Spurious correlation #2,851 · 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 Durham, North Carolina and the second variable is Physical album shipment volume in the United States. The chart goes from 1999 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 Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina and the second variable is Physical album shipment volume in the United States. The chart goes from 1999 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

As the air in Durham got cleaner, it became easier for musicians to literally "air" their grievances instead of putting them into music, leading to a decrease in the production of physical albums. Plus, with less smog, there was a clearer "atmosphere" for online music streaming to take over, leaving physical album shipments singing the blues.

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a futuristic Durham, North Carolina skyline with clear, blue skies and lush greenery. Show people biking, jogging, and picnicking in a clean, vibrant park. In the background, illustrate a decrease in physical album shipment volume with digital music streaming seamlessly through the air. Ensure a sense of joy and freedom in the outdoor activities and capture the influence of technology on music consumption and the environment. 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: Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. 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: Symbolism A photo-realistic image Cybernetic art Art nouveau Futuristic
ChatGPT: Futuristic

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 Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina and Physical album shipment volume in the United States, in the following situation: Decrease in Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina caused Physical album shipment volume in the United States to decrease because as the air became cleaner, people started spending more time outside instead of inside listening to music, leading to a decline in album purchases. The lack of smog also made it easier for digital music to travel through the air, decreasing the need for physical shipments of albums. Plus, with the decreased pollution, musicians found it easier to breathe while performing, leading to longer, more energetic live shows that satisfied fans without the need for physical albums.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: Imagine a clear, sunny day in Durham, North Carolina. The sky is crisp and there is a fresh breeze in the air due to decreased air pollution. People are seen enjoying outdoor activities, such as biking, jogging, and picnicking. In the background, there is a decrease in physical album shipment volume in the United States as digital music travels easily through the now clean, smog-free air and people choose to spend more time outdoors, enjoying live music performances without the need for physical albums.

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: [ Futuristic ] and depicting this scene: Imagine a clear, sunny day in Durham, North Carolina. The sky is crisp and there is a fresh breeze in the air due to decreased air pollution. People are seen enjoying outdoor activities, such as biking, jogging, and picnicking. In the background, there is a decrease in physical album shipment volume in the United States as digital music travels easily through the now clean, smog-free air and people choose to spend more time outdoors, enjoying live music performances without the need for physical albums. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a futuristic Durham, North Carolina skyline with clear, blue skies and lush greenery. Show people biking, jogging, and picnicking in a clean, vibrant park. In the background, illustrate a decrease in physical album shipment volume with digital music streaming seamlessly through the air. Ensure a sense of joy and freedom in the outdoor activities and capture the influence of technology on music consumption and the environment.

*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 Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina caused Physical album shipment volume in the United States to decrease.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Aerated Air: Analyzing the Association Between Air Quality and Album Advances

International Journal of Atmospheric Entertainment

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 dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.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 Durham, North Carolina and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. 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. Perhaps you also got inspiration from some board games that are vaugely related.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Aerated Air: Analyzing the Association Between Air Quality and Album Advances

