July 2021

by Matthew Karp,

[Letter from Alabama]

A Complicating Energy

Notes on a year without strangers

by Elisa Gabbert,

Harper’s Magazine welcomes reader response.

Email us about articles in the magazine.

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage by which the length of the average conversation differs from the desired length : 50

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage increase last year in UFO sightings nationwide : 16

[Harper’s Index]

Maximum percentage by which satellite traffic has been observed to brighten the night sky : 10

[Harper’s Index]

Minimum number of complaints the BBC received for excessive coverage of Prince Philip’s death : 110,000

[Harper’s Index]

Rank of that coverage among the most complained-about programming in BBC history : 1

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of regular videoconference attendees who report experiencing Zoom fatigue : 53

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of women with Zoom fatigue who ascribe it partly to an increased focus on their own image : 57

[Harper’s Index]

Portion of emoji users who wish they had more options to reflect their personal appearance and identity : 3/5

[Harper’s Index]

Who think emojis are an important tool for creating “unity, respect, and understanding” : 3/4

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage change since 1953 in the frequency with which the Supreme Court rules in favor of religious rights : +76

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of judges who have ruled in federal cases to allow religious gatherings despite COVID-19 restrictions : 38

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of adults with seasonal allergies who experience fewer symptoms if they regularly wear a surgical mask : 36

[Harper’s Index]

Estimated number of face masks that entered the ocean last year : 1,560,000,000

[Harper’s Index]

Factor by which the amount of energy polar bears must expend to survive has increased because of the loss of arctic ice : 4

[Harper’s Index]

Portion of Wisconsin’s wolf population that was killed during a sixty-hour hunting period this year : 1/5

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of the earth’s land on which humans have not caused species loss : 3

[Harper’s Index]

Number of trees lost each year as a result of the consumption habits of the average person in China : 0.5

[Harper’s Index]

Portion of commercial air travel emissions caused by the most frequent 1 percent of fliers : 1/2

[Harper’s Index]

Average portion of the global population that does not fly in a given year : 9/10

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of Americans who believe that climate change is causing home values in their area to decline : 21

[Harper’s Index]

Number of homes for sale in the United States this spring : 1,070,000

[Harper’s Index]

Minimum number of real estate agents in the United States this spring : 1,463,806

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of professors at top-ranked universities whose parents earned PhDs : 30

[Harper’s Index]

Estimated factor by which a professor is more likely than a member of the general public to have a parent with a PhD : 25

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage by which liberals are more likely than conservatives to participate in medical research : 16

[Harper’s Index]

Estimated percentage by which the UberX service has increased binge drinking among Americans aged 21 to 34 : 10

[Harper’s Index]

Minimum portion of the U.S. rental-car fleet that has been sold off during the pandemic : 1/4

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of federal tax revenue accounted for by corporate taxes in 1969 : 22

[Harper’s Index]

Number of Fortune 500 companies that paid no federal taxes last year : 40

[Harper’s Index]

Estimated percentage of earnings that the top 1 percent of U.S. earners do not disclose to the IRS : 21

[Harper’s Index]

Amount of lost revenue this represents each year : $175,000,000

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of conversations that end when both parties want them to : 2

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage by which the length of the average conversation differs from the desired length : 50

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage increase last year in UFO sightings nationwide : 16

[Harper’s Index]

Maximum percentage by which satellite traffic has been observed to brighten the night sky : 10

[Harper’s Index]

Minimum number of complaints the BBC received for excessive coverage of Prince Philip’s death : 110,000

[Harper’s Index]

Rank of that coverage among the most complained-about programming in BBC history : 1

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of regular videoconference attendees who report experiencing Zoom fatigue : 53

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of women with Zoom fatigue who ascribe it partly to an increased focus on their own image : 57

[Harper’s Index]

Portion of emoji users who wish they had more options to reflect their personal appearance and identity : 3/5

[Harper’s Index]

