spurious correlations
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View details about correlation #5,880
From Biel to Audiology: A Sound Connection Between Jessica Biel's Filmography and Hearing Aid Specialists in Maryland
As Jessica Biel's movie presence dwindled, fans collectively exclaimed, "What, hearing her was the best part of the film!" This led to a drastic reduction in demand for hearing aids in Maryland, leaving the specialists thinking, "We've lost that lovin' decibels."
View details about correlation #1,076
The Ignition of Linguistic Curiosities: A Combustible Connection Between 'Why Isn't 11 Pronounced Onety One' Google Searches and Kerosene Usage in Romania
It turns out, as people pondered the pronunciation of eleven, a linguistics enthusiast in Romania launched a campaign to switch to a more phonetic-based system. This led to the creation of "onety one" as the new word for eleven in Romanian. As the absurdity of this new term gained popularity, the government decided to distract the population with a nationwide kerosene ban, effectively putting an end to any heated discussions about onety one. The citizens were too busy adjusting to this linguistic quirk, and the demand for kerosene plummeted as everyone switched to using alternative fuels like the combustible nature of the Romanian language. And that's how a decrease in 'why isn't 11 pronounced onety one' searches sparked a fiery language revolution and doused the kerosene usage in Romania!
What else correlates?
Google searches for 'why isnt 11 pronounced onety one' · all google searches
Kerosene used in Romania · all energy
Google searches for 'why isnt 11 pronounced onety one' · all google searches
Kerosene used in Romania · all energy
View details about correlation #5,947
The Benny-Fits of a Psychology Degree: A Correlative Analysis of Master's Degrees Awarded and the Popularity of the Name Benny
As more psychologists entered the workforce, they began advocating for the use of soothing, friendly names in popular media and advertising. This led to a subtle but pervasive preference for names like Benny, as they were found to evoke feelings of warmth and approachability. Thus, the increase in Master's degrees awarded in Psychology directly influenced the popular perception and choice of the name Benny for newborns. Remember, a calm and collected baby name can work wonders for infant-parent communication!
What else correlates?
Master's degrees awarded in Psychology · all education
Popularity of the first name Benny · all first names
Master's degrees awarded in Psychology · all education
Popularity of the first name Benny · all first names
View details about correlation #4,064
The Meaty Connection: When Household Spending on Proteins Directly Affects EQIX Stock Price
More households investing in grill technology led to a surge in demand for outdoor cooking space. This inadvertently drove up the need for data storage and processing power to support the countless backyard BBQ photos and videos being uploaded to the cloud, ultimately boosting the stock price of Equinix, a leader in digital infrastructure.
View details about correlation #5,045
From Distracted Boyfriend to Distracted Clerk: Exploring the Correlation Between the Popularity of the 'Distracted Boyfriend' Meme and the Number of Office Clerks in Kentucky
As the 'distracted boyfriend' meme gained traction, companies realized the need for more office clerks to manage all the new workplace distractions caused by employees reenacting the meme. Remember, when seeking a promotion, always keep your focus and avoid getting caught up in office meme-antics!
What else correlates?
Popularity of the 'distracted boyfriend' meme · all memes
The number of office clerks in Kentucky · all cccupations
Popularity of the 'distracted boyfriend' meme · all memes
The number of office clerks in Kentucky · all cccupations
View details about correlation #1,889
Soy What? Exploring the GMO-ment between Soybeans and 'I Can't Even' Google Searches in Minnesota
The soybeans were so advanced they started expressing existential angst, leading to a wave of soy-inspired ennui that the internet just couldn't handle.
What else correlates?
GMO use in soybeans in Minnesota · all food
Google searches for 'i cant even' · all google searches
GMO use in soybeans in Minnesota · all food
Google searches for 'i cant even' · all google searches
View details about correlation #2,794
On the Rocks: The Margarita Name's Connection to Motor Vehicle Thefts in Indiana
Fewer Margaritas, fewer car troubles. With less Margarita in the mix, it seems the thieves couldn't find the right recipe for a successful heist.
What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Margarita · all first names
Motor vehicle thefts in Indiana · all random state specific
Popularity of the first name Margarita · all first names
Motor vehicle thefts in Indiana · all random state specific
View details about correlation #1,165
Out of This World Ratings: The Celestial Connection Between Neptune's Distance and Top TV Shows
The gravitational tug-of-war disrupted TV reception, leading to lower ratings as viewers struggled to tune in to their favorite shows. As the planets moved closer, it created celestial interference with the broadcast signals, ultimately affecting the TV ratings on Earth.
What else correlates?
The distance between Neptune and Mercury · all planets
Highest Nielsen rating for a TV show each year · all weird & wacky
The distance between Neptune and Mercury · all planets
Highest Nielsen rating for a TV show each year · all weird & wacky
View details about correlation #2,722
Counting Kids and Calculating Claims: An Examination of the Relationship Between 1st Grade Enrollment and Insurance Adjusters in Illinois
As more and more 1st graders entered public schools, there was a sudden surge in finger painting related insurance claims. This created a demand for additional insurance claims adjusters in Illinois who specialized in assessing the finger painting related damages. The 1st graders were unknowingly crafting a masterpiece of mayhem, leading to a boom in the insurance industry, and a colorful conundrum for the state.
