Spurious correlation #5,729 · 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 Tampa, Florida and the second variable is Physical album shipment volume in the United States. The chart goes from 1999 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Air pollution in Tampa, Florida and the second variable is Physical album shipment volume in the United States. The chart goes from 1999 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time.

Download png, svg

AI explanation

As the air cleared in Tampa, it seems the music industry also couldn't help but clear out its old-school inventory. It's almost as if the smog was lifting off the shelves along with the albums. One might say, as Tampa breathed easier, the music business found it harder to keep their physical shipments afloat. It's a classic case of environmental transformation leading to a vinyl-ly different impact on the national music scene!

^{Show image generation prompt} Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image of a scene from Skyrim where the Dovahkiin is standing atop a mountain peak in Tampa, Florida, with the city skyline visible behind them. The Dovahkiin is gazing out at a vista of clear blue skies, with the smog clearing and vinyl albums being packed and shipped out in lower numbers, symbolizing the decline in physical album shipments and its impact on the music industry. The scene should capture the contrast between the ancient, mythical world of Skyrim and the modern, industrial cityscape of Tampa, reflecting the changing nature of the music industry. 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 Tampa, Florida and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. Given these, which of the following image style descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: Cubism a Polaroid photo A scene from Skyrim Realistic Pop art
ChatGPT: A scene from Skyrim

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 Tampa, Florida and Physical album shipment volume in the United States, in the following situation: As the air cleared in Tampa, it seems the music industry also couldn't help but clear out its old-school inventory. It's almost as if the smog was lifting off the shelves along with the albums. One might say, as Tampa breathed easier, the music business found it harder to keep their physical shipments afloat. It's a classic case of environmental transformation leading to a vinyl-ly different impact on the national music scene!. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In Tampa, Florida, as the smog cleared from the air, vinyl albums were seen being packed and shipped out in lower numbers across the United States. The city's clear skies reflected a decline in physical album shipments, creating a vinyl-ly different impact on the music industry.

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 scene from Skyrim ] and depicting this scene: In Tampa, Florida, as the smog cleared from the air, vinyl albums were seen being packed and shipped out in lower numbers across the United States. The city's clear skies reflected a decline in physical album shipments, creating a vinyl-ly different impact on the music industry. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image of a scene from Skyrim where the Dovahkiin is standing atop a mountain peak in Tampa, Florida, with the city skyline visible behind them. The Dovahkiin is gazing out at a vista of clear blue skies, with the smog clearing and vinyl albums being packed and shipped out in lower numbers, symbolizing the decline in physical album shipments and its impact on the music industry. The scene should capture the contrast between the ancient, mythical world of Skyrim and the modern, industrial cityscape of Tampa, reflecting the changing nature of the music industry.

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

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

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)

Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States

Journal of Ecological Economics and Pop Culture

Jan 2024

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

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

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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. 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]]
"Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The correlation between air pollution and various health and environmental impacts has been widely studied, but the potential influence of air quality on consumer behaviors and economic indicators has received less attention. In this study, we delve into the unexpected connection between air pollution levels in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. Our research draws on data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista to illuminate this unconventional relationship.

In our exploration, we uncovered a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust association between air pollution in Tampa and the volume of physical album shipments in the country from 1999 to 2022. This unexpected finding prompted us to dig deeper into the potential mechanisms underlying this correlation, leading to some rather surprising insights.

As we navigated the data, we couldn't help but be smog-struck by the implications of our results. It appears that higher levels of air pollution in Tampa are associated with an increase in physical album shipments across the United States. While our findings raise more questions than answers, we can't help but wonder if there's a certain "air of mystery" surrounding the influence of pollution on music consumption.

This unexpected correlation leaves us pondering the potential impact of air quality on consumer preferences and economic activities. As we navigate through this uncharted territory, we must acknowledge the need for further research to illuminate the underlying mechanisms and potential implications of this quirky yet significant association.

In conclusion, our study not only sheds light on the curious connection between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States, but it also serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected relationships can hold valuable insights—leading us to exclaim, "The smoggier, the merrier, for album sales, it seems!"

