Spurious correlation #2,259 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the second variable is Google searches for 'rick and morty'. The chart goes from 2013 to 2023, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the second variable is Google searches for 'rick and morty'. The chart goes from 2013 to 2023, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

The toxic air may have led to enhanced cognitive function, allowing more people to appreciate the intellectual humor of the show. In other words, it's like they say, pollution is (bur)king smartness! But in all seriousness, the correlation is most likely due to other factors, and clean air is always the ideal, for both our health and our TV preferences!

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a futuristic cityscape in Bend, Oregon, where thick smog envelops the sky. People wearing protective masks are roaming the streets, openly conducting Google searches. An atmosphere of intrigue and escapism is palpable as they eagerly seek out 'rick and morty' content on their smartphones amidst the hazy urban setting. The depiction should include only scenes, people, and objects, it should not include text or speech bubbles.

This image generation prompt was also generated by AI, using the following sequence:

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You select one of a few potential scene descriptors that seems to go along with the variables described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here are two variables: Poor air quality in Bend, Oregon and Google searches for 'rick and morty'. Given these, which of the following image style descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: Cyber folk Whimsical illustration Macabre Sci-fi fantacy inspired by bauhaus
ChatGPT: Sci-fi fantasy

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated. You combine both variables into one scene.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that prominently depicts both Poor air quality in Bend, Oregon and Google searches for 'rick and morty' together. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In Bend, Oregon, the air quality is poor, with smog hanging heavily in the sky. People, wearing masks, are seen outside conducting Google searches for 'rick and morty' on their smartphones, trying to find entertainment indoors.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You write and improve image generation prompts for DALLE-3. You maintain the same subjects, but enhance the visuals.
User prompt: Please respond with an image generation prompt that would be likely to create an interesting visual using DALLE-3, using the following style: [ Sci-fi fantasy ] and depicting this scene: In Bend, Oregon, the air quality is poor, with smog hanging heavily in the sky. People, wearing masks, are seen outside conducting Google searches for 'rick and morty' on their smartphones, trying to find entertainment indoors. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a futuristic cityscape in Bend, Oregon, where thick smog envelops the sky. People wearing protective masks are roaming the streets, openly conducting Google searches. An atmosphere of intrigue and escapism is palpable as they eagerly seek out 'rick and morty' content on their smartphones amidst the hazy urban setting.

*Variations in the User Prompts from chart to chart are just the result of random number generation in Python. I wrote a few arrays of various styles and methods to ask questions to change up the results. Every time this site writes an explanation or generates an image, the script picks from each at random.

I sequence the requests into multiple prompts because I find GPT 3.5 to perform much better with short, well-managed contexts. Thus, I track the context directly in Python and only ask ChatGPT targeted questions.
^{Show prompt for explanation} Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106 (fine-tuned)
System prompt: You provide humorous responses in the form of plausible sounding explanations for correlations. You assume the correlation is causative for the purpose of the explanation even if it is ridiculous. You do not chat with the user, you only reply with the causal connection explanation and nothing else.
User prompt: Please make up a funny explanation for how increases in Air pollution in Bend, Oregon positively influenced rick and morty (Google searches for 'rick and morty'). Include one good pun.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Smog and Szechuan Sauce: Uncovering the Relationship Between Air Pollution in Bend, Oregon and 'Rick and Morty' Google Searches

Journal of Ecological Quirkiness

Jan 2024

Reminder: This paper is AI-generated. Not real!

^{Show prompt used to generate this paper} Quick note: This sequence is long and repetitive. That's how the prompt engineering works for this one. I manage the output in Python to format it into this PDF.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You draft a literature review section of an academic research paper, that starts out dry for the first few sentences but then becomes hilarious and goofy.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Bend, Oregon and Google searches for 'rick and morty'. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Speak in the present tense for this section (the authors find...), as is common in academic research paper literature reviews. Name the sources in a format similar to this: In "Book," the authors find lorem and ipsum.

Make up the lorem and ipsum part, but make it sound related to the topic at hand.

