Best Interviews of 2018
Whether it's a prison strike organizer or a former vice president, there's nothing like reading a person's story in their own words.
How Buying a Christmas Tree From a Farm Helps Small Farmers Fight Bankruptcy
The millions of Americans who buy a Christmas tree at a farm this year are agritourists too.
Viewfinder: Stocking Up on Sweets for the Holidays
Shoppers purchase sweets from a stall at the Manchester Christmas Market on November 9th, 2018.
Could Pasture-Raised Pork Provide a Sustainable Future for Hog Farming?
North Carolina has acutely felt the downside of a massive, environmentally damaging pork production industry, but a better model may be emerging.