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
As the Beatles once sang, "A Hard Day's Night" may have a more literal meaning in the context of air pollution and album shipments. The linkage between environmental factors and economic trends has long captivated researchers, but few anticipated that the air quality in Tampa, Florida could hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of album shipment volume across the United States. This is where our study takes center stage, seeking to unravel the enigmatic connection between these seemingly disparate variables.
In the annals of scientific inquiry, it's not often that we stumble upon correlations that leave us scratching our heads and exclaiming, "Well, isn't that air-resistible!" Yet, here we are, delving into the unexpected relationship between smog levels and the sales of physical albums. It's a journey that's equal parts data analysis and detective work, with a dash of whimsy thrown in for good measure.
As we embark on this scientific odyssey, armed with regression models and statistical analyses, we can't help but marvel at the serendipitous nature of our findings. It's as if the data itself is whispering, "What did the scientist say to the air pollution? Let's clear the air and find out what's really going on!"
Our endeavor takes flight with a closer examination of the correlation coefficient, which, much like a magnetic force of statistical attraction, revealed a remarkably strong association (r = 0.9319937) between air pollution in Tampa and physical album shipment volume in the United States. This is where the plot thickens, and the puns come out to play—after all, what do you call a correlation between air pollution and album sales? A chart-topper, of course!
The revelation of a statistically significant p-value (p < 0.01) further fuels our intrigue, casting a spotlight on the perplexing interplay between environmental quality and consumer behavior. It's like a statistical magic trick—we're left wondering, "Could air pollution be pulling the strings behind the scenes of the music industry?"
As we unearth these peculiar patterns, it's impossible to ignore the sheer improbability of the link between Tampa's pollution levels and national album shipments. It's a bit like discovering an unexpected harmony in an uncharted musical composition—a discordant note that somehow fits perfectly into the melody of our understanding.
In the realm of research, it's not every day that a scientific investigation elicits a chuckle, but uncovering this correlation has certainly left us feeling a bit like academics at a comedy club—delivering unexpected punchlines and surprising twists at every turn. Join us as we unravel this unexpected tale of air pollution and album sales, where every statistical analysis holds the promise of yet another pun waiting to be unleashed!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

Previous studies have extensively examined the impact of air pollution on public health, environmental sustainability, and economic indicators. Smith et al. (2018) highlighted the detrimental effects of air pollution on respiratory health and the associated societal costs. Likewise, Doe and Jones (2016) demonstrated the link between pollution levels and labor productivity, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of poor air quality.

However, the influence of air pollution on consumer behavior and specific market trends has been a relatively underexplored area of research. Our study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the unexpected relationship between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. In doing so, we venture into uncharted territory, akin to explorers charting a course through a sea of musical notes and air particulates.

Moving beyond the traditional scope of air pollution research, our inquiry takes inspiration from real-world literature on environmental economics and consumer preferences. "Eco-nomics: What the Earth Says About Making Money" by Green explores the intricate web of relationships between environmental factors and economic activities, offering a thought-provoking framework for our unconventional investigation. On the less serious side, who can forget the classic tale of "Pollution and Prejudice" by Jane Airsten? The parallels between societal norms and atmospheric quality provide an unexpected lens for our examination of album shipments, reminding us that even the most unlikely connections can yield surprising revelations.

Pushing the boundaries of conventional literature in our pursuit of knowledge, we turned our attention to fictional narratives that, while not grounded in empirical data, offer imaginative insight into the human experience within ever-changing environments. "The Sound of Smog" by Julie Andrews may not be a real title, but if it were, one can only imagine the melodic musings on the symbiotic relationship between polluted cityscapes and the rhythm of music distribution. Additionally, the dystopian novel "The Polluted Melody" by George Orwela delves into a world where sound and air intertwine in unexpected ways, serving as a metaphorical backdrop for our exploration of Tampa's atmospheric influence on album shipments.

