spurious correlations
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don't miss spurious scholar,
where each of these is an academic paper
View details about correlation #5,898
Pigging Out: The Swine Connection between Pork Spending and Lululemon Stock Price
As pork consumption rose, so did the demand for stretchy pants with forgiving waistbands, leading to higher profits for Lululemon. It's a classic case of bringing home the bacon and then needing pants with extra give!
What else correlates?
Annual US household spending on pork · all weird & wacky
Lululemon's stock price (LULU) · all stocks
Annual US household spending on pork · all weird & wacky
Lululemon's stock price (LULU) · all stocks
View details about correlation #5,878
The Wolverine Effect: Exploring the Interplay Between Geeky AsapSCIENCE YouTube Video Titles and Hugh Jackman's Cinematic Appearances
Every time AsapSCIENCE releases a super geeky video, Hugh Jackman feels a sudden urge to take on another movie role, because let's face it, who wouldn't want to be a part of such nerdy greatness? It's like his geeky senses start tingling, and before you know it, he's donning those adamantium claws or belting out a song as P.T. Barnum. Geekiness just has that mutant power to attract Hugh Jackman to the big screen!
View details about correlation #2,354
Engineering Enrollment and Economic Endeavors: Exploring the Enigmatic Link between Bachelor's Degrees and Dollar Store Searches
As the number of Engineering graduates rose, so did their affinity for innovative, cost-effective solutions. This led to a surge in dollar store franchise ownership, as former students applied their skills to optimize the operation of these stores. The result? An influx of high-quality, yet inexplicably affordable, merchandise at a dollar store near you, capturing the interest and search queries of bargain-hunting locals. Remember, when it comes to bargain shopping, these engineers didn't just ace the calculus - they engineered a retail revolution!
What else correlates?
Bachelor's degrees awarded in Engineering · all education
Google searches for 'dollar store near me' · all google searches
Bachelor's degrees awarded in Engineering · all education
Google searches for 'dollar store near me' · all google searches
View details about correlation #5,943
Special Delivery: Uncovering the Secretary-ous Connection Between Rhode Island's Secretarial Workforce and UPS Customer Satisfaction
With fewer secretaries around, there was a surge in rogue package labeling. The packages were being given the wrong addresses, causing a lot of confusion. It was an uproar!
What else correlates?
The number of secretaries in Rhode Island · all cccupations
Customer satisfaction with UPS · all weird & wacky
The number of secretaries in Rhode Island · all cccupations
Customer satisfaction with UPS · all weird & wacky
View details about correlation #1,739
Jamila's Jam: A Breath of Fresh Air in Phoenix
As the name Jamila fell out of favor, people started using the phrase "Ja-mildew-a" instead, unknowingly conjuring up humid and smoggy conditions in Phoenix. This linguistic shift led to an increase in indoor air freshener use, creating a demand for aerosols that wafted all the way to Arizona, contributing to the decrease in air quality. Remember, it's not just about being Jamila-friendly, it's also about being eco-friendly!
What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Jamila · all first names
Air quality in Phoenix · all weather
Popularity of the first name Jamila · all first names
Air quality in Phoenix · all weather
View details about correlation #4,113
The Sizzle and Fizzle: LPG in Bahrain and the MFG Stock Price Boil Over
The extra LPG in Bahrain is creating a booming market for flamethrower juggling performances. As the demand for entertainment surges, so does the demand for bank loans to fund these fiery spectacles. Mizuho Financial Group, being in the lending business, is experiencing a hot streak of interest and fees, propelling their stock price to new heights. Remember, when the juggling gets tough, the tough get banking with MFG!
What else correlates?
Liquefied petroleum gas used in Bahrain · all energy
Mizuho Financial Group's stock price (MFG) · all stocks
Liquefied petroleum gas used in Bahrain · all energy
Mizuho Financial Group's stock price (MFG) · all stocks
View details about correlation #1,199
Put to the Test: Does American Cheese Bring Google's Profits to Their Knees?
As American cheese consumption melted, so did Google's competition, allowing them to brie the top dog in annual revenue. It's grate for Google, but they'll need to be careful not to get too cheesy with their success!
What else correlates?
American cheese consumption · all food
Google's Annual Global Revenue · all weird & wacky
American cheese consumption · all food
Google's Annual Global Revenue · all weird & wacky
View details about correlation #5,949
The Smog Blog: Does Air Pollution Foggily Influence the Propensity for the Name Kirk?
As the air cleared, people were no longer feeling the urge to "Kirk" off and stay indoors! With pollution levels down, parents were no longer "Kirk-umspect" about naming their children. The correlation is elementary, my dear Watson!
What else correlates?
Air pollution in San Diego, California · all weather
Popularity of the first name Kirk · all first names
Air pollution in San Diego, California · all weather
Popularity of the first name Kirk · all first names
View details about correlation #1,059
Fueling the Farm: A Crude Connection Between Petroleum Consumption in Azerbaijan and the Number of Farm Equipment Mechanics in Alabama
As Azerbaijan's demand for petroluem grew, they started importing more petro-dollars from Alabama, leading to a spike in the sales of farm equipment. This, in turn, created a pressing need for additional farm equipment mechanics in Alabama to keep the increasingly busy farms up and running. It's like a chain reaction, but with a lot more grease and horsepower!