[[ABSTRACT]]
A flurry of fascination surrounds the aptitude of air pollution to affect the volume of vinyl, CDs, and cassettes shipped in the United States. This research undertakes an extensive examination of the correlation between ambient air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, and the physical album shipment volume nationwide. Utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista for the years 1999 to 2022, a correlation coefficient of 0.8816083 was established, with p < 0.01. Our findings provide a breath of fresh air, suggesting that the air quality in Durham, with its aromatic notes of industrial emissions and traffic fumes, may have a melodic impact on the physical music market. The implications of this correlation are nothing to sneeze at, revealing a potential harmony between atmospheric pollutants and album shipments that warrants further investigation.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
The relationship between air pollution and human health has been exhaustively studied, but what about its potential influence on the music industry? This paper explores the unexpected connection between ambient air quality in Durham, North Carolina, and the volume of physical album shipments in the United States. It's a breath of fresh air to ponder the possibility that air pollution, with its invisible but unmistakable presence, may have a tangible impact on the tangible goods of the music market.
Throughout history, advances in scientific knowledge have often been driven by unexpected correlations and unlikely connections. From the discovery of penicillin due to accidental mold contamination to the discovery of the microwave oven thanks to melted chocolate in a researcher's pocket, serendipity has played a significant role in scientific progress. In a similar vein, our investigation stems from a seemingly whimsical curiosity about whether the particles floating through the air could be influencing the transcendental harmonies of physical music sales.
The very notion of air pollution, with its smoggy connotations and industrial undercurrents, juxtaposed against the euphonious delights of a new album release, invites whimsy and speculation. Perhaps there is a symphony of statistical significance waiting to be unraveled from the hazy clouds of ambient pollution data. This seemingly outlandish premise, far from being a mere flight of fancy, is underpinned by rigorous statistical analysis and empirical evidence – a reminder that truth can indeed be stranger than fiction.
In this regard, our study ventures into the uncharted territory at the intersection of environmental quality and commercial activity, aiming to breathe life and melody into what may appear to be an unlikely correlation. We embark on this journey with a measure of scientific curiosity, a healthy dose of skepticism, and a penchant for puns that may occasionally sneak into our discourse – not unlike the unanticipated connections we seek to uncover in our research.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

To comprehensively examine the potential link between air pollution in Durham, North Carolina, and the shipment volume of physical albums in the United States, a thorough review of the existing literature is essential.

Smith and Doe (2015) have conducted an in-depth analysis of air quality metrics and their impact on regional economic activities. Their study provides valuable insights into the relationship between atmospheric pollution and consumer behavior, laying the groundwork for our investigation into the music industry. Jones et al. (2018) also delve into the effects of environmental factors on market dynamics, shedding light on the intricate interplay between air quality and commercial exchange.

In "The Air We Breathe: A Comprehensive Analysis" (2017), the authors present compelling evidence of the far-reaching consequences of air pollution on various aspects of human life. Building on this work, "Clearing the Air: The Economic Implications of Environmental Regulations" (2019) offers a thought-provoking analysis of how regulatory interventions can shape market behavior in response to pollution concerns.

Expanding beyond the confines of academic research, "Air Pollution for Dummies" (2020) presents a layman's guide to understanding the intricacies of atmospheric contaminants and their potential societal impacts. Similarly, "The Economics of Smog: A Consumer's Guide" (2016) provides a comprehensive overview of how air quality issues intersect with consumer choices, hinting at the broader implications for the music market.

Turning to the world of fiction, the timeless classic "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens offers a tangential exploration of societal influence on individual aspirations - a theme that resonates with our investigation into the influence of ambient pollution on music consumption. Similarly, "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner suggests a metaphorical intersection between environmental disturbances and human experience, albeit in a more abstract context.

Drawing inspiration from the world of entertainment, the board game "Ticket to Ride" offers a playful reminder of the significance of transportation networks, which are inextricably linked to air pollution and, by extension, the distribution of physical goods - including albums.

As we traverse the diverse landscape of literature and cultural references, we are reminded that unexpected connections and serendipitous discoveries often lie at the heart of scientific inquiry. Our exploration of the linkage between air quality in Durham and physical album shipments promises to uncover a symphony of insights that transcends the mundanity of traditional research inquiries.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.You draft the methodology 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 methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from Environmental Protection Agency and Statista . You used data from 1999 to 2022

Make up the research methods you don't know. Make them a bit goofy and convoluted.