In our relentless pursuit of understanding, we delved into the unconventional sources of knowledge, like perusing the back covers of shampoo bottles in pursuit of insight. Who knew that amidst the ingredients and promises of voluminous hair, we'd find the inspiration to unravel the hidden ties between atmospheric conditions and music distribution? As we wade through this sea of unorthodox wisdom, we are reminded that sometimes, the most unlikely sources can hold the key to unlocking unforeseen connections—a valuable lesson that prompts us to ponder, "What do you call a shampoo bottle that shares insightful data on air pollution and album shipments? A conditioner for unconventional knowledge, of course!"

As we journey through the literary landscape of environmental economics, whimsical narratives, and offbeat sources of inspiration, we recognize the need for a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the quirkiness of the world around us. In the words of an ancient proverb, "Where there's smog, there's music," reminding us that amidst the haze of uncertainty, unexpected harmonies and correlations may await our discovery.

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 Air pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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

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

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The correlation between air pollution and various health and environmental impacts has been widely studied, but the potential influence of air quality on consumer behaviors and economic indicators has received less attention. In this study, we delve into the unexpected connection between air pollution levels in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. Our research draws on data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista to illuminate this unconventional relationship.

In our exploration, we uncovered a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust association between air pollution in Tampa and the volume of physical album shipments in the country from 1999 to 2022. This unexpected finding prompted us to dig deeper into the potential mechanisms underlying this correlation, leading to some rather surprising insights.

As we navigated the data, we couldn't help but be smog-struck by the implications of our results. It appears that higher levels of air pollution in Tampa are associated with an increase in physical album shipments across the United States. While our findings raise more questions than answers, we can't help but wonder if there's a certain "air of mystery" surrounding the influence of pollution on music consumption.

This unexpected correlation leaves us pondering the potential impact of air quality on consumer preferences and economic activities. As we navigate through this uncharted territory, we must acknowledge the need for further research to illuminate the underlying mechanisms and potential implications of this quirky yet significant association.

In conclusion, our study not only sheds light on the curious connection between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States, but it also serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected relationships can hold valuable insights—leading us to exclaim, "The smoggier, the merrier, for album sales, it seems!"

[[INTRODUCTION]]
As the Beatles once sang, "A Hard Day's Night" may have a more literal meaning in the context of air pollution and album shipments. The linkage between environmental factors and economic trends has long captivated researchers, but few anticipated that the air quality in Tampa, Florida could hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of album shipment volume across the United States. This is where our study takes center stage, seeking to unravel the enigmatic connection between these seemingly disparate variables.
In the annals of scientific inquiry, it's not often that we stumble upon correlations that leave us scratching our heads and exclaiming, "Well, isn't that air-resistible!" Yet, here we are, delving into the unexpected relationship between smog levels and the sales of physical albums. It's a journey that's equal parts data analysis and detective work, with a dash of whimsy thrown in for good measure.
As we embark on this scientific odyssey, armed with regression models and statistical analyses, we can't help but marvel at the serendipitous nature of our findings. It's as if the data itself is whispering, "What did the scientist say to the air pollution? Let's clear the air and find out what's really going on!"
Our endeavor takes flight with a closer examination of the correlation coefficient, which, much like a magnetic force of statistical attraction, revealed a remarkably strong association (r = 0.9319937) between air pollution in Tampa and physical album shipment volume in the United States. This is where the plot thickens, and the puns come out to play—after all, what do you call a correlation between air pollution and album sales? A chart-topper, of course!
The revelation of a statistically significant p-value (p < 0.01) further fuels our intrigue, casting a spotlight on the perplexing interplay between environmental quality and consumer behavior. It's like a statistical magic trick—we're left wondering, "Could air pollution be pulling the strings behind the scenes of the music industry?"
As we unearth these peculiar patterns, it's impossible to ignore the sheer improbability of the link between Tampa's pollution levels and national album shipments. It's a bit like discovering an unexpected harmony in an uncharted musical composition—a discordant note that somehow fits perfectly into the melody of our understanding.
In the realm of research, it's not every day that a scientific investigation elicits a chuckle, but uncovering this correlation has certainly left us feeling a bit like academics at a comedy club—delivering unexpected punchlines and surprising twists at every turn. Join us as we unravel this unexpected tale of air pollution and album sales, where every statistical analysis holds the promise of yet another pun waiting to be unleashed!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To embark on our research odyssey, we first gathered comprehensive air quality data from the Environmental Protection Agency, spanning the years 1999 to 2022. This expansive dataset allowed us to capture the full spectrum of Tampa's atmospheric nuances, from breezy days to smoggy nights. Why did the statistician bring a ladder to the bar? He heard the drinks were on the house and he wanted a higher level of confidence!