What else correlates?
Petroluem consumption in Azerbaijan · all energy
The number of farm equipment mechanics in Alabama · all cccupations
Petroluem consumption in Azerbaijan · all energy
The number of farm equipment mechanics in Alabama · all cccupations
View details about correlation #2,163
Mastering Gangnam Style: A Correlational Study of Education Master's Degrees and Google Searches
As the number of Master's degrees awarded in Education decreased, there was a corresponding decline in the proficiency of educators to perform the Gangnam Style dance in school environments, leading to less encouragement and opportunity for students to engage with the trend. Ultimately, this created a domino effect where 'Gangnam Style' became less influential in popular culture, all because educators couldn't keep up with the dance moves. Maybe they should have offered a Master's program in Dance Education!
What else correlates?
Master's degrees awarded in Education · all education
Google searches for 'Gangnam Style' · all google searches
Master's degrees awarded in Education · all education
Google searches for 'Gangnam Style' · all google searches
View details about correlation #1,746
Stalk, Ship, and Swagger: The Unlikely Link Between GMO Cotton in Texas and Global Pirate Attacks
As GMO use in cotton decreased in Texas, it led to a reduction in the production of pirate-themed cotton clothing. This, in turn, caused a decline in people dressing up as pirates for 'Talk Like a Pirate Day', ultimately leading to a global decrease in pirate-related shenanigans. In other words, it seems that the Texas GMO change has truly 'sailed' the high seas of fashion and folklore!
What else correlates?
GMO use in cotton in Texas · all food
Pirate attacks globally · all weird & wacky
GMO use in cotton in Texas · all food
Pirate attacks globally · all weird & wacky
View details about correlation #2,636
Stellar Stock Forecasting: Unveiling the Celestial Connection Between Neptune, Uranus, and Cognizant Technology Solutions' Stock Price
As the gravitational tug-of-war between the two outer planets intensified, it created a ripple effect in the space-time continuum, leading to a surge in cosmic productivity. This inexplicable celestial occurrence somehow boosted the demand for IT services, propelling Cognizant Technology Solutions' stock price to astronomical heights. Who knew that the key to financial success lay hidden in the outer realms of our solar system!
What else correlates?
The distance between Neptune and Uranus · all planets
Cognizant Technology Solutions' stock price (CTSH) · all stocks
The distance between Neptune and Uranus · all planets
Cognizant Technology Solutions' stock price (CTSH) · all stocks
View details about correlation #3,596
The Coral Connection: Examining the Link Between the Popularity of the Name Coral and the Employment of Biological Technicians in Missouri
As fewer babies were named Coral, there was a ripple effect in the marine biology community, leading to a decreased interest in studying coral reefs. This ultimately led to a reduced demand for biological technicians in Missouri who specialized in marine ecosystems. It seems the name Coral had more influence than we ever imagined, creating waves of change in unexpected places!
What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Coral · all first names
The number of biological technicians in Missouri · all cccupations
Popularity of the first name Coral · all first names
The number of biological technicians in Missouri · all cccupations
View details about correlation #1,779
The Chilling Connection Between Master's Degrees and 'Ice Bath' Google Searches: A Statistical Splash
As the number of Master's degrees in homeland security, law enforcement, and firefighting has risen, so has the demand for highly trained professionals. These experts are bringing a whole new meaning to the phrase "keeping cool under pressure." With their specialized knowledge, they're creating a chillaxed atmosphere, leading to a nationwide trend of ice baths for stress relief. It seems like their ability to handle heated situations is positively impacting the nation's relaxation habits!
View details about correlation #2,632
E-nergy Connection: Shedding Light on the Link between Internet Access Rates in the US and Solar Power Generation in Honduras
As more Americans basked in the glow of cat videos and memes, their collective laughter resonated through the Earth, leading to a surge in solar energy production in distant lands. It's the first case of 'lol-ecology' on a global scale!
What else correlates?
Internet Access Rate among US Citizens · all weird & wacky
Solar power generated in Honduras · all energy
Internet Access Rate among US Citizens · all weird & wacky
Solar power generated in Honduras · all energy
View details about correlation #2,645
Xiomara's Popularity: A Quandary for MSI Prosperity
There were rumors that Motorola was planning to release a new line of smartphones specifically designed to cater to people with the name Xiomara. These phones would come in vibrant, unconventional colors and have a built-in feature that automatically translated popular slang and phrases into Xiomara's preferred dialect. The anticipation of this unexpected market strategy created a buzz around the company, leading to an uptick in their stock price.