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then you might move on to cartoons and children's shows that you watched for research.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Smog and Szechuan Sauce: Uncovering the Relationship Between Air Pollution in Bend, Oregon and 'Rick and Morty' Google Searches"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the apparently disparate phenomena of air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the popularity of the animated series "Rick and Morty" as reflected in Google search trends. Utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we explored the potential association between ambient air quality and internet users' proclivity for seeking out content related to the critically acclaimed show. The statistical analysis revealed a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.8947908 and a p-value less than 0.01 for the period spanning 2013 to 2023. Our findings suggest a noteworthy connection between the prevalence of pollutants in the local atmosphere and the public's inclination to engage with the comedic and often mind-bending universe of "Rick and Morty." This study not only sheds light on the unforeseen interplay between environmental factors and popular culture but also prompts further investigation into the nuanced ways in which air quality may influence online search behavior.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
Ambient air pollution is a topic of increasing concern in both scientific and public discourse, with efforts to identify its various impacts on human health, ecological systems, and even, as we shall explore, popular culture. Conversely, the animated television series "Rick and Morty" has garnered a dedicated and, in some circles, fervent following, captivating audiences with its uniquely surreal and philosophical narrative. At first glance, one might perceive no intersection between these seemingly unrelated phenomena, much like the baffling and confounding adventures of the titular characters in the aforementioned series. However, as we embark on our investigation, we shall uncover an unexpected correlation between air pollution levels in Bend, Oregon, and the trends in Google searches for content related to "Rick and Morty."
The city of Bend, Oregon, known for its picturesque landscapes and recreational opportunities, has also grappled with the challenge of ambient air pollution, attributable to various anthropogenic activities and geographic features. Conversely, "Rick and Morty" stands as a paragon of irreverence and intellectual stimulation, challenging the boundaries of conventional animated programming. The curious juxtaposition of these two entities forms the crux of our inquiry, with an aim to discern whether there exists a discernible relationship between the prevalence of air pollutants and the proclivity of individuals to engage with the aforementioned series via online search queries.
This study aspires not only to unravel the enigma surrounding this unexpected association but also to illuminate the potential implications for public health, environmental policy, and our understanding of the influences on modern media consumption. Our approach integrates data from the Environmental Protection Agency to gauge air quality indicators, juxtaposed with Google search trends, as provided by Google Trends, for "Rick and Morty"-related content. The analysis promises to yield insights with the potential to captivate both environmental researchers and aficionados of animated, science fiction-imbued entertainment alike. With this premise in mind, we embark upon our scholarly exploration, prepared to uncover the smoggy connections and unexpected culinary cravings that lie beneath the surface of Bend's atmospheric conditions and the digital trails of "Rick and Morty" enthusiasts.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In their seminal work, Smith and Doe (2015) investigate the impact of air pollution on public behavior, focusing primarily on physical activities such as outdoor recreation and exercise. While their inquiry delves into the quantifiable effects of air quality on individuals’ willingness to engage in outdoor pursuits, the potential influence of airborne contaminants on more esoteric activities remains largely unexplored. Building upon this foundation, our study endeavors to shed light on the hitherto overlooked relationship between air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the online search patterns for the animated series "Rick and Morty" on Google.

Jones et al. (2018) present an extensive analysis of Google search trends and their correlation with social and cultural events. While their examination encompasses a wide array of topics, it inadvertently overlooks the potential impact of environmental factors on the digital behaviors of internet users. Drawing inspiration from their comprehensive approach, we set out to bridge this gap and unearth the unforeseen connection between air quality in Bend, Oregon and the populace's affinity for the misadventures of an eccentric scientist and his eager grandson.

In "Air Toxins and Technological Tumult" (2017), the authors advocate for a holistic understanding of the modern human experience, emphasizing the need to account for the unconventional ways in which environmental factors may shape societal trends and predilections. This call to action encapsulates the spirit of our investigation, as we endeavor to unravel the unanticipated interplay between Bend's atmospheric composition and the digital predilections of "Rick and Morty" enthusiasts.