In parallel, our team combed through industry reports and trade publications to obtain figures on physical album shipment volume in the United States. We embraced the virtual treasure hunt of sifting through online archives, feeling a bit like music-loving archaeologists unearthing the melodic mysteries of yesteryear. And just like archaeologists, we dusted off the cobwebs of old data to reveal the hidden gems within.

To establish a robust foundation for our analysis, we employed a sophisticated assortment of statistical methods, firmly anchored in the bedrock of regression analysis. It was a bit like constructing a sturdy bridge between Tampa's pollution levels and the ebb and flow of physical album shipments, ensuring that our insights could traverse the turbulent waters of correlation with grace and fortitude. This bridge was built with the firm belief that data-driven deductions should be "constructed upon the rocks of truth".

With our trusty statistical tools in hand, we embarked on a voyage of data exploration, guided by the guiding star of correlation analysis. Through the lens of correlation, we sought to unveil the invisible threads connecting Tampa's skyward emissions with the rhythmic pulses of album shipments nationwide. It was a bit like surfing the waves of data, seeking the elusive harmony of environmental influence on consumer choices. The statistical surfboard of correlation let us ride the waves of data, searching for the perfect statistical wave that would carry our findings to the shore of significance.

To tease out the nuances of this unexpected connection, we complemented our correlation analysis with time series modeling, allowing us to capture the dynamic interplay between air pollution and album shipments across the temporal expanse of our dataset. This was a bit like witnessing the tango of Tampa's pollution levels and the dance of album sales—a statistical performance worthy of a standing ovation from data enthusiasts everywhere. We sought to capture the rhythm and rhyme of data with our statistical techniques, realizing that sometimes, the data can dance to its own beat.

In the grand tradition of scientific inquiry, we also conducted robust sensitivity analyses to assess the stability of our findings in the face of potential confounding variables and data perturbations. It was a bit like conducting a scientific symphony, ensuring that every instrument in our analysis orchestra was playing in tune, lest a statistical discord disrupt the melodic flow of our results. We aimed to uncover the true notes within our statistical "symphony" and extract the harmonious relationship between air quality and album shipments.

At the culmination of our methodological medley, we emerged with a comprehensive understanding of the statistical landscape, armed with insights that could untangle the enigma of air pollution's surprising influence on national album shipments. While our methods may seem like a mixed metaphoric melody, each tune in our statistical symphony played a crucial role in revealing the unexpected harmony between Tampa's pollution and the melodies of music commerce.

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 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 Tampa, Florida and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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

For the time period 1999 to 2022, you found a correlation 0.9319937, r-squared of 0.8686122, 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]]
"Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The correlation between air pollution and various health and environmental impacts has been widely studied, but the potential influence of air quality on consumer behaviors and economic indicators has received less attention. In this study, we delve into the unexpected connection between air pollution levels in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. Our research draws on data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista to illuminate this unconventional relationship.

In our exploration, we uncovered a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust association between air pollution in Tampa and the volume of physical album shipments in the country from 1999 to 2022. This unexpected finding prompted us to dig deeper into the potential mechanisms underlying this correlation, leading to some rather surprising insights.

As we navigated the data, we couldn't help but be smog-struck by the implications of our results. It appears that higher levels of air pollution in Tampa are associated with an increase in physical album shipments across the United States. While our findings raise more questions than answers, we can't help but wonder if there's a certain "air of mystery" surrounding the influence of pollution on music consumption.

This unexpected correlation leaves us pondering the potential impact of air quality on consumer preferences and economic activities. As we navigate through this uncharted territory, we must acknowledge the need for further research to illuminate the underlying mechanisms and potential implications of this quirky yet significant association.

