Spurious correlation #2,791 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is The distance between Neptune and the moon and the second variable is Burglaries in Wyoming. The chart goes from 1985 to 2022, 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 The distance between Neptune and the moon and the second variable is Burglaries in Wyoming. The chart goes from 1985 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

The gravitational pull from Neptune created a cosmic security system, making it harder for burglars to make a clean getaway in Wyoming. As the moon got closer to the mysterious blue planet, it seems Neptune was not willing to turn a blind eye to criminal activities on Earth. It's a heist of a situation, where even the most seasoned burglars were over the moon about staying away from Wyoming. Looks like Neptune's neighborhood watch program is out of this world!

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate a 3D Pixar style visual where Neptune, the distant blue planet, is depicted in the night sky moving closer to the bright, glowing moon. As Neptune's gravitational force intensifies, a group of would-be burglars in Wyoming is struggling against an invisible pull, making it increasingly difficult to make any progress. Eventually, they all give up, deciding to stay home and watch Netflix instead. The scene should capture the serene beauty of the cosmos while hinting at the humorous predicament of the characters. The burglars should be comically portrayed as being pulled backward, arms outstretched, attempting to move forward but failing in an amusing way. 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: The distance between Neptune and the moon and Burglaries in Wyoming. 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: Psychedelic Data cyber art Celtic art inspired by bauhaus 3D Pixar Style
ChatGPT: 3D Pixar Style

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 The distance between Neptune and the moon and Burglaries in Wyoming, in the following situation: Because as Neptune moved closer to the moon, it exerted a gravitational pull on all the potential burglars in Wyoming, making it physically harder for them to carry out their nefarious deeds. As a result, they decided it was just too much effort and stayed home watching Netflix instead.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a visual scene, imagine Neptune, the distant blue planet, slowly moving closer to the bright, glowing moon in the night sky. As Neptune's gravitational force intensifies, a group of would-be burglars in Wyoming are depicted struggling against an invisible pull, finding it increasingly difficult to make any progress. Eventually, they all give up, deciding to stay home and watch Netflix instead.

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: [ 3D Pixar Style ] and depicting this scene: In a visual scene, imagine Neptune, the distant blue planet, slowly moving closer to the bright, glowing moon in the night sky. As Neptune's gravitational force intensifies, a group of would-be burglars in Wyoming are depicted struggling against an invisible pull, finding it increasingly difficult to make any progress. Eventually, they all give up, deciding to stay home and watch Netflix instead. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate a 3D Pixar style visual where Neptune, the distant blue planet, is depicted in the night sky moving closer to the bright, glowing moon. As Neptune's gravitational force intensifies, a group of would-be burglars in Wyoming is struggling against an invisible pull, making it increasingly difficult to make any progress. Eventually, they all give up, deciding to stay home and watch Netflix instead. The scene should capture the serene beauty of the cosmos while hinting at the humorous predicament of the characters. The burglars should be comically portrayed as being pulled backward, arms outstretched, attempting to move forward but failing in an amusing way.

*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 a decrease in The distance between Neptune and the moon caused Burglaries in Wyoming to decrease.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis

The Interstellar Criminology Quarterly

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 The distance between Neptune and the moon and Burglaries in Wyoming. Make lots of 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 name a few real TV shows that sound like they might be relevant to the topic that you watched as research.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study explores the often overlooked relationship between astronomical phenomena and criminal activity in the state of Wyoming. Using data from Astropy and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team has uncovered a striking correlation between the distance of Neptune from the moon and the occurrence of burglaries in the aforementioned state. Despite the wacky nature of our inquiry, our findings reveal a correlation coefficient of 0.9726189 and p < 0.01, indicating a strong statistical association. The implications of this celestial-crime connection are far-reaching, and we invite readers to join us in marveling at the cosmic whimsy that may be influencing criminal behavior.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
Introduction
The heavens have long been a source of wonder and mystery, captivating humanity with their celestial ballet and inexplicable cosmic forces. But what if we told you that these celestial bodies may have more influence over our earthly affairs than previously thought? Brace yourselves, fellow researchers, for we are about to embark on a journey to explore the unexpected nexus between Neptune's distant orbit and the prevalence of burglaries in the charming state of Wyoming.
In the hallowed halls of academia, where serious faces abound and dry humor reigns, we have dared to ask the question: Could there be a connection, however whimsical, between the heavenly movements of Neptune and the earthly crimes of burglary? Before you dismiss our quest as pure folly, let us assure you that our inquiry is not merely a flight of fancy, but a rigorous scientific endeavor backed by data, statistics, and a healthy dash of cosmic curiosity.
Our study, "Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis," ignites a scientific spark in the minds of skeptics and enthusiasts alike. With the aid of data sourced from the venerable Astropy and the down-to-earth FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, we have set out to unravel the potential connection between celestial mechanics and criminal misdeeds.
We begin our odyssey by delving into the enigmatic sphere of Neptune, the god of the sea in Roman mythology, and an ice giant planet in our very real solar system. While researchers often ponder Neptune's atmospheric mysteries and its luminous blue hue, few have ventured into the realm of crime statistics in the Wild West state of Wyoming. However, with the advent of big data and the unyielding spirit of scientific exploration, we have dared to connect the dots—quite literally—between Neptune's galactic sojourn and the mundane yet pressing issue of property crime.
As we stand on the precipice of this cosmic caper, we invite you to suspend disbelief and embrace the notion that the celestial dance of planets and moons may indeed cast a peculiar shadow on human behavior. Statistics, research methods, and a healthy dose of salt (not the sodium chloride kind, mind you) will be our trusty companions on this interstellar quest. So, dear readers, fasten your seatbelts as we venture forth to unlock the secrets of Neptune's tune and Wyoming's crime spree. A cosmic comedy of errors or an astronomical epiphany? Only time, and perhaps the moon's proximity to Neptune, will tell.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

In the pursuit of unraveling the perplexing correlation between Neptune's celestial waltz and the audacious escapades of burglars in Wyoming, our intrepid research team delves into existing literature to uncover insights that may shed light on this unconventional alliance.

Smith and Doe (2017) in their study "Planetary Panoramas: A Celestial Census," meticulously catalog the movements of celestial bodies and their potential cascading effects on earthly phenomena. While their focus primarily revolves around the gravitational influence of Jupiter and its impact on crop yields, the authors briefly touch upon the quixotic notion of planetary positioning and its potential ramifications on human behavior. Although their work remains anchored in agricultural domains, it offers a tantalizing glimpse into the broader implications of cosmic choreography.

Building upon this foundation, Jones (2019) delves into the realms of astrological folklore in "Cosmic Whispers: Tales of Planetary Portents." While Jones' work teeters on the edge of mystical proclamations and celestial fortune-telling, it cannot be discounted that historical attributions of planetary movements to earthly occurrences have persisted across cultures. While skeptics may raise an eyebrow at the extrapolations of ancient lore, Jones' presentation of historical anecdotes sheds light on the enduring intrigue surrounding celestial influence.

Transitioning from scholarly works, we now paddle into the realms of non-fiction and fictional literature that skirt the fringes of celestial caprice and criminal intrigue. Books such as "The Neptune Paradox: From Planet to Peril" (Smithson, 2020) offer a gripping narrative that blends planetary science with cloak-and-dagger escapades, all set against the backdrop of Wyoming's rugged terrain. While the author's intent may lean towards entertainment rather than empirical inquiry, the subtle nuances of planetary mechanics and their narrative entanglement cannot be overlooked.

As we tiptoe further into the corridors of speculative fiction, the works of authors such as Gaiman (2001) in "American Gods" and Pratchett (1990) in "Good Omens" beckon us with their celestial whimsy and earthly follies. While their narratives unfurl in fantastical realms and ancient allegories, the authors weave a tapestry of divine machinations and human foibles that beckon us to consider the cosmic absurdity that may seep into the realms of everyday life.

In our unyielding pursuit of interdisciplinary knowledge, our research team has undertaken an unconventional approach by delving into popular culture for nuanced insights. Television shows such as "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" and "Unsolved Mysteries" have provided intriguing perspectives on the celestial, the enigmatic, and the perplexing, occasionally nudging the boundaries of cosmic inquiry and criminal conundrums. While their entertainment value cannot be discounted, their portrayal of cosmic mysteries and terrestrial enigmas offers a lighthearted glance into the fantastic tapestry of possibilities.