View details about correlation #1,104
Fizzing Up the Search: The Curious Case of 'Who is J.K. Rowling' and Coca-Cola Stock Prices
More people learning about the author of the Harry Potter series led to a surge in interest and a magical belief in the value of Coke's st-ocks. As the search for literary knowledge Rowling, so did the demand for the classic beverage, causing investors to raise their glasses to Coke's success.
What else correlates?
Google searches for 'who is jk rowling' · all google searches
The Coca-Cola Company's stock price (KO) · all stocks
Google searches for 'who is jk rowling' · all google searches
The Coca-Cola Company's stock price (KO) · all stocks
View details about correlation #5,924
SnowWay! The Chilling Influence of OverSimplified YouTube Video Titles on Snowfall in Chicago
As the snow piles up, so does our understanding of history, thanks to these chill-inducing video titles. It's like each flake brings a new perspective, coating our brains in a fresh layer of knowledge. Clearing the way for some seriously enlightening content, this winter wonderland is definitely not flaking out when it comes to sparking curiosity. So, grab a blanket, cozy up, and get ready to have your mind snowverhauled with these insightful Oversimplified video titles. Remember, when it comes to learning, the forecast calls for a blizzard of brilliance! Stay toasty, stay curious, and let it snow, let it Oversimplify!
What else correlates?
How insightful OverSimplified YouTube video titles are · all YouTube
Snowfall in Chicago · all weather
How insightful OverSimplified YouTube video titles are · all YouTube
Snowfall in Chicago · all weather
View details about correlation #2,599
The Air Bag Flair and the Name Affair: Exploring the Correlation Between Killian and Recalls
As more babies were named Killian, the collective toddler energy apparently disrupted the delicate air bag sensors. It's a little-known phenomenon called 'infantile air bag agitation syndrome.' The automotive industry has a new challenge to address - designing baby-proof air bag systems. It's a real conundrum - how to keep up with the changing demographics of car passengers. But rest assured, car manufacturers are taking a hands-on approach to this unexpected correlation.
What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Killian · all first names
Automotive recalls for issues with the Air Bags · all weird & wacky
Popularity of the first name Killian · all first names
Automotive recalls for issues with the Air Bags · all weird & wacky
View details about correlation #2,246
The Butter Effect: A Statistical Analysis of Butter Consumption and the Proportion of Epidemiologists in Colorado
As butter consumption in Colorado increased, so did the demand for larger sample sizes in epidemiological studies. This led to a surge in funding for public health research, prompting a migration of epidemiologists to the state, lured by the opportunity to conduct margarineally significant studies and spread their knowledge like, well, butter.
What else correlates?
Butter consumption · all food
The number of epidemiologists in Colorado · all cccupations
Butter consumption · all food
The number of epidemiologists in Colorado · all cccupations
View details about correlation #2,009
Eggs-travagant Expenses: Examining the Amusing Association between Annual US Household Spending on Eggs and Emerson Electric Co.'s Stock Price
As household spending on eggs went up, so did the demand for egg-related products, like egg poachers and omelet pans. This surge in demand made Emerson Electric Co.'s stock crackle and pop on the market, leading to an over-easy rise in their stock price. It seems like the secret to their success was simply eggs-quisite!
What else correlates?
Annual US household spending on eggs · all weird & wacky
Emerson Electric Co.'s stock price (EMR) · all stocks
Annual US household spending on eggs · all weird & wacky
Emerson Electric Co.'s stock price (EMR) · all stocks
View details about correlation #1,080
The Pump Factor: Exploring the Tyler-Fueled Relationship Between Name Popularity and Gasoline Consumption in Italy
Perhaps every time someone named Tyler walked by a gas station in Italy, the gas pumps were inexplicably activated by some kind of "Tyler" recognition technology, leading to a surge in gasoline pumped. It's as if the Tylers had some secret power to fuel the Italian gas industry, quite literally. It's a name-based enigma that has left both statisticians and gas station attendants scratching their heads in bewilderment!
What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Tyler · all first names
Gasoline pumped in Italy · all energy
Popularity of the first name Tyler · all first names
Gasoline pumped in Italy · all energy
View details about correlation #2,732
Vexing Venus and Mercurial Metrics: Exploring the Eccentric Relationship Between Planetary Proximity and Nursing Personnel in Indiana
As the distance between Venus and Mercury shrinks, their gravitational pull forms a cosmic vacuum cleaner effect. This inadvertently sucks up the motivation for nursing assistant jobs in Indiana, leading to a decrease in their numbers. It's a case of celestial bodies creating celestial job changes!
What else correlates?
The distance between Venus and Mercury · all planets
The number of nursing assistants in Indiana · all cccupations
The distance between Venus and Mercury · all planets
The number of nursing assistants in Indiana · all cccupations
View details about correlation #2,965
Avocado Toast Boasts: Associating Science Technicians with Brunch Addicts
As more students studied science technologies, they engineered a way to create perfectly ripe avocados on demand, leading to a surge in avocado toast popularity. It's a toast to technological advancements in brunch cuisine!
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