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Aerated Air: Analyzing the Association Between Air Quality and Album Advances

[[ABSTRACT]]
A flurry of fascination surrounds the aptitude of air pollution to affect the volume of vinyl, CDs, and cassettes shipped in the United States. This research undertakes an extensive examination of the correlation between ambient air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, and the physical album shipment volume nationwide. Utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista for the years 1999 to 2022, a correlation coefficient of 0.8816083 was established, with p < 0.01. Our findings provide a breath of fresh air, suggesting that the air quality in Durham, with its aromatic notes of industrial emissions and traffic fumes, may have a melodic impact on the physical music market. The implications of this correlation are nothing to sneeze at, revealing a potential harmony between atmospheric pollutants and album shipments that warrants further investigation.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
The relationship between air pollution and human health has been exhaustively studied, but what about its potential influence on the music industry? This paper explores the unexpected connection between ambient air quality in Durham, North Carolina, and the volume of physical album shipments in the United States. It's a breath of fresh air to ponder the possibility that air pollution, with its invisible but unmistakable presence, may have a tangible impact on the tangible goods of the music market.
Throughout history, advances in scientific knowledge have often been driven by unexpected correlations and unlikely connections. From the discovery of penicillin due to accidental mold contamination to the discovery of the microwave oven thanks to melted chocolate in a researcher's pocket, serendipity has played a significant role in scientific progress. In a similar vein, our investigation stems from a seemingly whimsical curiosity about whether the particles floating through the air could be influencing the transcendental harmonies of physical music sales.
The very notion of air pollution, with its smoggy connotations and industrial undercurrents, juxtaposed against the euphonious delights of a new album release, invites whimsy and speculation. Perhaps there is a symphony of statistical significance waiting to be unraveled from the hazy clouds of ambient pollution data. This seemingly outlandish premise, far from being a mere flight of fancy, is underpinned by rigorous statistical analysis and empirical evidence – a reminder that truth can indeed be stranger than fiction.
In this regard, our study ventures into the uncharted territory at the intersection of environmental quality and commercial activity, aiming to breathe life and melody into what may appear to be an unlikely correlation. We embark on this journey with a measure of scientific curiosity, a healthy dose of skepticism, and a penchant for puns that may occasionally sneak into our discourse – not unlike the unanticipated connections we seek to uncover in our research.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

Data Collection

Data regarding ambient air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, was collected from the Environmental Protection Agency's air quality monitoring stations. The presence of airborne pollutants such as particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and sulfur dioxide was recorded. The physical album shipment volume in the United States was obtained from Statista, where the data was cataloged with great precision and accuracy, reflecting the ebb and flow of musical tastes and shipments over the years.

Data Analysis

The correlation between air pollution levels and album shipment volume was analyzed using rigorous statistical methods. The data was subjected to a series of rigorous checks to ensure its integrity, just as one might carefully tune and calibrate a musical instrument before a performance. Various statistical techniques, including Pearson correlation coefficient, regression analysis, and time series modeling were employed to discern patterns and relationships, much like a musician finding harmonies and rhythms in a discordant cacophony.

Statistical Tests

To appraise the strength and significance of the association between air pollution levels in Durham and physical album shipment volume in the United States, hypothesis testing was conducted. The null hypothesis that there was no correlation between these variables was scrutinized with the vigor of a discerning music critic reviewing a new symphony. The p-value derived from the statistical tests danced its statistical tango, with a dramatic flourish denoting a level of significance that was indeed less than 0.01, indicating a highly meaningful relationship that could not be dismissed offhand.

Time-Series Analysis

To capture the temporal dynamics of both air pollution levels and album shipment volume, time-series analysis was performed. This involved examining the data over the span of 1999 to 2022, akin to tracing the evolution of a musical genre through the decades. Seasonal patterns, trends, and cyclic behavior were scrutinized to reveal the interplay of environmental factors and music consumption habits over time, much like the rhythm and flow of a well-composed symphony.

Causal Inference

While the correlation between air pollution and album shipment volume was established, it is important to note that correlation does not imply causation. Nevertheless, further analyses were conducted to explore potential causal mechanisms and pathways that could explain the observed association. This was akin to dissecting a musical composition to uncover its inner workings and understand how each note and chord contributes to the overall auditory experience.

Sensitivity Analysis

Sensitivity analysis was undertaken to assess the robustness of the findings in the face of potential data anomalies and variations in statistical assumptions. The stability of the correlation under different scenarios was examined, much like the resilience of a melody that persists despite changing instrumentation or performance conditions.

Limitations

While the research design was carefully crafted to unravel the mysterious harmony between air pollution and album shipments, it is essential to recognize the limitations of the study. The findings are specific to the context of Durham, North Carolina, and may not generalize to other geographical areas. Furthermore, the study design does not account for potential confounding variables, such as changes in consumer preferences, marketing strategies, or technological advancements in music distribution, which could influence album shipments independently of air quality.

Ethical Considerations

The research adhered to ethical guidelines regarding data use and confidentiality. All data sources were duly attributed, with the aim of promoting transparency and integrity in scientific inquiry. In addition, the study engaged in the responsible communication of findings, avoiding sensationalism and emphasizing the nuanced interpretation of results, much like a discerning music critic who seeks to convey the essence of a musical performance with precision and insight.

In summary, the methodology employed in this study combined robust statistical analyses, a touch of whimsy, and a keen sense of scientific inquiry to unravel the curious connection between air pollution in Durham, North Carolina, and the melodious rhythms of physical album shipments across the United States.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.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 Durham, North Carolina and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. 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]]
Aerated Air: Analyzing the Association Between Air Quality and Album Advances

[[ABSTRACT]]
A flurry of fascination surrounds the aptitude of air pollution to affect the volume of vinyl, CDs, and cassettes shipped in the United States. This research undertakes an extensive examination of the correlation between ambient air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, and the physical album shipment volume nationwide. Utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista for the years 1999 to 2022, a correlation coefficient of 0.8816083 was established, with p < 0.01. Our findings provide a breath of fresh air, suggesting that the air quality in Durham, with its aromatic notes of industrial emissions and traffic fumes, may have a melodic impact on the physical music market. The implications of this correlation are nothing to sneeze at, revealing a potential harmony between atmospheric pollutants and album shipments that warrants further investigation.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
To comprehensively examine the potential link between air pollution in Durham, North Carolina, and the shipment volume of physical albums in the United States, a thorough review of the existing literature is essential.
Smith and Doe (2015) have conducted an in-depth analysis of air quality metrics and their impact on regional economic activities. Their study provides valuable insights into the relationship between atmospheric pollution and consumer behavior, laying the groundwork for our investigation into the music industry. Jones et al. (2018) also delve into the effects of environmental factors on market dynamics, shedding light on the intricate interplay between air quality and commercial exchange.
In "The Air We Breathe: A Comprehensive Analysis" (2017), the authors present compelling evidence of the far-reaching consequences of air pollution on various aspects of human life. Building on this work, "Clearing the Air: The Economic Implications of Environmental Regulations" (2019) offers a thought-provoking analysis of how regulatory interventions can shape market behavior in response to pollution concerns.
Expanding beyond the confines of academic research, "Air Pollution for Dummies" (2020) presents a layman's guide to understanding the intricacies of atmospheric contaminants and their potential societal impacts. Similarly, "The Economics of Smog: A Consumer's Guide" (2016) provides a comprehensive overview of how air quality issues intersect with consumer choices, hinting at the broader implications for the music market.
Turning to the world of fiction, the timeless classic "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens offers a tangential exploration of societal influence on individual aspirations - a theme that resonates with our investigation into the influence of ambient pollution on music consumption. Similarly, "The Sound and the Fury" by William Faulkner suggests a metaphorical intersection between environmental disturbances and human experience, albeit in a more abstract context.
Drawing inspiration from the world of entertainment, the board game "Ticket to Ride" offers a playful reminder of the significance of transportation networks, which are inextricably linked to air pollution and, by extension, the distribution of physical goods - including albums.
As we traverse the diverse landscape of literature and cultural references, we are reminded that unexpected connections and serendipitous discoveries often lie at the heart of scientific inquiry. Our exploration of the linkage between air quality in Durham and physical album shipments promises to uncover a symphony of insights that transcends the mundanity of traditional research inquiries.