In conclusion, our study not only sheds light on the curious connection between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States, but it also serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected relationships can hold valuable insights—leading us to exclaim, "The smoggier, the merrier, for album sales, it seems!"

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
As the Beatles once sang, "A Hard Day's Night" may have a more literal meaning in the context of air pollution and album shipments. The linkage between environmental factors and economic trends has long captivated researchers, but few anticipated that the air quality in Tampa, Florida could hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of album shipment volume across the United States. This is where our study takes center stage, seeking to unravel the enigmatic connection between these seemingly disparate variables.
In the annals of scientific inquiry, it's not often that we stumble upon correlations that leave us scratching our heads and exclaiming, "Well, isn't that air-resistible!" Yet, here we are, delving into the unexpected relationship between smog levels and the sales of physical albums. It's a journey that's equal parts data analysis and detective work, with a dash of whimsy thrown in for good measure.
As we embark on this scientific odyssey, armed with regression models and statistical analyses, we can't help but marvel at the serendipitous nature of our findings. It's as if the data itself is whispering, "What did the scientist say to the air pollution? Let's clear the air and find out what's really going on!"
Our endeavor takes flight with a closer examination of the correlation coefficient, which, much like a magnetic force of statistical attraction, revealed a remarkably strong association (r = 0.9319937) between air pollution in Tampa and physical album shipment volume in the United States. This is where the plot thickens, and the puns come out to play—after all, what do you call a correlation between air pollution and album sales? A chart-topper, of course!
The revelation of a statistically significant p-value (p < 0.01) further fuels our intrigue, casting a spotlight on the perplexing interplay between environmental quality and consumer behavior. It's like a statistical magic trick—we're left wondering, "Could air pollution be pulling the strings behind the scenes of the music industry?"
As we unearth these peculiar patterns, it's impossible to ignore the sheer improbability of the link between Tampa's pollution levels and national album shipments. It's a bit like discovering an unexpected harmony in an uncharted musical composition—a discordant note that somehow fits perfectly into the melody of our understanding.
In the realm of research, it's not every day that a scientific investigation elicits a chuckle, but uncovering this correlation has certainly left us feeling a bit like academics at a comedy club—delivering unexpected punchlines and surprising twists at every turn. Join us as we unravel this unexpected tale of air pollution and album sales, where every statistical analysis holds the promise of yet another pun waiting to be unleashed!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]

ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The analysis of the data yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 between air pollution levels in Tampa, Florida, and the volume of physical album shipments in the United States. This strong positive correlation suggests that as air pollution levels in Tampa increased, there was a notable increase in physical album shipments nationwide. It seems that Tampa's smog wasn't just "blowing in the wind," but may have been wafting its way into the music preferences of consumers across the country.

Our findings were further supported by an r-squared value of 0.8686122, indicating that approximately 87% of the variability in physical album shipment volume can be explained by changes in air pollution levels in Tampa. This result emphasizes the robustness of the relationship, leaving us marveling at the striking harmony between seemingly unrelated elements. It's as if the statistical analysis itself is singing, "Every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be correlating you."

Furthermore, the p-value of less than 0.01 provided strong evidence against the null hypothesis, underscoring the statistical significance of the relationship. This level of significance indicates that the likelihood of obtaining such a strong correlation purely by chance is less than 1 in 100, reinforcing the substantial nature of our findings. It's as if the data itself is shouting, "This correlation is no fluke—I'm here to stay!"

Fig. 1 presents a scatterplot illustrating the marked correlation between air pollution in Tampa and physical album shipment volume in the United States. The data points form a clear, upward-trending pattern, reminiscent of a musical crescendo rising in tandem with increased pollution levels. One can't help but wonder if the smog was inadvertently conducting a symphony of album sales across the nation.

In conclusion, our analysis revealed a remarkably robust and statistically significant correlation between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. This unexpected linkage not only highlights the need for further exploration into the intriguing interplay between environmental factors and consumer behaviors but also serves as a reminder that in the world of research, even the most unexpected connections can strike a chord—and occasionally, elicit a groan-inducing dad joke or two.

