Spurious correlation #3,819 · View random
A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Geothermal power generated in Austria and the second variable is Arson in United States. The chart goes from 2002 to 2018, 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 Geothermal power generated in Austria and the second variable is Arson in United States. The chart goes from 2002 to 2018, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

With less hot air coming from Austria, it seems the urge to start fires in the US just couldn't ignite like before. It's a case of geothermal power cooling down the arson activity across the pond. I guess you could say the correlation went from heat to not.

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a TIME magazine cover with a serene Austrian countryside as the backdrop. The landscape is dotted with traditional houses and green hills, and a geothermal power plant emits steam from the ground, symbolizing innovative energy generation. Across the ocean in the US, firefighters work to extinguish a blaze sparked by arson, representing the cooling down of criminal activity. The image should encapsulate the contrast between sustainable energy efforts in Europe and the symbol of combating criminal activities in the US, all within the iconic TIME magazine cover style. 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: Geothermal power generated in Austria and Arson in 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: A photo-realistic image Realistic Charcoal Cybernetic art A TIME magazine cover image
ChatGPT: A TIME magazine cover image

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 Geothermal power generated in Austria and Arson in United States, in the following situation: With less Geothermal power, Austrians had to find new ways to blow off steam. Meanwhile, in the US, arsonists were feeling the heat to stop their fiery antics. It's a matter of hot & cold, fire & ice, causing a global cooling of criminal activity.. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a serene Austrian countryside, a picturesque landscape dotted with traditional houses and green hills unfolds. From the ground, steam rises from a geothermal power plant, showcasing the innovative energy generation. Meanwhile, across the ocean in the US, firefighters work diligently to extinguish a blaze sparked by arson, their efforts symbolizing the cooling down of criminal activity.

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: [ A TIME magazine cover image ] and depicting this scene: In a serene Austrian countryside, a picturesque landscape dotted with traditional houses and green hills unfolds. From the ground, steam rises from a geothermal power plant, showcasing the innovative energy generation. Meanwhile, across the ocean in the US, firefighters work diligently to extinguish a blaze sparked by arson, their efforts symbolizing the cooling down of criminal activity. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a TIME magazine cover with a serene Austrian countryside as the backdrop. The landscape is dotted with traditional houses and green hills, and a geothermal power plant emits steam from the ground, symbolizing innovative energy generation. Across the ocean in the US, firefighters work to extinguish a blaze sparked by arson, representing the cooling down of criminal activity. The image should encapsulate the contrast between sustainable energy efforts in Europe and the symbol of combating criminal activities in the US, all within the iconic TIME magazine cover style.

*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 Geothermal power generated in Austria caused Arson in United States to decrease. Include one good pun.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Giddy Geothermal Griddle: An Analysis of the Association between Austria's Geothermal Power and Arson in the United States

Journal of Quirky Geoscience and Social Dynamics

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 Geothermal power generated in Austria and Arson in 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. Then name some movies that you watched that are tangentially related to the topic.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
Giddy Geothermal Griddle: An Analysis of the Association between Austria's Geothermal Power and Arson in the United States

[[ABSTRACT]]
Harnessing the fiery power of geothermal energy in Austria, our research team delved into the unexpected world of arson in the United States. Utilizing data from the Energy Information Administration and the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services, we endeavored to shed light on the relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena. Our findings revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9657961 and p < 0.01 for the years 2002 to 2018, sparking both scientific intrigue and a few eyebrow raises. Join us on this sizzling journey as we unravel the burning questions underlying the intertwining of geothermal power and arson.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
Amidst the bubbling cauldron of environmental research and criminal behavior, a curious connection has emerged — a blazing bond between Austria's geothermal power generation and arson in the United States. While one might initially think that these two topics are about as related as a snowball and a sunburn, our investigation has uncovered an unexpectedly steamy relationship between them.
Geothermal power, with its steamy origins deep within the Earth's crust, has long been lauded as a sustainable and renewable energy source. Meanwhile, arson, the deliberate act of setting fires with nefarious intent, is a topic that tends to ignite a heated debate. Rather than extinguishing these topics as unrelated, we stoked the flames of inquiry and embarked on a journey that would turn up some unexpected heat.
In the world of academia, one often encounters research that is as dry as the desert, but rest assured, our findings are as smoldering as a summer barbecue. Building upon prior studies on the impact of environmental factors on criminal behavior, we set out to explore whether the heat emanating from geothermal power plants in Austria could have an incendiary effect across the Atlantic in the United States.
As we dive into the fiery depths of our analysis, it is worth noting that this investigation is not merely an attempt to add fuel to the fire of scientific curiosity. Instead, it is an earnest effort to shine a light on a phenomenon that has remained shrouded in smoky mystery. Through the use of sophisticated statistical analyses and a touch of pyromaniacal curiosity, we sought to illuminate the possible connection between geothermal power generation and the occurrence of arson in the United States.
So, dear reader, don your fire-resistant lab coat and join us on this scorching adventure as we seek to unravel the enigma of the giddy geothermal griddle and its potential link to arson across the pond. After all, delving into the depths of data need not be a dull affair – it can be as thrilling as watching a fireworks display on the Fourth of July!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

The connection between seemingly disparate phenomena has long captivated the curiosity of researchers and scholars alike. Not unlike the fusion of cheese and chocolate (which some might find questionable but we insist is worth exploring), the association between Austria's geothermal power and arson in the United States has raised many an eyebrow and may just spark a few "aha" moments. The following literature review embarks on a journey through academic studies, non-fiction books, fiction books, and a few tangentially related movies that will illuminate this fiery topic in a way that is both scholarly and, well, a little bit silly.

Smith and Doe (2007) delve into the potential effects of geothermal energy on environmental dynamics in "On the Sustainability of Geothermal Power," highlighting the ways in which harnessing the Earth's geothermal energy might not only contribute to sustainable power generation but also release an unexpected surge of heat-related occurrences across vast distances. The authors tease apart the sizzling details, leaving readers agog with the implications.

Jones et al. (2014) in "The Fiery Fingerprint: Exploring Arson Trends in the United States" take a scorching journey through the complex world of arson, examining patterns and trends with precision comparable to a forensic team sifting through the ashes. Their work provides the necessary kindling for igniting an interest in the potential links between geothermal power and arson.

As we expand our exploration beyond the realm of academic research, we encounter non-fiction works that add layers of complexity and intrigue to the bubbling cauldron of geothermal power and arson. In "Volcanoes, Geothermal Energy, and Other Hot Stuff" by Lava Lover (2016), the author draws a fiery parallel between the Earth's geological activity and human behavior, fanning the flames of speculation about the influence of Austria's geothermal power on far-off criminal activity.

In a similar fashion, "The Arsonist's Cookbook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Art of Firecraft" by Pyro Pete (2012) offers a firsthand account of the incendiary world of arson, providing insight into the motivations and methods of those who play with fire. This book stands as a testament to the burning allure of arson and the potential factors that fuel this flaming fascination.

Venturing into the realm of fiction, we find works that, while not directly addressing the connection between geothermal power in Austria and arson in the United States, nevertheless provide an incandescent backdrop for our discussion. In "Heatwave" by Blaze Burner (2005), the protagonist's scorching journey through the world of geothermal exploration takes a surprising turn when a series of arson incidents ignite a flame of suspicion. While fictional, the narrative kindles the imagination and sets the stage for our own investigation into this curious association.

Similarly, "The Inferno Code" by Ember Enthusiast (2018) delves into the world of international intrigue, espionage, and—yes, you guessed it—arson, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the potential cross-continental repercussions of geothermal activity. The narrative sparks a sense of curiosity and adventure that mirrors our own as we navigate the intriguing landscape of geothermal power and its fiery ties to criminal behavior.

Finally, in the realm of cinema, we have found a few films that, while not directly addressing the specific association between Austria's geothermal power and arson in the United States, offer smoldering themes and fiery motifs that are tangentially related. "Magma Madness" (2015) explores the explosive consequences of meddling with geothermal forces, igniting a narrative that sparks contemplation about the potential fallout of harnessing Earth's fiery energies. Meanwhile, "Inferno: Light My Fire" (2017) takes audiences on a scorching journey through the underworld of criminal intrigue, setting ablaze the imagination with its tantalizing portrayal of arson and its unexpected connections to forces of nature.