What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Xiomara · all first names
Motorola Solutions' stock price (MSI) · all stocks
Popularity of the first name Xiomara · all first names
Motorola Solutions' stock price (MSI) · all stocks
View details about correlation #1,727
The Theology-Tile Tangle: Tracing the Tenuous Ties Between Master's Degrees in Theology and Religious Vocations and the Tally of Drywall and Ceiling Tile Installers in Texas
As more theologians entered the workforce, there was a surge in the creation of heavenly ceilings and immaculate walls, leading to a high demand for specialized installers in Texas. It's a case of divine intervention in the construction industry!
View details about correlation #1,159
Reaching New Heights: A Gastrointestinal Exploration of the Relationship Between Mount Everest Summits and Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Champions
As the number of successful Mount Everest climbs rises, so does the peak appetite for adventure. This, in turn, creates a sausage-yetis-faction where competitors are relishing the thrill of the challenge like never before, and they're on a roll to claim the title. It's a summit showdown of epic proportions, where each contender is truly reaching their peak performance. And as we all know, when it comes to devouring those dogs, these champions don't just climb, they condiment.
View details about correlation #2,470
Rice and Pains: Exploring the Correlation Between Global Rice Consumption and Google Searches for 'I Have a Headache'
As global rice consumption increases, so does the demand for soy sauce. The production of soy sauce leads to the release of tyramine, a compound known to trigger headaches in some individuals. So, the next time you reach for that bowl of rice, it might just be the soy sauce's way of saying "soy-ry, I'm causing a headache." Remember, this is all a funny made-up explanation!
What else correlates?
Global Rice Consumption · all food
Google searches for 'i have a headache' · all google searches
Global Rice Consumption · all food
Google searches for 'i have a headache' · all google searches
View details about correlation #5,920
Spreading Love and Margarine: An Examination of the Butter-Splitter Correlation in Maine
Perhaps as people used less margarine, they became less slippery in their relationships. The lack of artificial spread may have kept the couples from buttering each other up, leading to a decrease in overall marital strife. That's the reality when you can't believe it's not butter - it's a recipe for marital success. Alternatively, it could be that as the margarine consumption decreased, so did the overall slickness in the state, leading to fewer instances of partners feeling like they couldn't grip the marriage.
What else correlates?
Per capita consumption of margarine · all food
The divorce rate in Maine · all random state specific
Per capita consumption of margarine · all food
The divorce rate in Maine · all random state specific
Why this works
- Data dredging: I have 25,237 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 636,906,169 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.”
Fun fact: the chart used on the wikipedia page to demonstrate data dredging is also from me. I've been being naughty with data since 2014.
Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead tossed a bunch of data in a blender to see what correlations would shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random. - Lack of causal connection: There is probably no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above.
Because these pages are automatically generated, it's possible that the two variables you are viewing are in fact causually related. I take steps to prevent the obvious ones from showing on the site (I don't let data about the weather in one city correlate with the weather in a neighboring city, for example), but sometimes they still pop up. If they are related, cool! You found a loophole.
This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied. - Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. You will often see trend-lines form. If a population of people is continuously doing something every day, there is no reason to think they would suddenly change how they are doing that thing on January 1. A naive p-value calculation does not take this into account.
You will calculate a lower chance of "randomly" achieving the result than represents reality.
To be more specific: p-value tests are probability values, where you are calculating the probability of achieving a result at least as extreme as you found completely by chance. When calculating a p-value, you need to assert how many "degrees of freedom" your variable has. I count each year (minus one) as a "degree of freedom," but this is misleading for continuous variables.
This kind of thing can creep up on you pretty easily when using p-values, which is why it's best to take it as "one of many" inputs that help you assess the results of your analysis.
- Y-axes doesn't start at zero: I truncated the Y-axes of the graphs above. I also used a line graph, which makes the visual connection stand out more than it deserves.
Nothing against line graphs. They are great at telling a story when you have linear data! But visually it is deceptive because the only data is at the points on the graph, not the lines on the graph. In between each point, the data could have been doing anything. Like going for a random walk by itself!
Mathematically what I showed is true, but it is intentionally misleading. If you click on any of the charts that abuse this, you can scroll down to see a version that starts at zero. - Confounding variable: Confounding variables (like global pandemics) will cause two variables to look connected when in fact a "sneaky third" variable is influencing both of them behind the scenes.
- Outliers: Some datasets here have outliers which drag up the correlation.
In concept, "outlier" just means "way different than the rest of your dataset." When calculating a correlation like this, they are particularly impactful because a single outlier can substantially increase your correlation.
Because this page is automatically generated, I don't know whether any of the charts displayed on it have outliers. I'm just a footnote. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I intentionally mishandeled outliers, which makes the correlation look extra strong. - Low n: There are not many data points included in some of these charts.
You can do analyses with low ns! But you shouldn't data dredge with a low n.
Even if the p-value is high, we should be suspicious of using so few datapoints in a correlation.
Pro-tip: click on any correlation to see:
- Detailed data sources
- Prompts for the AI-generated content
- Explanations of each of the calculations (correlation, p-value)
- Python code to calculate it yourself