Armed with the peculiar musings of scholars, the whimsical escapades of fiction authors, and the tantalizing spectacles of popular culture, our literature review sets the stage for an exploration that transcends traditional boundaries. As we soar into the cosmic abyss of Neptune's orbit and Wyoming's crime spree, our pursuit of knowledge braces itself for the unexpected amalgamation of celestial spectacle and earthly affairs.

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 The distance between Neptune and the moon and Burglaries in Wyoming. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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]]
"Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study explores the often overlooked relationship between astronomical phenomena and criminal activity in the state of Wyoming. Using data from Astropy and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team has uncovered a striking correlation between the distance of Neptune from the moon and the occurrence of burglaries in the aforementioned state. Despite the wacky nature of our inquiry, our findings reveal a correlation coefficient of 0.9726189 and p < 0.01, indicating a strong statistical association. The implications of this celestial-crime connection are far-reaching, and we invite readers to join us in marveling at the cosmic whimsy that may be influencing criminal behavior.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
In the pursuit of unraveling the perplexing correlation between Neptune's celestial waltz and the audacious escapades of burglars in Wyoming, our intrepid research team delves into existing literature to uncover insights that may shed light on this unconventional alliance.
Smith and Doe (2017) in their study "Planetary Panoramas: A Celestial Census," meticulously catalog the movements of celestial bodies and their potential cascading effects on earthly phenomena. While their focus primarily revolves around the gravitational influence of Jupiter and its impact on crop yields, the authors briefly touch upon the quixotic notion of planetary positioning and its potential ramifications on human behavior. Although their work remains anchored in agricultural domains, it offers a tantalizing glimpse into the broader implications of cosmic choreography.
Building upon this foundation, Jones (2019) delves into the realms of astrological folklore in "Cosmic Whispers: Tales of Planetary Portents." While Jones' work teeters on the edge of mystical proclamations and celestial fortune-telling, it cannot be discounted that historical attributions of planetary movements to earthly occurrences have persisted across cultures. While skeptics may raise an eyebrow at the extrapolations of ancient lore, Jones' presentation of historical anecdotes sheds light on the enduring intrigue surrounding celestial influence.
Transitioning from scholarly works, we now paddle into the realms of non-fiction and fictional literature that skirt the fringes of celestial caprice and criminal intrigue. Books such as "The Neptune Paradox: From Planet to Peril" (Smithson, 2020) offer a gripping narrative that blends planetary science with cloak-and-dagger escapades, all set against the backdrop of Wyoming's rugged terrain. While the author's intent may lean towards entertainment rather than empirical inquiry, the subtle nuances of planetary mechanics and their narrative entanglement cannot be overlooked.
As we tiptoe further into the corridors of speculative fiction, the works of authors such as Gaiman (2001) in "American Gods" and Pratchett (1990) in "Good Omens" beckon us with their celestial whimsy and earthly follies. While their narratives unfurl in fantastical realms and ancient allegories, the authors weave a tapestry of divine machinations and human foibles that beckon us to consider the cosmic absurdity that may seep into the realms of everyday life.
In our unyielding pursuit of interdisciplinary knowledge, our research team has undertaken an unconventional approach by delving into popular culture for nuanced insights. Television shows such as "Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey" and "Unsolved Mysteries" have provided intriguing perspectives on the celestial, the enigmatic, and the perplexing, occasionally nudging the boundaries of cosmic inquiry and criminal conundrums. While their entertainment value cannot be discounted, their portrayal of cosmic mysteries and terrestrial enigmas offers a lighthearted glance into the fantastic tapestry of possibilities.
Armed with the peculiar musings of scholars, the whimsical escapades of fiction authors, and the tantalizing spectacles of popular culture, our literature review sets the stage for an exploration that transcends traditional boundaries. As we soar into the cosmic abyss of Neptune's orbit and Wyoming's crime spree, our pursuit of knowledge braces itself for the unexpected amalgamation of celestial spectacle and earthly affairs.