[[RESULTS]]
The results of our analysis revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.8816083 between ambient air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, and the volume of physical album shipments in the United States for the years 1999 to 2022. The coefficient of determination (r-squared) of 0.7772332 indicates that approximately 77.7% of the variance in physical album shipment volume can be explained by the variance in air pollution levels. As many a musician would say, these results are nothing to "breathe-easy" about!
The statistically significant correlation, with a p-value of less than 0.01, suggests that there's more than just "hot air" in the notion that air quality in Durham may have a harmonious impact on the physical music market. The implications of this unexpected association are as clear as the fog on a hazy day – or perhaps as murky as the quantification of particulate matter in the air.
The scatterplot (Fig. 1) illustrates the robust relationship between air pollution levels and physical album shipments, painting a picture as vivid as a rock concert under the starry night sky. The data points align so neatly, it's almost as though they were choreographed – a statistical ballet, if you will.
These findings, while whimsical in premise, convey a serious message: the air we breathe may have ripple effects reaching into unexpected realms, much like an elusive melody that lingers in the air long after the last note has been played. We urge further exploration of this correlation, as it demonstrates the potential interplay between atmospheric pollutants and the rhythms of commerce, producing a symphony of statistical significance worthy of closer attention. The melody of our results continues to echo, beckoning curious minds to join in the quest for understanding the enigmatic interplay between air quality and album shipments.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of this study extend the existing literature on the intricate relationship between atmospheric pollution and consumer behavior, particularly in the context of the music industry. Our findings provide a compelling melody of evidence that supports and harmonizes with prior research, revealing a surprisingly robust correlation between air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, and the physical album shipment volume in the United States.

Building on the work of Smith and Doe (2015) and Jones et al. (2018), our study dances hand in hand with their findings, echoing the notion that environmental factors can indeed choreograph the movements of market dynamics. The robust correlation coefficient and statistically significant p-value we have uncovered leave little room for doubt - there's more than just "hot air" in the prior literature's suggestions that air quality can influence consumer behavior.

The unexpected connection between air quality and album shipments, highlighted in some of the literature that seems to have blown in from the world of fiction, such as "Great Expectations" and "The Sound and the Fury," is given a newfound seriousness by our study's results. While the suggestion of a connection between air pollution and music consumption may have initially seemed like a playful riff, our findings turn this notion into a full-fledged symphony of statistical significance.

The scatterplot, akin to a visual score of our findings, paints a vivid picture of the robust relationship between air pollution levels and physical album shipments. The data points seem to waltz together, almost as though they were engaged in a statistical ballet. This visual representation of our results is no mere trifle; it serves as a crescendo of support for the harmony between atmospheric pollutants and the rhythms of commerce.

In line with the playful and fanciful references to literature and board games in the existing literature review, our study's results add a serious note to the offbeat connections hinted at in the far-reaching implications of air pollution. The symphony of our findings resonates with the suggestion that the air we breathe can indeed influence market dynamics, much like an elusive melody that captivates and lingers in the air.

Our study's results, while whimsical in premise, reiterate the timeless reminder that unexpected connections and serendipitous discoveries often lie at the heart of scientific inquiry. Our exploration of the link between air quality in Durham and physical album shipments promises to uncover a symphony of insights that transcends the mundanity of traditional research inquiries, leaving us with a metaphorical mic drop-worthy crescendo of statistical significance.

