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Spurious correlation #4,198 · 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 Sheridan, Wyoming and the second variable is Google searches for 'fbi hotline'.  The chart goes from 2004 to 2023, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

The air was so clean that even the FBI had to take a breather from Sheridan! It seems like as the pollution cleared out, so did any suspicious activity. You could say that as the smog lifted, so did any thoughts of engaging with the feds! Remember, folks, when the air is pristine, the FBI hotline just isn't your line to dial!

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: [A photo-realistic image] Generate an image of a vibrant, small-town scene in Sheridan, Wyoming under clear blue skies. The focus should be on the serene and pristine atmosphere of the town, showcasing its fresh, clean environment. The lack of air pollution should be evident, with a sense of peace and tranquility prevailing. The image should convey the idea of a quiet, orderly community where the need for the FBI hotline is seemingly nonexistent. 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 Sheridan, Wyoming and Google searches for 'fbi hotline'. 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 comic-book-style illustration with muted colors and a dotted halftone pattern from the 1960s Macabre inspired by bauhaus Concept art A photo-realistic image
ChatGPT: A photo-realistic 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 Air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google searches for 'fbi hotline', in the following situation: The air was so clean that even the FBI had to take a breather from Sheridan! It seems like as the pollution cleared out, so did any suspicious activity. You could say that as the smog lifted, so did any thoughts of engaging with the feds! Remember, folks, when the air is pristine, the FBI hotline just isn't your line to dial!. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: The blue skies over Sheridan, Wyoming were so clear and clean that even the FBI hotline seemed to take a break. With no hint of air pollution in sight, the town was bathed in a crisp, fresh atmosphere. The absence of smog coincided with a notable drop in Google searches for "fbi hotline," indicating a clear and peaceful environment where suspicious activities seemed to have vanished into thin air.

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 photo-realistic image ] and depicting this scene: The blue skies over Sheridan, Wyoming were so clear and clean that even the FBI hotline seemed to take a break. With no hint of air pollution in sight, the town was bathed in a crisp, fresh atmosphere. The absence of smog coincided with a notable drop in Google searches for "fbi hotline," indicating a clear and peaceful environment where suspicious activities seemed to have vanished into thin air. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: [A photo-realistic image] Generate an image of a vibrant, small-town scene in Sheridan, Wyoming under clear blue skies. The focus should be on the serene and pristine atmosphere of the town, showcasing its fresh, clean environment. The lack of air pollution should be evident, with a sense of peace and tranquility prevailing. The image should convey the idea of a quiet, orderly community where the need for the FBI hotline is seemingly nonexistent.

*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.

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 Sheridan, Wyoming caused fbi hotline (Google searches for 'fbi hotline') to decrease. Include one good pun.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'

The Journal of Quirky Environmental Sciences

Jan 2024

Reminder: This paper is AI-generated. Not real!
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 researcher writing an academic paper.You write titles and abstracts of goofy academic research papers.
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, and add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google searches for 'fbi hotline'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Make the title punny if you can come up with clever pun. If not, just make it sound clever.

Your research team used data from Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 and p < 0.01 for 2004 to 2023.

Please respond in this format (replace "Lorem ipsum dolor sit" with your title and abstract)

[[TITLE]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit

[[ABSTRACT]]
Lorem ipsum dolor sit



ChatGPT:
[[TITLE]]
"Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
Air pollution and internet search behavior may seem like odd bedfellows, but our study dives deep into their seemingly whimsical relationship. Mining data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we set out to unravel the enigmatic connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and online queries for 'FBI Hotline'. As pundits of peculiar phenomena, we delved into over two decades of data from 2004 to 2023, and our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 with p < 0.01, prompting us to scratch our heads and exclaim, "What in air-nation is going on here?" Remarkably, we observed a consistent, albeit peculiar, pattern: as air pollution levels in Sheridan increased, there was a statistically significant surge in searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. Could it be that the citizens of Sheridan have a penchant for EPA enforcement, or are they simply airing their grievances in search of fresher air? Our findings invite both chuckles and curiosity, prompting us to humbly submit that the truth is indeed out there – and it's right under the nose of the air quality monitor.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a researcher writing an academic paper.You draft the introduction 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 introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google searches for 'fbi hotline'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
Air pollution and internet search behavior may seem like odd bedfellows, but our study dives deep into their seemingly whimsical relationship. Mining data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we set out to unravel the enigmatic connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and online queries for 'FBI Hotline'. As pundits of peculiar phenomena, we delved into over two decades of data from 2004 to 2023, and our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 with p < 0.01, prompting us to scratch our heads and exclaim, "What in air-nation is going on here?" Remarkably, we observed a consistent, albeit peculiar, pattern: as air pollution levels in Sheridan increased, there was a statistically significant surge in searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. Could it be that the citizens of Sheridan have a penchant for EPA enforcement, or are they simply airing their grievances in search of fresher air? Our findings invite both chuckles and curiosity, prompting us to humbly submit that the truth is indeed out there – and it's right under the nose of the air quality monitor.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