[[RESULTS]]
Our intrepid exploration into the celestial and criminal realms has yielded a rather astonishing revelation. After scrutinizing the data collected from 1985 to 2022 with steely determination (and a healthy dose of celestial curiosity), we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9726189 between the distance of Neptune from the moon and the occurrence of burglaries in Wyoming. It's as if Neptune's far-out vibes were resonating with the criminal aspirations of mischievous individuals in the Wild West!
The r-squared value of 0.9459875 further reinforced the robustness of the relationship we discovered. We might go so far as to say that Neptune's gravitational pull seemed to exert an uncanny influence on the propensity for property crimes in Wyoming. It's fascinating how a celestial dance millions of miles away could sway the actions of mere mortals on Earth.
Significantly, the p-value of less than 0.01 provided resounding confirmation of the statistical significance of our findings. In layperson's terms, this means that the likelihood of our results being due to random chance is about as low as finding a unicorn sipping coffee at your local diner - practically impossible!
And to visually encapsulate this cosmic-crime connection, we present the pièce de résistance of our findings—Fig. 1. Behold, the scatterplot that encapsulates the strong correlation between the distance of Neptune from the moon and burglaries in Wyoming. It's a sight to behold and is sure to send a twinkle of cosmic humor to even the most unadventurous of hearts.
In conclusion, our research has not only shed light on a previously unexplored intersection of celestial bodies and criminal deeds but has also paved the way for a new era of cosmic criminology. The implications of our findings are nothing short of astronomical, and we invite the scientific community to join us in reveling in the quirky confluence of Neptune's influence and Wyoming's crime statistics. For in the vast expanse of space and the depths of crime data, there's always room for a celestial punchline or two.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

In the illustrious tradition of scientific inquiry, our findings catapult the astronomical and criminal spheres into an improbable yet tantalizing tango. As we reflect on the quirky revelations of our study, it becomes abundantly clear that the connubial dance of Neptune and the moon may have a more beguiling impact on earthly affairs than previously envisaged. Our results, like a cosmic jester, beckon us to contemplate the caprice of celestial machinations and their surreptitious influence on human foibles.

Our unanticipated yet robust correlation coefficient of 0.9726189 not only lends credence to the celestial farce at play but also aligns with the inconspicuous inklings of prior research. Smith and Doe's celestial census, while rooted in the soil of agricultural dynamics, imparts a nod of approval to our cosmic conjecture. Just as Jupiter's gravitational sway purportedly affects crop yields, our findings insinuate that Neptune's astrophysical waltz may choreograph Wyoming's criminal overtures. Who would have thought that planetary movements could orchestrate earthly transgressions with such whimsical finesse?

Furthermore, the resounding proclamation of statistical significance, heralded by a p-value of less than 0.01, crystallizes this celestial-crime symphony into empirical certainty. It's akin to stumbling upon a cosmic joke with a punchline so precise that the probability of chance alone becomes a galactic rarity. Indeed, the cosmos seems to have pulled off a celestial prank, and we, as researchers, stand in awe of the unexpected levity it has infused into our hitherto mundane statistical analyses.

With our results in hand, the voracious appetite for cosmic whimsy and empirical curiosity now converges upon the cosmic irony at play. Who would have surmised that the seemingly absurd connection between Neptune's remote orbit and Wyoming's criminal escapades could elicit such palpable statistical fervor? Our findings exhort us to embrace the unanticipated jest of celestial influence and terrestrial misdeeds with a lighthearted mirth that transcends the somber façade of traditional scientific discourse.

As we ponder the celestial punchline embedded within our findings, one cannot help but marvel at the celestial absurdity that now permeates our understanding of criminal interplay. Akin to a cosmic bard weaving an intricate tale of universal jest, our research elevates the obscure blend of planetary antics and criminal exploits into a comedic overture that dances across the cosmos with mirthful grace. Such is the improbable saga that unfolds when Neptune's tune aligns with Wyoming's crime spree, and we, intrepid scholars, are but mere spectators to its unconventional yet resoundingly significant cosmic drama.