"The Unlikely Union of Respiratory Woes and Retro Cartoons" (2019), a thought-provoking piece by a team of environmental researchers, underscores the potentiality of unorthodox connections between air quality metrics and seemingly unrelated cultural phenomena. While their focus remains primarily on conventional health-related outcomes, our study extends this concept into the realm of popular culture, unearthing the curious association between air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the virtual quests for interdimensional escapades with animated protagonists.

Transitioning from academic works to literature of a more diverse nature, "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss (1971) presents a cautionary tale of environmental degradation and the implications for societal well-being. While the whimsical account of the Lorax and the Once-ler may seem unrelated to our investigation at first glance, the underlying message regarding the consequences of ecological neglect bears relevance to our exploration of the interconnectedness between environmental factors and cultural dispositions.

The fictitious exploration of alternative dimensions and existential musings in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll (1865) provides a fictional framework reminiscent of the mind-bending escapades depicted in "Rick and Morty." Although this literary classic predates the animated series by centuries, the themes of perception, reality, and absurdity are central to both works and serve as a thematic backdrop to our inquiry.

Furthermore, the animated series "The Magic School Bus" (1994-1997) serves as an anecdotal reference as we navigate the interfacing realms of science and whimsical entertainment. While Ms. Frizzle’s educational excursions into the human body and beyond may seem tangential to our study, the aptitude of animated shows to engage audiences in scientific concepts and foster curiosity holds relevance to our examination of internet users’ engagement with "Rick and Morty" amidst ambient air pollution.

As we assimilate the diverse tapestry of literature and media, we embark on our expedition to disentangle the seemingly incongruous connection between air quality in Bend, Oregon and the digital predilections for animated shenanigans. Through the lighthearted lens of popular culture and the profound implications for environmental research, we unravel the serendipitous ties between smog and Szechuan sauce, with a fervent hope that our analysis transcends the conventional boundaries of interdisciplinary inquiry.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a goofy academic researcher writing an academic paper. You follow the rules, but you throw out convention regularly to make jokes and funny asides.You draft the discussion section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Bend, Oregon and Google searches for 'rick and morty'. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

Here are the title, abstract, literature review, and results sections. Please harken back to 1-2 of the goofy items in the literature review, but pretend to take them completely seriously. Discuss how your results supported the prior research.

Do not write a conclusion. I will add a conclusion after this.