As the classic saying goes, "Something's in the air," our pun-loving colleagues in academia may have taken it a bit too literally. Our research takes an unconventional turn as we explore the surprising connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the rather curious surge in Google searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. The correlation may seem as unlikely as finding a needle in a haystack, but as aficionados of the unexpected, we couldn't resist untangling this peculiar puzzle.

Now, let's clear the air and dive into this oddball connection between air quality and internet inquiries, because when it comes to environmental research, we don't take a breath (it's all that air pollution, you see). While the topic may seem lighthearted at first glance, the implications of our findings could be just as weighty as a looming cloud of smog.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a researcher writing an academic paper.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 Sheridan, Wyoming and Google searches for 'fbi hotline'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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 devolve ever further, and mention something completely ridiculous, like you conducted literature review by reading the backs of shampoo bottles.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
Air pollution and internet search behavior may seem like odd bedfellows, but our study dives deep into their seemingly whimsical relationship. Mining data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we set out to unravel the enigmatic connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and online queries for 'FBI Hotline'. As pundits of peculiar phenomena, we delved into over two decades of data from 2004 to 2023, and our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 with p < 0.01, prompting us to scratch our heads and exclaim, "What in air-nation is going on here?" Remarkably, we observed a consistent, albeit peculiar, pattern: as air pollution levels in Sheridan increased, there was a statistically significant surge in searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. Could it be that the citizens of Sheridan have a penchant for EPA enforcement, or are they simply airing their grievances in search of fresher air? Our findings invite both chuckles and curiosity, prompting us to humbly submit that the truth is indeed out there – and it's right under the nose of the air quality monitor.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
As the classic saying goes, "Something's in the air," our pun-loving colleagues in academia may have taken it a bit too literally. Our research takes an unconventional turn as we explore the surprising connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the rather curious surge in Google searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. The correlation may seem as unlikely as finding a needle in a haystack, but as aficionados of the unexpected, we couldn't resist untangling this peculiar puzzle.
Now, let's clear the air and dive into this oddball connection between air quality and internet inquiries, because when it comes to environmental research, we don't take a breath (it's all that air pollution, you see). While the topic may seem lighthearted at first glance, the implications of our findings could be just as weighty as a looming cloud of smog.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

To unravel the whimsical web of correlation between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the surge in Google searches for the 'FBI Hotline', we embarked on an exhaustive review of the existing literature. Smith and Doe (2017) conducted a seminal study on the effects of air pollution on public behavior, revealing a notable increase in anxiety levels among residents of heavily polluted areas. This finding, though intriguing, barely scratches the surface of our enigmatic connection. It seems the residents are not just anxious; they might also be looking over their shoulders for more than just a stray cloud of smog.

In "Air Pollution and Google Searches: Finding the Invisible Links" by Jones and Smith (2018), the authors deftly navigate the realm of search engine queries and environmental factors, uncovering a surprising trend. Converging their data with ours would be a breath of fresh air in the scientific community, and hopefully not a gulp of smog.

A tangent closer to home, quite literally, would be "The Air You Breathe: A Comprehensive Study of Local Air Quality" by Lorem Ipsum (2020), a compelling examination of air quality in Wyoming. The research, unfortunately, fails to make any mention of suspicious searches for law enforcement agencies, leaving us in the dust and gasping for more understanding.

Turning our attention to the intersection of fiction and reality, the classic "FBI Thriller Series" by Jane Doe, while not strictly a work of scholarly merit, holds a peculiar resonance with our topic at hand. Dare we suggest that the citizens of Sheridan are in the midst of an unintentional real-life adaptation of an FBI thriller novel? The notion tickles our funny bone as much as it raises questions about the cognitive dissonance of living in a seemingly idyllic setting while secretly searching for federal intervention.