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 goofy academic research papers that sounds like it belongs based on the title and abstract provided.
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 short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between The distance between Neptune and the moon and Burglaries in Wyoming. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Limit your response to 300 tokens. At the very end, assert that no more research is needed in this area.

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
"Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This groundbreaking study explores the often overlooked relationship between astronomical phenomena and criminal activity in the state of Wyoming. Using data from Astropy and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team has uncovered a striking correlation between the distance of Neptune from the moon and the occurrence of burglaries in the aforementioned state. Despite the wacky nature of our inquiry, our findings reveal a correlation coefficient of 0.9726189 and p < 0.01, indicating a strong statistical association. The implications of this celestial-crime connection are far-reaching, and we invite readers to join us in marveling at the cosmic whimsy that may be influencing criminal behavior.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
Introduction
The heavens have long been a source of wonder and mystery, captivating humanity with their celestial ballet and inexplicable cosmic forces. But what if we told you that these celestial bodies may have more influence over our earthly affairs than previously thought? Brace yourselves, fellow researchers, for we are about to embark on a journey to explore the unexpected nexus between Neptune's distant orbit and the prevalence of burglaries in the charming state of Wyoming.
In the hallowed halls of academia, where serious faces abound and dry humor reigns, we have dared to ask the question: Could there be a connection, however whimsical, between the heavenly movements of Neptune and the earthly crimes of burglary? Before you dismiss our quest as pure folly, let us assure you that our inquiry is not merely a flight of fancy, but a rigorous scientific endeavor backed by data, statistics, and a healthy dash of cosmic curiosity.
Our study, "Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis," ignites a scientific spark in the minds of skeptics and enthusiasts alike. With the aid of data sourced from the venerable Astropy and the down-to-earth FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, we have set out to unravel the potential connection between celestial mechanics and criminal misdeeds.
We begin our odyssey by delving into the enigmatic sphere of Neptune, the god of the sea in Roman mythology, and an ice giant planet in our very real solar system. While researchers often ponder Neptune's atmospheric mysteries and its luminous blue hue, few have ventured into the realm of crime statistics in the Wild West state of Wyoming. However, with the advent of big data and the unyielding spirit of scientific exploration, we have dared to connect the dots—quite literally—between Neptune's galactic sojourn and the mundane yet pressing issue of property crime.
As we stand on the precipice of this cosmic caper, we invite you to suspend disbelief and embrace the notion that the celestial dance of planets and moons may indeed cast a peculiar shadow on human behavior. Statistics, research methods, and a healthy dose of salt (not the sodium chloride kind, mind you) will be our trusty companions on this interstellar quest. So, dear readers, fasten your seatbelts as we venture forth to unlock the secrets of Neptune's tune and Wyoming's crime spree. A cosmic comedy of errors or an astronomical epiphany? Only time, and perhaps the moon's proximity to Neptune, will tell.

[[RESULTS]]
Our intrepid exploration into the celestial and criminal realms has yielded a rather astonishing revelation. After scrutinizing the data collected from 1985 to 2022 with steely determination (and a healthy dose of celestial curiosity), we uncovered a correlation coefficient of 0.9726189 between the distance of Neptune from the moon and the occurrence of burglaries in Wyoming. It's as if Neptune's far-out vibes were resonating with the criminal aspirations of mischievous individuals in the Wild West!
The r-squared value of 0.9459875 further reinforced the robustness of the relationship we discovered. We might go so far as to say that Neptune's gravitational pull seemed to exert an uncanny influence on the propensity for property crimes in Wyoming. It's fascinating how a celestial dance millions of miles away could sway the actions of mere mortals on Earth.
Significantly, the p-value of less than 0.01 provided resounding confirmation of the statistical significance of our findings. In layperson's terms, this means that the likelihood of our results being due to random chance is about as low as finding a unicorn sipping coffee at your local diner - practically impossible!
And to visually encapsulate this cosmic-crime connection, we present the pièce de résistance of our findings—Fig. 1. Behold, the scatterplot that encapsulates the strong correlation between the distance of Neptune from the moon and burglaries in Wyoming. It's a sight to behold and is sure to send a twinkle of cosmic humor to even the most unadventurous of hearts.
In conclusion, our research has not only shed light on a previously unexplored intersection of celestial bodies and criminal deeds but has also paved the way for a new era of cosmic criminology. The implications of our findings are nothing short of astronomical, and we invite the scientific community to join us in reveling in the quirky confluence of Neptune's influence and Wyoming's crime statistics. For in the vast expanse of space and the depths of crime data, there's always room for a celestial punchline or two.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our cosmic caper has unearthed a stellar connection between Neptune's celestial waltz and the mischievous exploits of burglars in Wyoming. It seems that Neptune's distant whispers to the moon might have been interpreted as an open invitation for sticky-fingered escapades in the Wild West. Who knew that the celestial dance of planets and moons could have such an earthly impact? It's almost as if Neptune sent out a cosmic newsletter titled "Burglary and Other Fun Criminal Pursuits: Your Lunar Invitation"!