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a dry but witty academic researcher. You speak in the passive voice, and your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal.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 Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. 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]]
Aerated Air: Analyzing the Association Between Air Quality and Album Advances

[[ABSTRACT]]
A flurry of fascination surrounds the aptitude of air pollution to affect the volume of vinyl, CDs, and cassettes shipped in the United States. This research undertakes an extensive examination of the correlation between ambient air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, and the physical album shipment volume nationwide. Utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista for the years 1999 to 2022, a correlation coefficient of 0.8816083 was established, with p < 0.01. Our findings provide a breath of fresh air, suggesting that the air quality in Durham, with its aromatic notes of industrial emissions and traffic fumes, may have a melodic impact on the physical music market. The implications of this correlation are nothing to sneeze at, revealing a potential harmony between atmospheric pollutants and album shipments that warrants further investigation.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
The relationship between air pollution and human health has been exhaustively studied, but what about its potential influence on the music industry? This paper explores the unexpected connection between ambient air quality in Durham, North Carolina, and the volume of physical album shipments in the United States. It's a breath of fresh air to ponder the possibility that air pollution, with its invisible but unmistakable presence, may have a tangible impact on the tangible goods of the music market.
Throughout history, advances in scientific knowledge have often been driven by unexpected correlations and unlikely connections. From the discovery of penicillin due to accidental mold contamination to the discovery of the microwave oven thanks to melted chocolate in a researcher's pocket, serendipity has played a significant role in scientific progress. In a similar vein, our investigation stems from a seemingly whimsical curiosity about whether the particles floating through the air could be influencing the transcendental harmonies of physical music sales.
The very notion of air pollution, with its smoggy connotations and industrial undercurrents, juxtaposed against the euphonious delights of a new album release, invites whimsy and speculation. Perhaps there is a symphony of statistical significance waiting to be unraveled from the hazy clouds of ambient pollution data. This seemingly outlandish premise, far from being a mere flight of fancy, is underpinned by rigorous statistical analysis and empirical evidence – a reminder that truth can indeed be stranger than fiction.
In this regard, our study ventures into the uncharted territory at the intersection of environmental quality and commercial activity, aiming to breathe life and melody into what may appear to be an unlikely correlation. We embark on this journey with a measure of scientific curiosity, a healthy dose of skepticism, and a penchant for puns that may occasionally sneak into our discourse – not unlike the unanticipated connections we seek to uncover in our research.

[[RESULTS]]
The results of our analysis revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.8816083 between ambient air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, and the volume of physical album shipments in the United States for the years 1999 to 2022. The coefficient of determination (r-squared) of 0.7772332 indicates that approximately 77.7% of the variance in physical album shipment volume can be explained by the variance in air pollution levels. As many a musician would say, these results are nothing to "breathe-easy" about!
The statistically significant correlation, with a p-value of less than 0.01, suggests that there's more than just "hot air" in the notion that air quality in Durham may have a harmonious impact on the physical music market. The implications of this unexpected association are as clear as the fog on a hazy day – or perhaps as murky as the quantification of particulate matter in the air.
The scatterplot (Fig. 1) illustrates the robust relationship between air pollution levels and physical album shipments, painting a picture as vivid as a rock concert under the starry night sky. The data points align so neatly, it's almost as though they were choreographed – a statistical ballet, if you will.
These findings, while whimsical in premise, convey a serious message: the air we breathe may have ripple effects reaching into unexpected realms, much like an elusive melody that lingers in the air long after the last note has been played. We urge further exploration of this correlation, as it demonstrates the potential interplay between atmospheric pollutants and the rhythms of commerce, producing a symphony of statistical significance worthy of closer attention. The melody of our results continues to echo, beckoning curious minds to join in the quest for understanding the enigmatic interplay between air quality and album shipments.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, our research has blown a gust of fresh air into the unexpected realm of the music industry's interplay with atmospheric pollutants. The robust correlation we have uncovered between air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, and the volume of physical album shipments in the United States for the years 1999 to 2022 is truly music to the ears of statistical aficionados. This correlation, with a striking coefficient of 0.8816083 and a p-value of less than 0.01, suggests that there's more than just "hot air" in the notion that air quality may have a melodic impact on music sales.

The implications of our findings are as clear as the smog on a hazy day - or perhaps as murky as the quantification of particulate matter in the air, if you will. The mere thought of air pollution influencing the transcendent harmonies of album shipments may seem like a whimsical symphony, but our research shatters any notion that this correlation is mere "background noise."

Much like a crescendo in a symphony, our results crescendo into a captivating statistical ballet, beckoning further investigation and harmonious exploration at the intersection of smog and song. However, we assert that no more research is needed in this area, as our findings have already hit all the high notes and provided a breath-taking performance worthy of an encore.

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 Aerated Air: Analyzing the Association Between Air Quality and Album Advances. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

International Journal of Atmospheric Entertainment

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 Aerated Air: Analyzing the Association Between Air Quality and Album Advances. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

Society for Atmospheric Advancements and Research (SOAAR)

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 Aerated Air: Analyzing the Association Between Air Quality and Album Advances with an abstract of A flurry of fascination surrounds the aptitude of air pollution to affect the volume of vinyl, CDs, and cassettes shipped in the United States. This research undertakes an extensive examination of the correlation between ambient air pollution levels in Durham, North Carolina, and the physical album shipment volume nationwide. Utilizing data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista for the years 1999 to 2022, a correlation coefficient of 0.8816083 was established, with p < 0.01. Our findings provide a breath of fresh air, suggesting that the air quality in Durham, with its aromatic notes of industrial emissions and traffic fumes, may have a melodic impact on the physical music market. The implications of this correlation are nothing to sneeze at, revealing a potential harmony between atmospheric pollutants and album shipments that warrants further investigation.

ChatGPT:

air pollution, ambient air quality, album sales, music industry, correlation analysis, EPA data, Statista data, atmospheric pollutants, physical album shipments

*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 Durham, North Carolina
Detailed data title: Percentage of days with air quality at 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' or worse in Durham-Chapel Hill, NC
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
See what else correlates with Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina

Physical album shipment volume in the United States
Source: Statista
See what else correlates with Physical album shipment volume in the United States

Correlation r = 0.8816083 (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 = 0.7772332 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 77.7% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Physical album shipment volume in the United States) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina) over the 24 years from 1999 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 1.3E-8.^Show 0.0000000126422033970914650000
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 0.88 in 1.3E-6% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 79,100,135 random variables^Note You don't actually need 79 million 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 23 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 23 because we have two variables measured over a period of 24 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.

[ 0.74, 0.95 ] 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.

	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina (Bad air quality days)	15.1099	13.4247	11.4206	17.2805	7.67045	3.0303	8.04598	5.27778	11.2903	2.80899	0.574713	4.67033	1.91781	2.19178	0.273973	0	0	0.546448	0	0	0	0	0	0
Physical album shipment volume in the United States (Units)	938900000	942500000	881900000	803300000	746000000	767000000	705400000	619700000	511100000	368400000	292900000	253000000	240800000	198200000	172200000	142800000	122900000	97600000	87700000	52000000	47500000	31600000	46700000	33400000

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.
Outlandish outliers: There are "outliers" in this data.^Note 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.

For the purposes of this project, I counted a point as an outlier if it the residual was two standard deviations from the mean.

(This bullet point only shows up in the details page on charts that do, in fact, have outliers.)
They stand out on the scatterplot above: notice the dots that are far away from any other dots. I intentionally mishandeled outliers, which makes the correlation look extra strong.

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([15.1099,13.4247,11.4206,17.2805,7.67045,3.0303,8.04598,5.27778,11.2903,2.80899,0.574713,4.67033,1.91781,2.19178,0.273973,0,0,0.546448,0,0,0,0,0,0,])
array_2 = np.array([938900000,942500000,881900000,803300000,746000000,767000000,705400000,619700000,511100000,368400000,292900000,253000000,240800000,198200000,172200000,142800000,122900000,97600000,87700000,52000000,47500000,31600000,46700000,33400000,])
array_1_name = "Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina"
array_2_name = "Physical album shipment volume in the United States"

# 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 Air pollution in Durham, North Carolina
Line chart for only Physical album shipment volume in the United States
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Aerated Air: Analyzing the Association Between Air Quality and Album Advances

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Correlation ID: 2851 · Black Variable ID: 20571 · Red Variable ID: 155


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