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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between Air pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

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

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

[[TITLE]]
"Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The correlation between air pollution and various health and environmental impacts has been widely studied, but the potential influence of air quality on consumer behaviors and economic indicators has received less attention. In this study, we delve into the unexpected connection between air pollution levels in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. Our research draws on data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista to illuminate this unconventional relationship.

In our exploration, we uncovered a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust association between air pollution in Tampa and the volume of physical album shipments in the country from 1999 to 2022. This unexpected finding prompted us to dig deeper into the potential mechanisms underlying this correlation, leading to some rather surprising insights.

As we navigated the data, we couldn't help but be smog-struck by the implications of our results. It appears that higher levels of air pollution in Tampa are associated with an increase in physical album shipments across the United States. While our findings raise more questions than answers, we can't help but wonder if there's a certain "air of mystery" surrounding the influence of pollution on music consumption.

This unexpected correlation leaves us pondering the potential impact of air quality on consumer preferences and economic activities. As we navigate through this uncharted territory, we must acknowledge the need for further research to illuminate the underlying mechanisms and potential implications of this quirky yet significant association.

In conclusion, our study not only sheds light on the curious connection between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States, but it also serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected relationships can hold valuable insights—leading us to exclaim, "The smoggier, the merrier, for album sales, it seems!"

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
Previous studies have extensively examined the impact of air pollution on public health, environmental sustainability, and economic indicators. Smith et al. (2018) highlighted the detrimental effects of air pollution on respiratory health and the associated societal costs. Likewise, Doe and Jones (2016) demonstrated the link between pollution levels and labor productivity, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences of poor air quality.
However, the influence of air pollution on consumer behavior and specific market trends has been a relatively underexplored area of research. Our study aims to bridge this gap by investigating the unexpected relationship between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. In doing so, we venture into uncharted territory, akin to explorers charting a course through a sea of musical notes and air particulates.
Moving beyond the traditional scope of air pollution research, our inquiry takes inspiration from real-world literature on environmental economics and consumer preferences. "Eco-nomics: What the Earth Says About Making Money" by Green explores the intricate web of relationships between environmental factors and economic activities, offering a thought-provoking framework for our unconventional investigation. On the less serious side, who can forget the classic tale of "Pollution and Prejudice" by Jane Airsten? The parallels between societal norms and atmospheric quality provide an unexpected lens for our examination of album shipments, reminding us that even the most unlikely connections can yield surprising revelations.
Pushing the boundaries of conventional literature in our pursuit of knowledge, we turned our attention to fictional narratives that, while not grounded in empirical data, offer imaginative insight into the human experience within ever-changing environments. "The Sound of Smog" by Julie Andrews may not be a real title, but if it were, one can only imagine the melodic musings on the symbiotic relationship between polluted cityscapes and the rhythm of music distribution. Additionally, the dystopian novel "The Polluted Melody" by George Orwela delves into a world where sound and air intertwine in unexpected ways, serving as a metaphorical backdrop for our exploration of Tampa's atmospheric influence on album shipments.
In our relentless pursuit of understanding, we delved into the unconventional sources of knowledge, like perusing the back covers of shampoo bottles in pursuit of insight. Who knew that amidst the ingredients and promises of voluminous hair, we'd find the inspiration to unravel the hidden ties between atmospheric conditions and music distribution? As we wade through this sea of unorthodox wisdom, we are reminded that sometimes, the most unlikely sources can hold the key to unlocking unforeseen connections—a valuable lesson that prompts us to ponder, "What do you call a shampoo bottle that shares insightful data on air pollution and album shipments? A conditioner for unconventional knowledge, of course!"
As we journey through the literary landscape of environmental economics, whimsical narratives, and offbeat sources of inspiration, we recognize the need for a multidisciplinary approach to understanding the quirkiness of the world around us. In the words of an ancient proverb, "Where there's smog, there's music," reminding us that amidst the haze of uncertainty, unexpected harmonies and correlations may await our discovery.

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 between air pollution levels in Tampa, Florida, and the volume of physical album shipments in the United States. This strong positive correlation suggests that as air pollution levels in Tampa increased, there was a notable increase in physical album shipments nationwide. It seems that Tampa's smog wasn't just "blowing in the wind," but may have been wafting its way into the music preferences of consumers across the country.
Our findings were further supported by an r-squared value of 0.8686122, indicating that approximately 87% of the variability in physical album shipment volume can be explained by changes in air pollution levels in Tampa. This result emphasizes the robustness of the relationship, leaving us marveling at the striking harmony between seemingly unrelated elements. It's as if the statistical analysis itself is singing, "Every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be correlating you."
Furthermore, the p-value of less than 0.01 provided strong evidence against the null hypothesis, underscoring the statistical significance of the relationship. This level of significance indicates that the likelihood of obtaining such a strong correlation purely by chance is less than 1 in 100, reinforcing the substantial nature of our findings. It's as if the data itself is shouting, "This correlation is no fluke—I'm here to stay!"
Fig. 1 presents a scatterplot illustrating the marked correlation between air pollution in Tampa and physical album shipment volume in the United States. The data points form a clear, upward-trending pattern, reminiscent of a musical crescendo rising in tandem with increased pollution levels. One can't help but wonder if the smog was inadvertently conducting a symphony of album sales across the nation.
In conclusion, our analysis revealed a remarkably robust and statistically significant correlation between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. This unexpected linkage not only highlights the need for further exploration into the intriguing interplay between environmental factors and consumer behaviors but also serves as a reminder that in the world of research, even the most unexpected connections can strike a chord—and occasionally, elicit a groan-inducing dad joke or two.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

Our investigation into the correlation between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States has unveiled a surprising relationship that defies conventional expectations. The results from our analysis not only affirmed the unanticipated connection, but they also underscored the need for a more comprehensive understanding of the multifaceted influences of atmospheric conditions on consumer preferences and economic activities. It's like finding a hidden track on an album—unexpected, but undeniably impactful.

The robust correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 that emerged from our analysis aligns with previous literature that has highlighted the significant impact of environmental factors on various societal outcomes. It appears that the smog in Tampa wasn't just blowing hot air; it was orchestrating a tangible influence on the music market nationwide, much like a conductor guiding a symphony. Who knew that Tampa's pollution levels could have such an unexpected influence on the music scene? It's almost as surprising as finding a rock band playing on a street corner in a quiet town—simultaneously improbable and intriguing.

The statistical significance of our findings, as evidenced by the p-value of less than 0.01, adds further weight to the compelling nature of the observed relationship. The likelihood of this strong correlation arising purely by chance is as unlikely as finding a scientific formula for turning smog into a melodic tune—both improbable and, let's face it, a bit fantastical. As we navigate the empirical landscape of research, sometimes the most outlandish findings can defy the odds and warrant serious consideration, much like a surprising punchline in the midst of a scientific debate.

The substantial explanatory power of the correlation, as indicated by the r-squared value of 0.8686122, illuminates the significance of Tampa's air pollution in shaping the trends in physical album shipments across the country. It's as if the atmospheric conditions in Tampa were composing a ballad of consumer preferences, orchestrating a melodic dance of music distribution. Who would have thought that Tampa's smog could have such lyrical implications for the music industry? It's like finding a hidden metaphor in a seemingly straightforward verse—a delightful surprise, indeed.

Our research not only uncovers this novel association but also highlights the need for a broader perspective that considers the interplay between environmental factors and economic activities. It's as if the wind carried with it a lesson: sometimes, the most whimsical connections hold the potential for invaluable insights, much like stumbling upon an unexpected alleyway that leads to a treasure trove of scientific discovery. So, as we delve into these uncharted territories, let's remember that amidst the haze of uncertainty, unexpected harmonies and correlations may await our discovery, much like a catchy tune that plays in your head long after you've heard it.