While our literature review endeavors spanned diverse scientific databases and scholarly articles, we must admit that our more unconventional data sources include the back of shampoo bottles and the musings of conspiracy theorists, whose wild theories about air pollution and clandestine governmental surveillances were as entertaining as they were unreliable.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a researcher writing an academic paper.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 Sheridan, Wyoming and Google searches for 'fbi hotline'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends . You used data from 2004 to 2023

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]]
"Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
Air pollution and internet search behavior may seem like odd bedfellows, but our study dives deep into their seemingly whimsical relationship. Mining data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we set out to unravel the enigmatic connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and online queries for 'FBI Hotline'. As pundits of peculiar phenomena, we delved into over two decades of data from 2004 to 2023, and our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 with p < 0.01, prompting us to scratch our heads and exclaim, "What in air-nation is going on here?" Remarkably, we observed a consistent, albeit peculiar, pattern: as air pollution levels in Sheridan increased, there was a statistically significant surge in searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. Could it be that the citizens of Sheridan have a penchant for EPA enforcement, or are they simply airing their grievances in search of fresher air? Our findings invite both chuckles and curiosity, prompting us to humbly submit that the truth is indeed out there – and it's right under the nose of the air quality monitor.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
As the classic saying goes, "Something's in the air," our pun-loving colleagues in academia may have taken it a bit too literally. Our research takes an unconventional turn as we explore the surprising connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the rather curious surge in Google searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. The correlation may seem as unlikely as finding a needle in a haystack, but as aficionados of the unexpected, we couldn't resist untangling this peculiar puzzle.
Now, let's clear the air and dive into this oddball connection between air quality and internet inquiries, because when it comes to environmental research, we don't take a breath (it's all that air pollution, you see). While the topic may seem lighthearted at first glance, the implications of our findings could be just as weighty as a looming cloud of smog.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To unravel the mysterious correlation between air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming, and Google searches for 'FBI Hotline', our research team embarked on a data-driven escapade that would make even Sherlock Holmes proud. Our data collection method was akin to a digital scavenger hunt - a bit like searching for a needle in a stack of virtual hay. We cast a wide net across the internet, with a strong focus on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for air quality data and Google Trends for insights into search patterns. And speaking of patterns, we made sure to tread lightly to avoid stepping on any correlation-causal pitfalls – after all, we didn't want to pollute our findings with spurious connections!

Now, back to the research methods that are as foolproof as a filter mask in smoggy weather. We gathered air quality data from the EPA spanning the years 2004 to 2023. Using specialized software reminiscent of a tech-savvy fortune teller's crystal ball, we meticulously sifted through this data to pinpoint periods of varying air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming. Our analysis was so thorough that even the tiniest dust particle wouldn't have escaped our scrutiny – talk about leaving no stone unturned, or in this case, no particle uncounted!

Next, in our quest to understand the mind-boggling relationship between air pollution and online searches for the 'FBI Hotline', we turned to Google Trends. With the precision of a trained bloodhound, we tracked the frequency of searches for the enigmatic phrase in Sheridan over the same timeframe. This allowed us to uncover any peculiar spikes or dips in search activity, akin to spotting a unicorn in a densely forested thicket – unexpected and utterly intriguing.

In an effort to ensure the rigor of our investigation, we also employed a cross-validation process that would make any data enthusiast raise an eyebrow in admiration. Multiple regression analyses, autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) modeling, and time-series decomposition – oh my! These methods aided us in teasing apart the intricacies of the relationship between air pollution levels and online searches, paving the way for a statistical revelation that could rival the fervor of a climactic plot twist.

All this meticulous data crunching and methodological wizardry was carried out with a wink and a nod to our dedication in demystifying this peculiar phenomenon. Our approach was as thorough as an elephant's memory – and just as unforgettable!

And remember, a good pun is like a breath of fresh air – or in our case, a breath of meticulously analyzed data. So, what did the air quality researcher say to their data analyst partner? "Aco-stat-ic to meet you, let's make some correlations!"

Stay tuned for the thrilling results of our investigation as we unpack the fascinating findings in the next installment of this scholarly saga.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a researcher writing an academic paper.You draft the results section of an academic research paper. You speak in the past tense (you found...).
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 results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google searches for 'fbi hotline'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends .

For the time period 2004 to 2023, you found a correlation 0.6367947, r-squared of 0.4055075, and p < 0.01.

One figure will be included. The figure (Fig. 1) is a scatterplot showing the strong correlation between the two variables. You don't need to specify where; I will add the figure.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
Air pollution and internet search behavior may seem like odd bedfellows, but our study dives deep into their seemingly whimsical relationship. Mining data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we set out to unravel the enigmatic connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and online queries for 'FBI Hotline'. As pundits of peculiar phenomena, we delved into over two decades of data from 2004 to 2023, and our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 with p < 0.01, prompting us to scratch our heads and exclaim, "What in air-nation is going on here?" Remarkably, we observed a consistent, albeit peculiar, pattern: as air pollution levels in Sheridan increased, there was a statistically significant surge in searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. Could it be that the citizens of Sheridan have a penchant for EPA enforcement, or are they simply airing their grievances in search of fresher air? Our findings invite both chuckles and curiosity, prompting us to humbly submit that the truth is indeed out there – and it's right under the nose of the air quality monitor.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
As the classic saying goes, "Something's in the air," our pun-loving colleagues in academia may have taken it a bit too literally. Our research takes an unconventional turn as we explore the surprising connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the rather curious surge in Google searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. The correlation may seem as unlikely as finding a needle in a haystack, but as aficionados of the unexpected, we couldn't resist untangling this peculiar puzzle.
Now, let's clear the air and dive into this oddball connection between air quality and internet inquiries, because when it comes to environmental research, we don't take a breath (it's all that air pollution, you see). While the topic may seem lighthearted at first glance, the implications of our findings could be just as weighty as a looming cloud of smog.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The statistical analysis of our data revealed a surprising correlation between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the frequency of Google searches for 'FBI Hotline'. We found a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947, an r-squared of 0.4055075, and a p-value of less than 0.01. These findings left us with a lingering question – are we inhaling a new wave of detective enthusiasts, or is there something more nefarious afoot in the air in Sheridan?

Fig. 1: Oh, the things you find in the air! This scatterplot showcases the undeniable correlation between air pollution levels in Sheridan and the frequency of 'FBI Hotline' searches. It's almost as if the citizens of Sheridan were looking for fresh leads to clear the air!

Our results suggest that as air pollution levels increased in Sheridan, there was a corresponding uptick in internet searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. It's like the citizens were saying, "Don't be O3-kay, EPA, we've got our eyes on you!"

This finding, while undeniably amusing, also has practical implications. It may indicate a heightened level of public concern or awareness about environmental issues in Sheridan. On the other hand, it could also point to a more playful and imaginative approach to addressing air quality concerns – after all, who wouldn't want a breath of fresh air in their investigations?

In conclusion, our research provides a whimsical yet thought-provoking glimpse into the peculiar dance between air quality and online behavior. The next time you're pondering a puzzling problem, remember to look up – the answer might just be floating in the airwaves!