With a correlation coefficient that's stronger than the gravitational pull of a black hole and a p-value lower than the chances of winning the lottery with a single ticket, our findings have left us starry-eyed. The statistical significance practically glows like a supernova in the cosmic expanse. Our scatterplot tells a tale of celestial intrigue and criminal inclinations, painting a picture that would make even the most stoic scientist raise an eyebrow in cosmic amusement.

As we wrap up our odyssey through the celestial and criminal realms, we must acknowledge that, while our findings may seem out of this world, they have implications that are down-to-earth. This intersection of Neptune's tune and Wyoming's crime spree embodies the very essence of cosmic whimsy and statistical rigor, proving that even the quirkiest of hypotheses can lead to astronomical revelations.

In light of our resounding findings, we boldly proclaim that no more research on the connection between Neptune's distance from the moon and burglaries in Wyoming is needed. After all, when the stars align (or in this case, when Neptune aligns with the moon), and the statistics sparkle like cosmic diamonds, why tamper with perfection? Let's leave this cosmic caper as the grand finale of our interstellar expedition, a celestial comedy of errors that has brought a touch of cosmic whimsy to the world of research.

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 Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Interstellar Criminology Quarterly

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 Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

Center for Extraterrestrial Criminology and Astrological 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 Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis with an abstract of This groundbreaking study explores the often overlooked relationship between astronomical phenomena and criminal activity in the state of Wyoming. Using data from Astropy and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, our research team has uncovered a striking correlation between the distance of Neptune from the moon and the occurrence of burglaries in the aforementioned state. Despite the wacky nature of our inquiry, our findings reveal a correlation coefficient of 0.9726189 and p < 0.01, indicating a strong statistical association. The implications of this celestial-crime connection are far-reaching, and we invite readers to join us in marveling at the cosmic whimsy that may be influencing criminal behavior.

ChatGPT:

Neptune, lunar distance, burglary, Wyoming, astronomical phenomena, criminal activity, Astropy, FBI Criminal Justice Information Services, correlation coefficient, statistical association, celestial-crime connection

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

Random correlation

Discover a new correlation

View all correlations

View all research papers

Report an error

Data details

The distance between Neptune and the moon
Detailed data title: The average distance between Neptune and the moon as measured on the first day of each month
Source: Caclculated using Astropy
Additional Info: ^{See full details} I wrote a Python script using Astropy to calculate the distance between the named planets on the first day of each month for every year.

See what else correlates with The distance between Neptune and the moon

Burglaries in Wyoming
Detailed data title: The burglary rate per 100,000 residents in Wyoming
Source: FBI Criminal Justice Information Services
See what else correlates with Burglaries in Wyoming

Correlation r = 0.9726189 (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 = 0.9459875 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 94.6% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Burglaries in Wyoming) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., The distance between Neptune and the moon) over the 38 years from 1985 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 2.08E-24.^Show 0.0000000000000000000000020753
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 0.97 in 2.08E-22% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 481,858,044,620,054,934,323,200 random variables^Note You don't actually need 481 sextillion variables to find a correlation like this one. I don't have that many variables in my database. You can also correlate variables that are not independent. I do this a lot.

p-value calculations are useful for understanding the probability of a result happening by chance. They are most useful when used to highlight the risk of a fluke outcome. For example, if you calculate a p-value of 0.30, the risk that the result is a fluke is high. It is good to know that! But there are lots of ways to get a p-value of less than 0.01, as evidenced by this project.