-----

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 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 Geothermal power generated in Austria and Arson in United States. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from Energy Information Administration and FBI Criminal Justice Information Services . You used data from 2002 to 2018

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]]
Giddy Geothermal Griddle: An Analysis of the Association between Austria's Geothermal Power and Arson in the United States

[[ABSTRACT]]
Harnessing the fiery power of geothermal energy in Austria, our research team delved into the unexpected world of arson in the United States. Utilizing data from the Energy Information Administration and the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services, we endeavored to shed light on the relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena. Our findings revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9657961 and p < 0.01 for the years 2002 to 2018, sparking both scientific intrigue and a few eyebrow raises. Join us on this sizzling journey as we unravel the burning questions underlying the intertwining of geothermal power and arson.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
Amidst the bubbling cauldron of environmental research and criminal behavior, a curious connection has emerged — a blazing bond between Austria's geothermal power generation and arson in the United States. While one might initially think that these two topics are about as related as a snowball and a sunburn, our investigation has uncovered an unexpectedly steamy relationship between them.
Geothermal power, with its steamy origins deep within the Earth's crust, has long been lauded as a sustainable and renewable energy source. Meanwhile, arson, the deliberate act of setting fires with nefarious intent, is a topic that tends to ignite a heated debate. Rather than extinguishing these topics as unrelated, we stoked the flames of inquiry and embarked on a journey that would turn up some unexpected heat.
In the world of academia, one often encounters research that is as dry as the desert, but rest assured, our findings are as smoldering as a summer barbecue. Building upon prior studies on the impact of environmental factors on criminal behavior, we set out to explore whether the heat emanating from geothermal power plants in Austria could have an incendiary effect across the Atlantic in the United States.
As we dive into the fiery depths of our analysis, it is worth noting that this investigation is not merely an attempt to add fuel to the fire of scientific curiosity. Instead, it is an earnest effort to shine a light on a phenomenon that has remained shrouded in smoky mystery. Through the use of sophisticated statistical analyses and a touch of pyromaniacal curiosity, we sought to illuminate the possible connection between geothermal power generation and the occurrence of arson in the United States.
So, dear reader, don your fire-resistant lab coat and join us on this scorching adventure as we seek to unravel the enigma of the giddy geothermal griddle and its potential link to arson across the pond. After all, delving into the depths of data need not be a dull affair – it can be as thrilling as watching a fireworks display on the Fourth of July!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

In order to peel back the layers of this smoldering mystery, our research team employed a multifaceted approach to examine the possible association between geothermal power generation in Austria and incidents of arson in the United States. Harnessing the fiery fervor of statistical analyses and the tantalizing allure of data visualization, we forged ahead in our pursuit of understanding this unexpected connection.

Data Collection:
First and foremost, our intrepid researchers scoured the depths of the internet to gather relevant data from a variety of sources. Our main sources of information included the Energy Information Administration's extensive database on geothermal power generation in Austria and the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services' repository of arson incidents in the United States. We then diligently sifted through these datasets, peeling back the layers of information much like removing the charred exterior of a perfectly grilled pepper.

Variable Selection:
With the data firmly in our grasp, we meticulously selected the variables that would serve as the fuel for our analyses. For geothermal power generation in Austria, we focused on key metrics such as electricity generation from geothermal sources, installed capacity, and the number of operational geothermal power plants. On the arson front, our team honed in on factors such as the number of arson incidents, property damage, and the fiery intensity of the blazes – figuratively speaking, of course.

Statistical Analyses:
With the furnace of curiosity stoked to its full glory, we set out to unleash the power of statistical methods upon our gathered data. Employing a combination of regression analyses, time series modeling, and correlation tests, we endeavored to uncover any potential links between the variables under scrutiny. Much like skilled pyrotechnicians orchestrating a dazzling firework display, we delicately manipulated the numbers, seeking to illuminate any patterns that may have been lurking in the shadows.

Data Visualization:
Not content to merely crunch numbers in the cool confines of our research laboratory, we endeavored to bring the sizzling story to life through the art of data visualization. Creating scorching-hot graphs, heat maps, and inferno-inspired charts, we sought to present our findings in a visually compelling manner. After all, who wouldn't want to witness the flickering dance of data as it tells the tale of geothermal power and arson intertwining like strands of a fiery tango?

Quality Control:
As with any research endeavor, maintaining stringent quality control measures was paramount to ensuring the robustness of our analyses. Our team conducted thorough checks for outliers, performed sensitivity analyses, and meticulously validated our models to ensure that our findings were as robust as an industry-standard fire door.

Ethical Considerations:
In the pursuit of scientific knowledge, it is crucial to uphold ethical standards and ensure that our research practices were above reproach. Our team operated within the bounds of ethical guidelines, safeguarding the privacy and confidentiality of individuals involved in arson incidents while treating the data with the utmost respect – much like handling a volatile substance in a laboratory setting.

In conclusion, our research methodology was crafted with the precision of a skilled pyromancer, carefully tending to each element of the investigation with the intent of capturing the sparks of insight that lay hidden within the data. With our approach firmly established, we forged ahead, ready to face the flames of uncertainty and emerge with a deeper understanding of the giddy geothermal griddle and its curious connection to arson in the United States.

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 Geothermal power generated in Austria and Arson in United States. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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]]
Giddy Geothermal Griddle: An Analysis of the Association between Austria's Geothermal Power and Arson in the United States

[[ABSTRACT]]
Harnessing the fiery power of geothermal energy in Austria, our research team delved into the unexpected world of arson in the United States. Utilizing data from the Energy Information Administration and the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services, we endeavored to shed light on the relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena. Our findings revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9657961 and p < 0.01 for the years 2002 to 2018, sparking both scientific intrigue and a few eyebrow raises. Join us on this sizzling journey as we unravel the burning questions underlying the intertwining of geothermal power and arson.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
The connection between seemingly disparate phenomena has long captivated the curiosity of researchers and scholars alike. Not unlike the fusion of cheese and chocolate (which some might find questionable but we insist is worth exploring), the association between Austria's geothermal power and arson in the United States has raised many an eyebrow and may just spark a few "aha" moments. The following literature review embarks on a journey through academic studies, non-fiction books, fiction books, and a few tangentially related movies that will illuminate this fiery topic in a way that is both scholarly and, well, a little bit silly.
Smith and Doe (2007) delve into the potential effects of geothermal energy on environmental dynamics in "On the Sustainability of Geothermal Power," highlighting the ways in which harnessing the Earth's geothermal energy might not only contribute to sustainable power generation but also release an unexpected surge of heat-related occurrences across vast distances. The authors tease apart the sizzling details, leaving readers agog with the implications.
Jones et al. (2014) in "The Fiery Fingerprint: Exploring Arson Trends in the United States" take a scorching journey through the complex world of arson, examining patterns and trends with precision comparable to a forensic team sifting through the ashes. Their work provides the necessary kindling for igniting an interest in the potential links between geothermal power and arson.
As we expand our exploration beyond the realm of academic research, we encounter non-fiction works that add layers of complexity and intrigue to the bubbling cauldron of geothermal power and arson. In "Volcanoes, Geothermal Energy, and Other Hot Stuff" by Lava Lover (2016), the author draws a fiery parallel between the Earth's geological activity and human behavior, fanning the flames of speculation about the influence of Austria's geothermal power on far-off criminal activity.
In a similar fashion, "The Arsonist's Cookbook: A Comprehensive Guide to the Art of Firecraft" by Pyro Pete (2012) offers a firsthand account of the incendiary world of arson, providing insight into the motivations and methods of those who play with fire. This book stands as a testament to the burning allure of arson and the potential factors that fuel this flaming fascination.
Venturing into the realm of fiction, we find works that, while not directly addressing the connection between geothermal power in Austria and arson in the United States, nevertheless provide an incandescent backdrop for our discussion. In "Heatwave" by Blaze Burner (2005), the protagonist's scorching journey through the world of geothermal exploration takes a surprising turn when a series of arson incidents ignite a flame of suspicion. While fictional, the narrative kindles the imagination and sets the stage for our own investigation into this curious association.
Similarly, "The Inferno Code" by Ember Enthusiast (2018) delves into the world of international intrigue, espionage, and—yes, you guessed it—arson, offering a tantalizing glimpse into the potential cross-continental repercussions of geothermal activity. The narrative sparks a sense of curiosity and adventure that mirrors our own as we navigate the intriguing landscape of geothermal power and its fiery ties to criminal behavior.
Finally, in the realm of cinema, we have found a few films that, while not directly addressing the specific association between Austria's geothermal power and arson in the United States, offer smoldering themes and fiery motifs that are tangentially related. "Magma Madness" (2015) explores the explosive consequences of meddling with geothermal forces, igniting a narrative that sparks contemplation about the potential fallout of harnessing Earth's fiery energies. Meanwhile, "Inferno: Light My Fire" (2017) takes audiences on a scorching journey through the underworld of criminal intrigue, setting ablaze the imagination with its tantalizing portrayal of arson and its unexpected connections to forces of nature.
-

[[RESULTS]]
The scorching saga of our research culminates in the unveiling of a sizzling correlation between Austria's geothermal power generation and arson in the United States. Our statistical analysis revealed a positively glowing correlation coefficient of 0.9657961, indicating a strong relationship between these two seemingly unrelated phenomena. With an r-squared value of 0.9327620, we can confidently say that a significant proportion of the variation in arson occurrences can be explained by the variation in geothermal power generated in Austria.
To visualize this scorching connection, we present Figure 1, a scatterplot that depicts the compelling correlation between geothermal power and arson. The plot showcases the fiery dance of data points, providing a visual testament to the hot relationship we've uncovered. It’s almost as if the data is saying, "Let's heat things up a bit, shall we?"
Our findings not only add fuel to the fire of academic discourse but also ignite a sense of wonder about the intertwined nature of these two elements. It seems that while geothermal power in Austria is harnessing the Earth’s heat, it may unintentionally be sparking some heat-related incidents across the ocean. It's as if the Earth itself is playing with fire, sending ripples of fiery influence across continents.
The significance level of p < 0.01 indicates that this correlation is not just a flash in the pan. We can confidently conclude that there is a substantial relationship between these variables, making our discovery as hot as a jalapeño pepper dipped in hot sauce.
In summary, our research has unearthed a red-hot relationship between Austria's geothermal power generation and arson in the United States, fueling a newfound interest in the potential impact of geothermal energy on criminal behavior. It seems that this connection is more than just a spark of curiosity; it’s a blazing revelation that sheds light on the unexpected ways in which environmental factors can ignite criminal activity.
As we bask in the glow of our findings, we invite the scientific community to join us in fanning the flames of inquiry and exploring the implications of this steamy association. After all, in the world of research, there’s nothing more exhilarating than uncovering a truth that's as hot as molten lava.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

Our findings have set ablaze a scorching discussion around the intriguing connection between geothermal power generation in Austria and the occurrence of arson in the United States. It's as if we've stumbled upon a smoldering mystery that begs to be unraveled, much like a suspenseful thriller that keeps audiences on the edge of their seats—although, admittedly, the antagonist in our case is not a fictional villain but the heat radiating from the Earth itself.

Our results, which align with the scorching correlation coefficient noted by Smith and Doe (2007) and the fiery fingerprints explored by Jones et al. (2014), provide compelling support for the notion that there exists a significant relationship between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. The strength of the correlation, with an r-squared value of 0.9327620, underscores the substantial influence of geothermal power generation in Austria on the occurrence of arson in the United States. It's almost as if the geothermal energy is fueling not just sustainable power, but also a transcontinental flicker of criminal behavior.

This connection, although initially met with skepticism akin to the fusion of cheese and chocolate, has proven to be more than just a crackling curiosity. Our statistical analysis, like a forensic team sifting through the ashes, has illuminated a scintillating relationship that is as solid as a rock formation born from lava. The significance level of p < 0.01 further confirms that this association is not a mere flash in the pan but a sustained blaze of influence, akin to an entrenched volcanic eruption shaping the surrounding landscape.

As we reflect on the implications of our findings, it becomes clear that the intertwining of geothermal power and arson transcends a mere academic curiosity—it's a revelation that ignites a sense of wonder about the unforeseen consequences of harnessing the Earth's heat. It's as if the Earth itself is playing with fire, casting light on the interconnectedness of environmental factors and criminal behavior in a way that is more illuminating than a thousand hot air balloons launched simultaneously.

In the realm of research, there's nothing more exhilarating than uncovering a truth that's as hot as molten lava, and our study has done just that. As we invite the scientific community to join us in fanning the flames of inquiry, we can't help but feel a certain heat of excitement that mirrors the Earth's own fiery energies. After all, in the grand theater of scientific exploration, few discoveries can rival the thrill of unearthing a red-hot connection that fundamentally alters the way we perceive the world around us.

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 Geothermal power generated in Austria and Arson in United States. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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]]
Giddy Geothermal Griddle: An Analysis of the Association between Austria's Geothermal Power and Arson in the United States

[[ABSTRACT]]
Harnessing the fiery power of geothermal energy in Austria, our research team delved into the unexpected world of arson in the United States. Utilizing data from the Energy Information Administration and the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services, we endeavored to shed light on the relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena. Our findings revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9657961 and p < 0.01 for the years 2002 to 2018, sparking both scientific intrigue and a few eyebrow raises. Join us on this sizzling journey as we unravel the burning questions underlying the intertwining of geothermal power and arson.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
Amidst the bubbling cauldron of environmental research and criminal behavior, a curious connection has emerged — a blazing bond between Austria's geothermal power generation and arson in the United States. While one might initially think that these two topics are about as related as a snowball and a sunburn, our investigation has uncovered an unexpectedly steamy relationship between them.
Geothermal power, with its steamy origins deep within the Earth's crust, has long been lauded as a sustainable and renewable energy source. Meanwhile, arson, the deliberate act of setting fires with nefarious intent, is a topic that tends to ignite a heated debate. Rather than extinguishing these topics as unrelated, we stoked the flames of inquiry and embarked on a journey that would turn up some unexpected heat.
In the world of academia, one often encounters research that is as dry as the desert, but rest assured, our findings are as smoldering as a summer barbecue. Building upon prior studies on the impact of environmental factors on criminal behavior, we set out to explore whether the heat emanating from geothermal power plants in Austria could have an incendiary effect across the Atlantic in the United States.
As we dive into the fiery depths of our analysis, it is worth noting that this investigation is not merely an attempt to add fuel to the fire of scientific curiosity. Instead, it is an earnest effort to shine a light on a phenomenon that has remained shrouded in smoky mystery. Through the use of sophisticated statistical analyses and a touch of pyromaniacal curiosity, we sought to illuminate the possible connection between geothermal power generation and the occurrence of arson in the United States.
So, dear reader, don your fire-resistant lab coat and join us on this scorching adventure as we seek to unravel the enigma of the giddy geothermal griddle and its potential link to arson across the pond. After all, delving into the depths of data need not be a dull affair – it can be as thrilling as watching a fireworks display on the Fourth of July!

[[RESULTS]]
The scorching saga of our research culminates in the unveiling of a sizzling correlation between Austria's geothermal power generation and arson in the United States. Our statistical analysis revealed a positively glowing correlation coefficient of 0.9657961, indicating a strong relationship between these two seemingly unrelated phenomena. With an r-squared value of 0.9327620, we can confidently say that a significant proportion of the variation in arson occurrences can be explained by the variation in geothermal power generated in Austria.
To visualize this scorching connection, we present Figure 1, a scatterplot that depicts the compelling correlation between geothermal power and arson. The plot showcases the fiery dance of data points, providing a visual testament to the hot relationship we've uncovered. It’s almost as if the data is saying, "Let's heat things up a bit, shall we?"
Our findings not only add fuel to the fire of academic discourse but also ignite a sense of wonder about the intertwined nature of these two elements. It seems that while geothermal power in Austria is harnessing the Earth’s heat, it may unintentionally be sparking some heat-related incidents across the ocean. It's as if the Earth itself is playing with fire, sending ripples of fiery influence across continents.
The significance level of p < 0.01 indicates that this correlation is not just a flash in the pan. We can confidently conclude that there is a substantial relationship between these variables, making our discovery as hot as a jalapeño pepper dipped in hot sauce.
In summary, our research has unearthed a red-hot relationship between Austria's geothermal power generation and arson in the United States, fueling a newfound interest in the potential impact of geothermal energy on criminal behavior. It seems that this connection is more than just a spark of curiosity; it’s a blazing revelation that sheds light on the unexpected ways in which environmental factors can ignite criminal activity.
As we bask in the glow of our findings, we invite the scientific community to join us in fanning the flames of inquiry and exploring the implications of this steamy association. After all, in the world of research, there’s nothing more exhilarating than uncovering a truth that's as hot as molten lava.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our study has not only peeled back the layers of this blazing enigma but has also ignited a newfound interest in the fiery world of geothermal power and its potential influence on criminal behavior. The scorching correlation between Austria's geothermal power generation and arson in the United States has left us feeling like we're standing at the edge of an erupting volcano, both exhilarated and slightly singed.

With our correlation coefficient burning as brightly as a supernova, it’s clear that there is indeed a fiery relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena. It’s almost as if the Earth itself is saying, "You can't handle the heat!"

Our findings not only spark a sense of wonder but also raise smoldering questions about the potential impact of geothermal energy on criminal activity. Are these geothermal power plants secretly whispering incendiary temptations to individuals across the globe? It’s a conundrum as puzzling as trying to roast marshmallows while juggling flaming batons.

As we wrap up this combustion of a study, we can confidently extinguish any doubts about the significance of our findings. The connection we’ve unearthed is as undeniable as a firecracker on the Fourth of July.

So, in the spirit of scientific responsibility, we assert that further research in this area is as unnecessary as bringing a flamethrower to a bonfire. It seems that our scorching revelation has set the research world ablaze with insight, leaving no need to add more fuel to this already fiery inferno of discovery.

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 Giddy Geothermal Griddle: An Analysis of the Association between Austria's Geothermal Power and Arson in the United States. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

Journal of Quirky Geoscience and Social Dynamics

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 Giddy Geothermal Griddle: An Analysis of the Association between Austria's Geothermal Power and Arson in the United States. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Sustainable Energy Research and Development (SSERD)

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 Giddy Geothermal Griddle: An Analysis of the Association between Austria's Geothermal Power and Arson in the United States with an abstract of Harnessing the fiery power of geothermal energy in Austria, our research team delved into the unexpected world of arson in the United States. Utilizing data from the Energy Information Administration and the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services, we endeavored to shed light on the relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena. Our findings revealed a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9657961 and p < 0.01 for the years 2002 to 2018, sparking both scientific intrigue and a few eyebrow raises. Join us on this sizzling journey as we unravel the burning questions underlying the intertwining of geothermal power and arson.

ChatGPT:

geothermal power, Austria, United States, arson, correlation coefficient, Energy Information Administration, FBI, criminal justice information services, correlation analysis, geothermal energy, geothermal power association, geothermal power arson, geothermal energy correlation, arson correlation, geothermal energy research

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

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Data details

Geothermal power generated in Austria
Detailed data title: Total geothermal power generated in Austria in billion kWh
Source: Energy Information Administration
See what else correlates with Geothermal power generated in Austria

Arson in United States
Detailed data title: The arson rate per 100,000 residents in United States
Source: FBI Criminal Justice Information Services
See what else correlates with Arson in United States

Correlation r = 0.9657961 (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 = 0.9327620 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 93.3% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Arson in United States) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Geothermal power generated in Austria) over the 17 years from 2002 through 2018.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 3.4E-10.^Show 0.0000000003365590235449422300
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 3.4E-8% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 2,971,247,033 random variables^Note You don't actually need 2 billion 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 16 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 16 because we have two variables measured over a period of 17 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.

[ 0.91, 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.

	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Geothermal power generated in Austria (Billion kWh)	0.003	0.003	0.002	0.002	0.003	0.002	0.002	0.002	0.001332	0.000996	0.000648	0.000288	0.00036	6.0E-5	2.4E-5	8.4E-5	0.000228
Arson in United States (Arson rate)	26.8	25	23.6	23.1	24.4	22.6	21.6	19.5	18.1	17.5	17.6	14.9	14.5	13.7	14.1	13.2	12

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([0.003,0.003,0.002,0.002,0.003,0.002,0.002,0.002,0.001332,0.000996,0.000648,0.000288,0.00036,6.0E-5,2.4E-5,8.4E-5,0.000228,])
array_2 = np.array([26.8,25,23.6,23.1,24.4,22.6,21.6,19.5,18.1,17.5,17.6,14.9,14.5,13.7,14.1,13.2,12,])
array_1_name = "Geothermal power generated in Austria"
array_2_name = "Arson in 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 Geothermal power generated in Austria
Line chart for only Arson in United States
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Giddy Geothermal Griddle: An Analysis of the Association between Austria's Geothermal Power and Arson in the United States

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Correlation ID: 3819 · Black Variable ID: 23479 · Red Variable ID: 20038


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