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a researcher writing an academic paper.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 Sheridan, Wyoming and Google searches for 'fbi hotline'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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]]
"Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
Air pollution and internet search behavior may seem like odd bedfellows, but our study dives deep into their seemingly whimsical relationship. Mining data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we set out to unravel the enigmatic connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and online queries for 'FBI Hotline'. As pundits of peculiar phenomena, we delved into over two decades of data from 2004 to 2023, and our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 with p < 0.01, prompting us to scratch our heads and exclaim, "What in air-nation is going on here?" Remarkably, we observed a consistent, albeit peculiar, pattern: as air pollution levels in Sheridan increased, there was a statistically significant surge in searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. Could it be that the citizens of Sheridan have a penchant for EPA enforcement, or are they simply airing their grievances in search of fresher air? Our findings invite both chuckles and curiosity, prompting us to humbly submit that the truth is indeed out there – and it's right under the nose of the air quality monitor.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
To unravel the whimsical web of correlation between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the surge in Google searches for the 'FBI Hotline', we embarked on an exhaustive review of the existing literature. Smith and Doe (2017) conducted a seminal study on the effects of air pollution on public behavior, revealing a notable increase in anxiety levels among residents of heavily polluted areas. This finding, though intriguing, barely scratches the surface of our enigmatic connection. It seems the residents are not just anxious; they might also be looking over their shoulders for more than just a stray cloud of smog.
In "Air Pollution and Google Searches: Finding the Invisible Links" by Jones and Smith (2018), the authors deftly navigate the realm of search engine queries and environmental factors, uncovering a surprising trend. Converging their data with ours would be a breath of fresh air in the scientific community, and hopefully not a gulp of smog.
A tangent closer to home, quite literally, would be "The Air You Breathe: A Comprehensive Study of Local Air Quality" by Lorem Ipsum (2020), a compelling examination of air quality in Wyoming. The research, unfortunately, fails to make any mention of suspicious searches for law enforcement agencies, leaving us in the dust and gasping for more understanding.
Turning our attention to the intersection of fiction and reality, the classic "FBI Thriller Series" by Jane Doe, while not strictly a work of scholarly merit, holds a peculiar resonance with our topic at hand. Dare we suggest that the citizens of Sheridan are in the midst of an unintentional real-life adaptation of an FBI thriller novel? The notion tickles our funny bone as much as it raises questions about the cognitive dissonance of living in a seemingly idyllic setting while secretly searching for federal intervention.
While our literature review endeavors spanned diverse scientific databases and scholarly articles, we must admit that our more unconventional data sources include the back of shampoo bottles and the musings of conspiracy theorists, whose wild theories about air pollution and clandestine governmental surveillances were as entertaining as they were unreliable.

[[RESULTS]]
The statistical analysis of our data revealed a surprising correlation between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the frequency of Google searches for 'FBI Hotline'. We found a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947, an r-squared of 0.4055075, and a p-value of less than 0.01. These findings left us with a lingering question – are we inhaling a new wave of detective enthusiasts, or is there something more nefarious afoot in the air in Sheridan?
Fig. 1: Oh, the things you find in the air! This scatterplot showcases the undeniable correlation between air pollution levels in Sheridan and the frequency of 'FBI Hotline' searches. It's almost as if the citizens of Sheridan were looking for fresh leads to clear the air!
Our results suggest that as air pollution levels increased in Sheridan, there was a corresponding uptick in internet searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. It's like the citizens were saying, "Don't be O3-kay, EPA, we've got our eyes on you!"
This finding, while undeniably amusing, also has practical implications. It may indicate a heightened level of public concern or awareness about environmental issues in Sheridan. On the other hand, it could also point to a more playful and imaginative approach to addressing air quality concerns – after all, who wouldn't want a breath of fresh air in their investigations?
In conclusion, our research provides a whimsical yet thought-provoking glimpse into the peculiar dance between air quality and online behavior. The next time you're pondering a puzzling problem, remember to look up – the answer might just be floating in the airwaves!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

Our findings have breathed new life into the eccentric correlation between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the surge in Google searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. It seems that, much like the air pollutants themselves, interest in the FBI hotline is anything but particulate - it's definitely in the air! Our results corroborate the earlier studies by Smith and Doe (2017), who documented an increase in anxiety levels among residents of heavily polluted areas. Perhaps the citizens of Sheridan are not just anxious about their air quality; they might have dialed into a new level of vigilance.

The study by Jones and Smith (2018) proved to be a breath of fresh air for our research, as we observed a noticeable overlap in our findings. The improbable relationship between air pollution and search engine queries has now been solidified, resembling a search for nuggets of truth in a smoggy mine. Coincidentally - or not - our data also seemed to raise a red flag in the theoretical town of Sheridan, prompting us to wonder if the locals were diving headfirst into an unintentional real-life adaptation of an FBI thriller novel.

Intriguingly, our results demonstrate a statistically significant connection between spikes in air pollution and surges in 'FBI Hotline' searches, peaking at a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 with p < 0.01. The relationship seems to be practically as clear as the blue skies we hope to see over Sheridan one day. It's almost as if the phrase "I smell a rat" could be replaced with "I smell air pollutants."

The graph depicting the correlation between air pollution levels and search frequencies resembles a dusty trail of evidence, leading us to ponder the depth of intrigue in the heart of Sheridan. The citizens, it seems, are not just content to let the smog settle – they're calling for clear skies through data-driven inquiries!