In this particular case, the values are so extreme as to be meaningless. That's why no one reports p-values with specificity after they drop below 0.01.

Just to be clear: I'm being completely transparent about the calculations. There is no math trickery. This is just how statistics shakes out when you calculate hundreds of millions of random correlations.
with the same 37 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 37 because we have two variables measured over a period of 38 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.

[ 0.95, 0.99 ] 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.

	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
The distance between Neptune and the moon (Planetary distance (AU))	30.2341	30.2243	30.2147	30.2066	30.195	30.1871	30.1798	30.172	30.1664	30.1596	30.1517	30.1446	30.134	30.1231	30.1124	30.0986	30.088	30.0776	30.0667	30.0585	30.0516	30.0439	30.0382	30.0286	30.0215	30.0133	30.0021	29.9906	29.9823	29.9712	29.9634	29.9535	29.9482	29.9439	29.9383	29.9311	29.9291	29.9219
Burglaries in Wyoming (Burglary rate)	690.6	817.4	717.6	658.8	631.8	631	692.2	671	643.2	650.6	612.1	662	624.6	560.5	489.8	420.8	502.5	490.7	520	541.2	476.8	450.9	452.3	412.6	399.8	381	328.5	368.5	335.4	289.1	300.4	302.8	268.8	268.5	240.3	210.4	270.1	209.5

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.
Y-axis doesn't start at zero: I truncated the Y-axes of the graph above. I also used a line graph, which makes the visual connection stand out more than it deserves. ^Note 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. Below is the same chart but with both Y-axes starting at zero.

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([30.2341,30.2243,30.2147,30.2066,30.195,30.1871,30.1798,30.172,30.1664,30.1596,30.1517,30.1446,30.134,30.1231,30.1124,30.0986,30.088,30.0776,30.0667,30.0585,30.0516,30.0439,30.0382,30.0286,30.0215,30.0133,30.0021,29.9906,29.9823,29.9712,29.9634,29.9535,29.9482,29.9439,29.9383,29.9311,29.9291,29.9219,])
array_2 = np.array([690.6,817.4,717.6,658.8,631.8,631,692.2,671,643.2,650.6,612.1,662,624.6,560.5,489.8,420.8,502.5,490.7,520,541.2,476.8,450.9,452.3,412.6,399.8,381,328.5,368.5,335.4,289.1,300.4,302.8,268.8,268.5,240.3,210.4,270.1,209.5,])
array_1_name = "The distance between Neptune and the moon"
array_2_name = "Burglaries in Wyoming"

# 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)

Reuseable content

You may re-use the images on this page for any purpose, even commercial purposes, without asking for permission. The only requirement is that you attribute Tyler Vigen. ^Note Attribution can take many different forms. If you leave the "tylervigen.com" link in the image, that satisfies it just fine. If you remove it and move it to a footnote, that's fine too. You can also just write "Charts courtesy of Tyler Vigen" at the bottom of an article.

You do not need to attribute "the spurious correlations website," and you don't even need to link here if you don't want to. I don't gain anything from pageviews. There are no ads on this site, there is nothing for sale, and I am not for hire.

For the record, I am just one person. Tyler Vigen, he/him/his. I do have degrees, but they should not go after my name unless you want to annoy my wife. If that is your goal, then go ahead and cite me as "Tyler Vigen, A.A. A.A.S. B.A. J.D." Otherwise it is just "Tyler Vigen."

When spoken, my last name is pronounced "vegan," like I don't eat meat.

Full license details.
For more on re-use permissions, or to get a signed release form, see tylervigen.com/permission.

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 The distance between Neptune and the moon
Line chart for only Burglaries in Wyoming
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Neptune's Tune and Wyoming's Crime Spree: The Lunar Distance Burglary Hypothesis

View another random correlation

How fun was this correlation?

Your rating skills are top-notch!

Correlation ID: 2791 · Black Variable ID: 1961 · Red Variable ID: 20130


Problem variable:
Issue:
Additional details: Optional
Confirm you are a human: