Power
What Does Being a Man's 'Type' Have to Do With Harassment and Rape?
President Donald Trump recently defended himself against an accusation of rape by saying the accuser wasn't his type. How much does attraction play into sexual harassment and assault?
A Study Finds That the Costs of Hydroelectric Dams Have Been 'Grossly Underestimated'
Dams have been linked to habitat degradation, worsened biodiversity, and negative changes in river ecology.
As Votes Roll In, Fresh Records for Women's Representation in U.S. Government Are Within Reach
By the morning after Election Day, America knew the number of women in the House of Representatives would hit historic highs. Could the Senate and governors' mansions, too?
How a Record Number of Female Candidates Translated Into Numbers of Women in Power
A record number of women ran for some of the nation's highest offices this year. Here's how they've influenced the gender make-up of the Senate, the House of Representatives, and the states' governors.
For Men, a Fear of Being Judged as Inept Incites Sexual Harassment
In a new study, males were more likely to endorse sexually aggressive behavior if they worried they were viewed as incompetent.
Get to Know Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Who Could Become the Youngest Woman in Congress
Pacific Standard spoke to Ocasio-Cortez about how she got to where she is and why it matters that young women and women of color are running for office.
Why Are the Hopi Suing to Save a Coal-Fire Power Plant?
Officials from the tribe worry about the economic impacts of closing the Navajo Generating Station, but water conservationists are pushing for the region to move on.
Chronic Feelings of Powerlessness Spur Men to Engage in Sexual Harassment
Research finds men who feel metaphorically impotent, and then assume a position of authority, are more likely to sexually harass subordinates.
Height Discrimination and Strategies for Social Change
In her new book, lawyer Tanya Osensky argues that constantly monitoring height is a symptom and driver of a pervasive "heightism" that unjustly frames tallness as powerful and shortness as weak.
Why Is Scaring People So Much Fun?
There's ample research on fear, but not much on why people enjoy inducing it. It could be power, group-bonding, or "everyday sadism."
The Connection Between Coal and Politics in Wyoming
In Wyoming, where Philip Anschutz is currently building the largest wind farm in the world, coal, which is cheap and plentiful, is the answer to just about everything.
Could These Truck-Sized Batteries Be the Solution to Our Renewable Energy-Storage Problem?
Until we find a way to effectively store energy, the power on California's electricity grid will rise and fall with the sun.
Powerful People Are Sensitive to Unfairness—If They're the Victims
Injustices to other people don't capture their attention quite as quickly.
What Being a Multimillionaire Can Buy You
Political influence, scientific research programs, and big data, oh my.
Has Anita Sarkeesian Been Silenced?
Gamergate is a cautionary tale that may dampen others’ willingness to speak out, but the problems of video game misogyny and the online harassment of women are more visible than ever.
Challenging the Ideal Female Form
What happens when you take the power away from the viewer?
Approaching Peak Capacity
Requests for consumers to shift their electrical usage when the power grid is strained can have "perverse effects."
Was Nazi Germany Everyone's Fault?
In a new essay collection, historian Richard J. Evans argues against the popular conception.
Time Waits for No Man, but It Feels That Way to the Powerful
New research finds having power increases the perception one has plenty of time.
When It Comes to Solar, the Market Is Making Environmentalism Easy
The price of this renewable energy source is now competitive with older, dirtier alternatives—and getting cheaper by the day.
The 30 Top Thinkers Under 30: Vera Katelyn Wilde, 29, Psychology
For the month of April we're profiling the individuals who made our inaugural list of the 30 top thinkers under 30, the young men and women we predict will have a serious impact on the social, political, and economic issues we cover every day here at Pacific Standard.
Can Social Clout Change How Much Something Weighs?
The powerless may carry even heavier loads than we thought.
Gender and the Body Language of Power
Expansive body postures like those associated with masculinity increase people’s sense of powerfulness and entitlement.
Flexian Invasion: Strange Creatures Capture the Capital!
A new professional class of movers and shakers—people who serve overlapping roles in government, business, and media with smiling finesse—is controlling the flow of power and money in America. The anthropologist Janine Wedel is bent on making us understand just how dangerous this new normal can be.