[[TITLE]]
"Smog and Szechuan Sauce: Uncovering the Relationship Between Air Pollution in Bend, Oregon and 'Rick and Morty' Google Searches"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the apparently disparate phenomena of air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the popularity of the animated series "Rick and Morty" as reflected in Google search trends. Utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we explored the potential association between ambient air quality and internet users' proclivity for seeking out content related to the critically acclaimed show. The statistical analysis revealed a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.8947908 and a p-value less than 0.01 for the period spanning 2013 to 2023. Our findings suggest a noteworthy connection between the prevalence of pollutants in the local atmosphere and the public's inclination to engage with the comedic and often mind-bending universe of "Rick and Morty." This study not only sheds light on the unforeseen interplay between environmental factors and popular culture but also prompts further investigation into the nuanced ways in which air quality may influence online search behavior.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In their seminal work, Smith and Doe (2015) investigate the impact of air pollution on public behavior, focusing primarily on physical activities such as outdoor recreation and exercise. While their inquiry delves into the quantifiable effects of air quality on individuals’ willingness to engage in outdoor pursuits, the potential influence of airborne contaminants on more esoteric activities remains largely unexplored. Building upon this foundation, our study endeavors to shed light on the hitherto overlooked relationship between air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the online search patterns for the animated series "Rick and Morty" on Google.
Jones et al. (2018) present an extensive analysis of Google search trends and their correlation with social and cultural events. While their examination encompasses a wide array of topics, it inadvertently overlooks the potential impact of environmental factors on the digital behaviors of internet users. Drawing inspiration from their comprehensive approach, we set out to bridge this gap and unearth the unforeseen connection between air quality in Bend, Oregon and the populace's affinity for the misadventures of an eccentric scientist and his eager grandson.
In "Air Toxins and Technological Tumult" (2017), the authors advocate for a holistic understanding of the modern human experience, emphasizing the need to account for the unconventional ways in which environmental factors may shape societal trends and predilections. This call to action encapsulates the spirit of our investigation, as we endeavor to unravel the unanticipated interplay between Bend's atmospheric composition and the digital predilections of "Rick and Morty" enthusiasts.
"The Unlikely Union of Respiratory Woes and Retro Cartoons" (2019), a thought-provoking piece by a team of environmental researchers, underscores the potentiality of unorthodox connections between air quality metrics and seemingly unrelated cultural phenomena. While their focus remains primarily on conventional health-related outcomes, our study extends this concept into the realm of popular culture, unearthing the curious association between air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the virtual quests for interdimensional escapades with animated protagonists.
Transitioning from academic works to literature of a more diverse nature, "The Lorax" by Dr. Seuss (1971) presents a cautionary tale of environmental degradation and the implications for societal well-being. While the whimsical account of the Lorax and the Once-ler may seem unrelated to our investigation at first glance, the underlying message regarding the consequences of ecological neglect bears relevance to our exploration of the interconnectedness between environmental factors and cultural dispositions.
The fictitious exploration of alternative dimensions and existential musings in "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll (1865) provides a fictional framework reminiscent of the mind-bending escapades depicted in "Rick and Morty." Although this literary classic predates the animated series by centuries, the themes of perception, reality, and absurdity are central to both works and serve as a thematic backdrop to our inquiry.
Furthermore, the animated series "The Magic School Bus" (1994-1997) serves as an anecdotal reference as we navigate the interfacing realms of science and whimsical entertainment. While Ms. Frizzle’s educational excursions into the human body and beyond may seem tangential to our study, the aptitude of animated shows to engage audiences in scientific concepts and foster curiosity holds relevance to our examination of internet users’ engagement with "Rick and Morty" amidst ambient air pollution.
As we assimilate the diverse tapestry of literature and media, we embark on our expedition to disentangle the seemingly incongruous connection between air quality in Bend, Oregon and the digital predilections for animated shenanigans. Through the lighthearted lens of popular culture and the profound implications for environmental research, we unravel the serendipitous ties between smog and Szechuan sauce, with a fervent hope that our analysis transcends the conventional boundaries of interdisciplinary inquiry.

[[RESULTS]]
The statistical analysis of the relationship between air pollution in Bend, Oregon and Google search trends for "Rick and Morty" yielded intriguing findings. For the time period spanning 2013 to 2023, we observed a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.8947908, indicating a robust positive relationship between these seemingly disparate variables. Furthermore, the coefficient of determination (r-squared) of 0.8006506 elucidates that approximately 80.07% of the variability in "Rick and Morty" search trends can be explained by changes in air pollution levels. This significant association held true even after stringent control for other potential confounding factors, leading us to confidently assert the presence of a compelling connection between ambient air quality and the public's interest in the animated series.
Figure 1 depicts a scatterplot illustrating the striking correlation between air pollution levels and "Rick and Morty" search trends, which serves to visually affirm the strength of this relationship. The scatterplot stands as compelling evidence of the intriguing interplay between environmental factors and cultural phenomena, reminiscent of the intricate plotlines navigated by the eponymous characters of "Rick and Morty."
The results of the regression analysis further bolster our findings, indicating that changes in air pollution levels are highly predictive of corresponding shifts in Google searches for "Rick and Morty" content. Notably, the statistical significance of this relationship, with a p-value of less than 0.01, accentuates the robustness of the observed association and underscores the validity of our conclusions.
In sum, our investigation has unearthed a noteworthy connection between the prevalence of air pollutants in Bend, Oregon and the public's appetite for content related to "Rick and Morty." This unexpected correlation prompts further exploration into the complex interrelationships between environmental factors and cultural preferences, as well as the potential implications for public health, entertainment consumption, and the enigmatic adventures of animated characters in parallel dimensions.
Stay tuned for our upcoming sitcom: "The Big Bang and Big Bang Theory Fans: An Analysis of Cosmic Curiosities and Prime Time Preferences."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The current study delves into the captivating realm of environmental and cultural interplay, unearthing the unexpected bond between air pollution in Bend, Oregon and internet denizens' fervent quest for all things "Rick and Morty." The unorthodox nature of our investigation raises intriguing questions about the underlying mechanisms driving this noteworthy association. Building upon previous research examining the influence of air quality on public behavior, our results affirm the significance of environmental factors in shaping digital predilections, paving the way for a multidimensional understanding of societal proclivities.

In elaborating upon the findings, it is essential to revisit the notable influence of unconventional factors on human attitudes and inclinations—a theme underscored in the works of Smith and Doe (2015). While their focus remained on outdoor activities, our study extends this notion to the digital domain, positing that the atmospheric composition in Bend resonates with internet users' penchant for the whimsical and intellectually stimulating escapades of "Rick and Morty." This confluence of seemingly disparate realms amplifies the need for a comprehensive consideration of environmental elements in understanding cultural trends.

Moreover, our results echo the comprehensive approach advocated by Jones et al. (2018) in illuminating the nuanced connections between digital behaviors and multifaceted societal phenomena. By reinforcing the pervasive impact of air quality on online search trends, our study affirms the intricate interplay between the local environment and internet users' engagement with animated content, attesting to the far-reaching ramifications of environmental factors on digital interactions.

In a similar vein, the exploration of obscure connections between environmental metrics and cultural phenomena, as exemplified in "The Unlikely Union of Respiratory Woes and Retro Cartoons" (2019), gains empirical credence through our robust findings. As we unravel the enigmatic ties between air pollutants and the virtual quests for interdimensional escapades, our inquiry transcends the conventional boundaries of environmental research, embracing the whimsical and thought-provoking dimensions of popular culture.

The unexpected alignment of air pollution and "Rick and Morty" searches prompts further contemplation on their implications for public health, online behaviors, and popular entertainment. Our investigation sets the stage for future research endeavors into the nuanced causal pathways and potential outcomes of this unlikely alliance, serving as a doorway to unraveling the mysteries of human curiosity amidst environmental fluctuations. As we unravel the serendipitous connection between smog and Szechuan sauce, our study encompasses an intellectual odyssey that merges scientific rigor with the light-hearted allure of animated escapades, compelling us to ponder the unanticipated ties between earth and ether.

In conclusion, the unanticipated bond between air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the online proclivity for "Rick and Morty" content highlights the intricate interplay between environmental factors and cultural inclinations. This unexpected revelation offers a tapestry of scientific and comedic insight, beckoning us to rethink the conventional boundaries of interdisciplinary inquiry and embrace the whimsical wonders of our reality. As we navigate the uncharted territories of environmental and cultural fusion, our study encourages further exploration into the interwoven landscapes of smog and search engines, unveiling the playful paradoxes lurking amidst scientific inquiry.

And remember, when it comes to the interplay of air pollution and animated curiosity, the truth is often stranger than fiction.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of academic journals. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding research, scientific, or academic journal that would publish a paper entited Smog and Szechuan Sauce: Uncovering the Relationship Between Air Pollution in Bend, Oregon and 'Rick and Morty' Google Searches. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

Journal of Ecological Quirkiness

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide fictional names of nonprofit research organizations and associations. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide the name of a funny but plausible sounding nonprofit, academic, or scientific association or organization that would sponsor research that resulted in a paper entited Smog and Szechuan Sauce: Uncovering the Relationship Between Air Pollution in Bend, Oregon and 'Rick and Morty' Google Searches. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Ecological and Culinary Studies

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You provide potential search keywords separated by commas. You say nothing else, and you do not chat with the user.
User prompt: Please provide potential search keywords for a paper titled Smog and Szechuan Sauce: Uncovering the Relationship Between Air Pollution in Bend, Oregon and 'Rick and Morty' Google Searches with an abstract of This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the apparently disparate phenomena of air pollution in Bend, Oregon and the popularity of the animated series "Rick and Morty" as reflected in Google search trends. Utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we explored the potential association between ambient air quality and internet users' proclivity for seeking out content related to the critically acclaimed show. The statistical analysis revealed a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.8947908 and a p-value less than 0.01 for the period spanning 2013 to 2023. Our findings suggest a noteworthy connection between the prevalence of pollutants in the local atmosphere and the public's inclination to engage with the comedic and often mind-bending universe of "Rick and Morty." This study not only sheds light on the unforeseen interplay between environmental factors and popular culture but also prompts further investigation into the nuanced ways in which air quality may influence online search behavior.

ChatGPT:

Smog, air pollution, Bend Oregon, Rick and Morty, Google search trends, Environmental Protection Agency, Google Trends, correlation coefficient, statistical analysis, pollutants, local atmosphere, popular culture, online search behavior

*There is a bunch of Python happening behind the scenes to turn this prompt sequence into a PDF.

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Data details

Air pollution in Bend, Oregon
Detailed data title: Percentage of days 'unhealthy' or worse air quality in Bend-Redmond, OR
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
See what else correlates with Air pollution in Bend, Oregon

Google searches for 'rick and morty'
Detailed data title: Relative volume of Google searches for 'rick and morty' (Worldwide, without quotes)
Source: Google Trends
Additional Info: ^{See full details} Relative search volume (not absolute numbers)

See what else correlates with Google searches for 'rick and morty'

Correlation r = 0.8947908 (Pearson correlation coefficient)
Correlation is a measure of how much the variables move together. If it is 0.99, when one goes up the other goes up. If it is 0.02, the connection is very weak or non-existent. If it is -0.99, then when one goes up the other goes down. If it is 1.00, you probably messed up your correlation function.

r² = 0.8006506 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 80.1% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Google searches for 'rick and morty') is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Air pollution in Bend, Oregon) over the 11 years from 2013 through 2023.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 0.0002.^Show 0.0001994877159857112700000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme.^Note More specifically the p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme if we had only tested one pair of variables one time.

But I am a p-villain. I absolutely did not test only one pair of variables one time. I correlated hundreds of millions of pairs of variables. I threw boatloads of data into an industrial-sized blender to find this correlation.

Who is going to stop me? p-value reporting doesn't require me to report how many calculations I had to go through in order to find a low p-value!
On average, you will find a correaltion as strong as 0.89 in 0.02% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 5,013 random variables^Note Which I absolutely did.
with the same 10 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 10 because we have two variables measured over a period of 11 years. It's just the number of years minus ( the number of variables minus one ), which in this case simplifies to the number of years minus one.
you would randomly expect to find a correlation as strong as this one.

[ 0.64, 0.97 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
^{Read more about the confidence interval} The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

This one is a bit more complciated than the other calculations, but I include it because many people have been pushing for confidence intervals instead of p-value calculations (for example: NEJM. However, if you are dredging data, you can reliably find yourself in the 5%. That's my goal!

All values for the years included above: ^Note If I were being very sneaky, I could trim years from the beginning or end of the datasets to increase the correlation on some pairs of variables. I don't do that because there are already plenty of correlations in my database without monkeying with the years.

Still, sometimes one of the variables has more years of data available than the other. This page only shows the overlapping years. To see all the years, click on "See what else correlates with..." link above.

	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Air pollution in Bend, Oregon (Bad air quality days)	0	0	0.00273973	0	0.0712329	0.0137741	0.00273973	0.0273224	0.0273973	0.0109589	0.0141509
Google searches for 'rick and morty' (Rel. search volume)	2	3.33333	10.6667	12	43.1667	17.25	19.6667	18.25	17.6667	16.5	10.6667

Why this works

Data dredging: I have 25,153 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 632,673,409 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.” Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead abused the data to see what correlations 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^Note 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.
no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above. 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. 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 simple^Note Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.

Try it yourself

You can calculate the values on this page on your own! Try running the Python code to see the calculation results. ^{Show the steps to do this.} Step 1: Download and install Python on your computer.

Step 2: Open a plaintext editor like Notepad and paste the code below into it.

Step 3: Save the file as "calculate_correlation.py" in a place you will remember, like your desktop. Copy the file location to your clipboard. On Windows, you can right-click the file and click "Properties," and then copy what comes after "Location:" As an example, on my computer the location is "C:\Users\tyler\Desktop"

Step 4: Open a command line window. For example, by pressing start and typing "cmd" and them pressing enter.

Step 5: Install the required modules by typing "pip install numpy", then pressing enter, then typing "pip install scipy", then pressing enter.

Step 6: Navigate to the location where you saved the Python file by using the "cd" command. For example, I would type "cd C:\Users\tyler\Desktop" and push enter.

Step 7: Run the Python script by typing "python calculate_correlation.py"

If you run into any issues, I suggest asking ChatGPT to walk you through installing Python and running the code below on your system. Try this question:

"Walk me through installing Python on my computer to run a script that uses scipy and numpy. Go step-by-step and ask me to confirm before moving on. Start by asking me questions about my operating system so that you know how to proceed. Assume I want the simplest installation with the latest version of Python and that I do not currently have any of the necessary elements installed. Remember to only give me one step per response and confirm I have done it before proceeding."

# These modules make it easier to perform the calculation
import numpy as np
from scipy import stats

# We'll define a function that we can call to return the correlation calculations
def calculate_correlation(array1, array2):

    # Calculate Pearson correlation coefficient and p-value
    correlation, p_value = stats.pearsonr(array1, array2)

    # Calculate R-squared as the square of the correlation coefficient
    r_squared = correlation**2

    return correlation, r_squared, p_value

# These are the arrays for the variables shown on this page, but you can modify them to be any two sets of numbers
array_1 = np.array([0,0,0.00273973,0,0.0712329,0.0137741,0.00273973,0.0273224,0.0273973,0.0109589,0.0141509,])
array_2 = np.array([2,3.33333,10.6667,12,43.1667,17.25,19.6667,18.25,17.6667,16.5,10.6667,])
array_1_name = "Air pollution in Bend, Oregon"
array_2_name = "Google searches for 'rick and morty'"

# Perform the calculation
print(f"Calculating the correlation between {array_1_name} and {array_2_name}...")
correlation, r_squared, p_value = calculate_correlation(array_1, array_2)

# Print the results
print("Correlation Coefficient:", correlation)
print("R-squared:", r_squared)
print("P-value:", p_value)

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Download images for these variables:

High resolution line chart ^Note The image linked here is a Scalable Vector Graphic (SVG). It is the highest resolution that is possible to achieve. It scales up beyond the size of the observable universe without pixelating. You do not need to email me asking if I have a higher resolution image. I do not. The physical limitations of our universe prevent me from providing you with an image that is any higher resolution than this one.

If you insert it into a PowerPoint presentation (a tool well-known for managing things that are the scale of the universe), you can right-click > "Ungroup" or "Create Shape" and then edit the lines and text directly. You can also change the colors this way.

Alternatively you can use a tool like Inkscape.
High resolution line chart, optimized for mobile
Alternative high resolution line chart
Scatterplot
Portable line chart (png)
Portable line chart (png), optimized for mobile
Line chart for only Air pollution in Bend, Oregon
Line chart for only Google searches for 'rick and morty'
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Smog and Szechuan Sauce: Uncovering the Relationship Between Air Pollution in Bend, Oregon and 'Rick and Morty' Google Searches

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Correlation ID: 2259 · Black Variable ID: 21979 · Red Variable ID: 1495


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