Who think emojis are an important tool for creating “unity, respect, and understanding” : 3/4

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage change since 1953 in the frequency with which the Supreme Court rules in favor of religious rights : +76

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of judges who have ruled in federal cases to allow religious gatherings despite COVID-19 restrictions : 38

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of adults with seasonal allergies who experience fewer symptoms if they regularly wear a surgical mask : 36

[Harper’s Index]

Estimated number of face masks that entered the ocean last year : 1,560,000,000

[Harper’s Index]

Factor by which the amount of energy polar bears must expend to survive has increased because of the loss of arctic ice : 4

[Harper’s Index]

Portion of Wisconsin’s wolf population that was killed during a sixty-hour hunting period this year : 1/5

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of the earth’s land on which humans have not caused species loss : 3

[Harper’s Index]

Number of trees lost each year as a result of the consumption habits of the average person in China : 0.5

[Harper’s Index]

Portion of commercial air travel emissions caused by the most frequent 1 percent of fliers : 1/2

[Harper’s Index]

Average portion of the global population that does not fly in a given year : 9/10

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of Americans who believe that climate change is causing home values in their area to decline : 21

[Harper’s Index]

Number of homes for sale in the United States this spring : 1,070,000

[Harper’s Index]

Minimum number of real estate agents in the United States this spring : 1,463,806

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of professors at top-ranked universities whose parents earned PhDs : 30

[Harper’s Index]

Estimated factor by which a professor is more likely than a member of the general public to have a parent with a PhD : 25

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage by which liberals are more likely than conservatives to participate in medical research : 16

[Harper’s Index]

Estimated percentage by which the UberX service has increased binge drinking among Americans aged 21 to 34 : 10

[Harper’s Index]

Minimum portion of the U.S. rental-car fleet that has been sold off during the pandemic : 1/4

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of federal tax revenue accounted for by corporate taxes in 1969 : 22

[Harper’s Index]

Number of Fortune 500 companies that paid no federal taxes last year : 40

[Harper’s Index]

Estimated percentage of earnings that the top 1 percent of U.S. earners do not disclose to the IRS : 21

[Harper’s Index]

Amount of lost revenue this represents each year : $175,000,000

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage of conversations that end when both parties want them to : 2

[Harper’s Index]

Percentage by which the length of the average conversation differs from the desired length : 50

Readings

[Essay]

Compose Yourself

by Chris Howden, Carol Off,

[Theory]

The Sound of Vibrance

Translated by Robert Chapeskie,

[Reports]

The Permitted Prohibited

by Alaa Al Aswany,Translated by S. R. Fellowes,

[Chat]

Working Blue

Unforeseen Journey of Self Discovery, embroidered fabric by Kimathi Mafafo, whose work will be on view in October at Kristin Hjellegjerde, in London.

“Ali and Frisbee, 1995,” a photograph by Vinca Petersen, from her monograph No System, which was reissued last year. Petersen’s work is on view this month at Edel Assanti, in London, and at the V&A Dundee, in Scotland.

“Mom Dances with a Dollar on Her Forehead, NY, 1976,” a photograph by Meryl Meisler, whose work is on view this month at the Kathleen O. Ellis Gallery, in Syracuse, New York.

Frog, a painting by Michael Cline, whose work was on view in March at Nino Mier Gallery, in Los Angeles.

Unforeseen Journey of Self Discovery, embroidered fabric by Kimathi Mafafo, whose work will be on view in October at Kristin Hjellegjerde, in London.

“Mom Dances with a Dollar on Her Forehead, NY, 1976,” a photograph by Meryl Meisler, whose work is on view this month at the Kathleen O. Ellis Gallery, in Syracuse, New York.

Frog, a painting by Michael Cline, whose work was on view in March at Nino Mier Gallery, in Los Angeles.

Unforeseen Journey of Self Discovery, embroidered fabric by Kimathi Mafafo, whose work will be on view in October at Kristin Hjellegjerde, in London.