This study not only tempts us into jesting but also nudges at the reality of heightened public concern. Our data indicates a tangible uptick in citizen engagement with environmental issues, hinting at an amped-up desire for transparency and accountability. Or perhaps, as we can't help but pun, a desire for "dusting off" the elusive truths about air quality.

Our findings are a whimsical yet intriguing peek into the tango between air quality and online behavior. The citizens of Sheridan seem keen to clear the air and uncover the mysteries that waft along with it. Our study leaves us with a scarcely contained anticipation of the next dust-up in Sheridan - figuratively, of course! It's as if the citizens are saying, "Air-ty for now, but the winds of change are blowing!"


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a researcher writing an academic paper.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 Sheridan, Wyoming and Google searches for 'fbi hotline'. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences.

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]]
"Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'"

[[ABSTRACT]]
Air pollution and internet search behavior may seem like odd bedfellows, but our study dives deep into their seemingly whimsical relationship. Mining data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we set out to unravel the enigmatic connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and online queries for 'FBI Hotline'. As pundits of peculiar phenomena, we delved into over two decades of data from 2004 to 2023, and our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 with p < 0.01, prompting us to scratch our heads and exclaim, "What in air-nation is going on here?" Remarkably, we observed a consistent, albeit peculiar, pattern: as air pollution levels in Sheridan increased, there was a statistically significant surge in searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. Could it be that the citizens of Sheridan have a penchant for EPA enforcement, or are they simply airing their grievances in search of fresher air? Our findings invite both chuckles and curiosity, prompting us to humbly submit that the truth is indeed out there – and it's right under the nose of the air quality monitor.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
As the classic saying goes, "Something's in the air," our pun-loving colleagues in academia may have taken it a bit too literally. Our research takes an unconventional turn as we explore the surprising connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the rather curious surge in Google searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. The correlation may seem as unlikely as finding a needle in a haystack, but as aficionados of the unexpected, we couldn't resist untangling this peculiar puzzle.
Now, let's clear the air and dive into this oddball connection between air quality and internet inquiries, because when it comes to environmental research, we don't take a breath (it's all that air pollution, you see). While the topic may seem lighthearted at first glance, the implications of our findings could be just as weighty as a looming cloud of smog.

[[RESULTS]]
The statistical analysis of our data revealed a surprising correlation between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the frequency of Google searches for 'FBI Hotline'. We found a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947, an r-squared of 0.4055075, and a p-value of less than 0.01. These findings left us with a lingering question – are we inhaling a new wave of detective enthusiasts, or is there something more nefarious afoot in the air in Sheridan?
Fig. 1: Oh, the things you find in the air! This scatterplot showcases the undeniable correlation between air pollution levels in Sheridan and the frequency of 'FBI Hotline' searches. It's almost as if the citizens of Sheridan were looking for fresh leads to clear the air!
Our results suggest that as air pollution levels increased in Sheridan, there was a corresponding uptick in internet searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. It's like the citizens were saying, "Don't be O3-kay, EPA, we've got our eyes on you!"
This finding, while undeniably amusing, also has practical implications. It may indicate a heightened level of public concern or awareness about environmental issues in Sheridan. On the other hand, it could also point to a more playful and imaginative approach to addressing air quality concerns – after all, who wouldn't want a breath of fresh air in their investigations?
In conclusion, our research provides a whimsical yet thought-provoking glimpse into the peculiar dance between air quality and online behavior. The next time you're pondering a puzzling problem, remember to look up – the answer might just be floating in the airwaves!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our study has shed light on the unexpected correlation between air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming, and the frequency of Google searches for 'FBI Hotline'. It turns out that the air in Sheridan holds more surprises than just a gust of wind – there's a hint of mystery floating amidst the pollution.

Our findings suggest that as air pollution levels increased, so did the interest in detective work, leading to an uptick in 'FBI Hotline' inquiries. It seems the citizens of Sheridan have taken a fresh breath of air and put their sleuthing skills to the test. Perhaps we should call them the "smoggy Sherlock Holmeses."

While we can't help but find the correlation as amusing as a dad joke, it also signals a heightened level of public engagement with environmental concerns. Maybe we should all take a cue from Sheridan and start investigating our own neighborhoods for cleaner air solutions. After all, it's a breath of fresh air to see communities taking charge of their environmental well-being.

In the spirit of transparency, we do need to underscore the importance of interpreting our findings with caution. While it seems like the citizens of Sheridan are on a case to clear the air, more research is needed to unravel the intricacies of this peculiar relationship. Then again, maybe we should just let Sheridan's citizens take the lead and crack the case wide open. After all, who better to sniff out the truth than those who can smell the difference in the air?

On that note, it seems that our investigation into the curious link between air pollution and online searches for the 'FBI Hotline' has uncovered plenty of chuckles and raised eyebrows. Therefore, in the spirit of scientific whimsy, we confidently declare that no more research is needed in this area – after all, we wouldn't want to pollute the evidence with over-analysis!


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 Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Quirky Environmental Sciences


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 Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline'. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Alliance for Environmental Science and Behavioral Analysis


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 Pollution Poses a Puzzling Predicament: Analyzing the Link Between Air Quality in Sheridan, Wyoming and Google Searches for 'FBI Hotline' with an abstract of Air pollution and internet search behavior may seem like odd bedfellows, but our study dives deep into their seemingly whimsical relationship. Mining data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Google Trends, we set out to unravel the enigmatic connection between air pollution levels in Sheridan, Wyoming, and online queries for 'FBI Hotline'. As pundits of peculiar phenomena, we delved into over two decades of data from 2004 to 2023, and our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.6367947 with p < 0.01, prompting us to scratch our heads and exclaim, "What in air-nation is going on here?" Remarkably, we observed a consistent, albeit peculiar, pattern: as air pollution levels in Sheridan increased, there was a statistically significant surge in searches for the 'FBI Hotline'. Could it be that the citizens of Sheridan have a penchant for EPA enforcement, or are they simply airing their grievances in search of fresher air? Our findings invite both chuckles and curiosity, prompting us to humbly submit that the truth is indeed out there – and it's right under the nose of the air quality monitor.

ChatGPT:

air pollution, internet search behavior, Google Trends, Environmental Protection Agency, air quality, Sheridan, Wyoming, FBI Hotline, correlation coefficient, data analysis, EPA enforcement, online queries

*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 Sheridan, Wyoming
Detailed data title: Percentage of days with air quality at 'unhealthy for sensitive groups' or worse in Sheridan, WY
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
See what else correlates with Air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming

Google searches for 'fbi hotline'
Detailed data title: Relative volume of Google searches for 'fbi hotline' (Worldwide, without quotes)
Source: Google Trends
Additional Info: Relative search volume (not absolute numbers)

See what else correlates with Google searches for 'fbi hotline'

Correlation r = 0.6367947 (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 = 0.4055075 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 40.6% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Google searches for 'fbi hotline') is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming) over the 20 years from 2004 through 2023.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 0.0025. 0.0025341900752589856000000000
The p-value is a measure of how probable it is that we would randomly find a result this extreme. 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 0.64 in 0.25% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 395 random variables Which I absolutely did.
with the same 19 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 19 because we have two variables measured over a period of 20 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.

[ 0.27, 0.84 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
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: 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.
20042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming (Bad air quality days)0.0210970.0040650400.0077220100.00275482000000.005479450.002732240.01095890.00821918000.019230800.0110497
Google searches for 'fbi hotline' (Rel. search volume)22.58331116.16679.916677.333338.416678.666676.416678.758.333339.3333311.6667108.759.416678.4166711.513.916711.333311.5




Why this works

  1. 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.
  2. Lack of causal connection: There is probably 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.
  3. 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 Personally I don't find any p-value calculation to be 'simple,' but you know what I mean.
    p-value calculation does not take this into account, so mathematically it appears less probable than it really is.




Try it yourself

You can calculate the values on this page on your own! Try running the Python code to see the calculation results. 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([0.021097,0.00406504,0,0.00772201,0,0.00275482,0,0,0,0,0,0.00547945,0.00273224,0.0109589,0.00821918,0,0,0.0192308,0,0.0110497,])
array_2 = np.array([22.5833,11,16.1667,9.91667,7.33333,8.41667,8.66667,6.41667,8.75,8.33333,9.33333,11.6667,10,8.75,9.41667,8.41667,11.5,13.9167,11.3333,11.5,])
array_1_name = "Air pollution in Sheridan, Wyoming"
array_2_name = "Google searches for 'fbi hotline'"

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

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



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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.

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Correlation ID: 4198 · Black Variable ID: 21961 · Red Variable ID: 1393
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