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 Air pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical album shipment volume in the United States. You can't resist a good dad joke. Add a relevant dad joke related to the content every couple of sentences. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
"Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
The correlation between air pollution and various health and environmental impacts has been widely studied, but the potential influence of air quality on consumer behaviors and economic indicators has received less attention. In this study, we delve into the unexpected connection between air pollution levels in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. Our research draws on data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista to illuminate this unconventional relationship.

In our exploration, we uncovered a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust association between air pollution in Tampa and the volume of physical album shipments in the country from 1999 to 2022. This unexpected finding prompted us to dig deeper into the potential mechanisms underlying this correlation, leading to some rather surprising insights.

As we navigated the data, we couldn't help but be smog-struck by the implications of our results. It appears that higher levels of air pollution in Tampa are associated with an increase in physical album shipments across the United States. While our findings raise more questions than answers, we can't help but wonder if there's a certain "air of mystery" surrounding the influence of pollution on music consumption.

This unexpected correlation leaves us pondering the potential impact of air quality on consumer preferences and economic activities. As we navigate through this uncharted territory, we must acknowledge the need for further research to illuminate the underlying mechanisms and potential implications of this quirky yet significant association.

In conclusion, our study not only sheds light on the curious connection between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States, but it also serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected relationships can hold valuable insights—leading us to exclaim, "The smoggier, the merrier, for album sales, it seems!"

[[INTRDUCTION]]
As the Beatles once sang, "A Hard Day's Night" may have a more literal meaning in the context of air pollution and album shipments. The linkage between environmental factors and economic trends has long captivated researchers, but few anticipated that the air quality in Tampa, Florida could hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of album shipment volume across the United States. This is where our study takes center stage, seeking to unravel the enigmatic connection between these seemingly disparate variables.
In the annals of scientific inquiry, it's not often that we stumble upon correlations that leave us scratching our heads and exclaiming, "Well, isn't that air-resistible!" Yet, here we are, delving into the unexpected relationship between smog levels and the sales of physical albums. It's a journey that's equal parts data analysis and detective work, with a dash of whimsy thrown in for good measure.
As we embark on this scientific odyssey, armed with regression models and statistical analyses, we can't help but marvel at the serendipitous nature of our findings. It's as if the data itself is whispering, "What did the scientist say to the air pollution? Let's clear the air and find out what's really going on!"
Our endeavor takes flight with a closer examination of the correlation coefficient, which, much like a magnetic force of statistical attraction, revealed a remarkably strong association (r = 0.9319937) between air pollution in Tampa and physical album shipment volume in the United States. This is where the plot thickens, and the puns come out to play—after all, what do you call a correlation between air pollution and album sales? A chart-topper, of course!
The revelation of a statistically significant p-value (p < 0.01) further fuels our intrigue, casting a spotlight on the perplexing interplay between environmental quality and consumer behavior. It's like a statistical magic trick—we're left wondering, "Could air pollution be pulling the strings behind the scenes of the music industry?"
As we unearth these peculiar patterns, it's impossible to ignore the sheer improbability of the link between Tampa's pollution levels and national album shipments. It's a bit like discovering an unexpected harmony in an uncharted musical composition—a discordant note that somehow fits perfectly into the melody of our understanding.
In the realm of research, it's not every day that a scientific investigation elicits a chuckle, but uncovering this correlation has certainly left us feeling a bit like academics at a comedy club—delivering unexpected punchlines and surprising twists at every turn. Join us as we unravel this unexpected tale of air pollution and album sales, where every statistical analysis holds the promise of yet another pun waiting to be unleashed!

[[RESULTS]]
The analysis of the data yielded a correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 between air pollution levels in Tampa, Florida, and the volume of physical album shipments in the United States. This strong positive correlation suggests that as air pollution levels in Tampa increased, there was a notable increase in physical album shipments nationwide. It seems that Tampa's smog wasn't just "blowing in the wind," but may have been wafting its way into the music preferences of consumers across the country.
Our findings were further supported by an r-squared value of 0.8686122, indicating that approximately 87% of the variability in physical album shipment volume can be explained by changes in air pollution levels in Tampa. This result emphasizes the robustness of the relationship, leaving us marveling at the striking harmony between seemingly unrelated elements. It's as if the statistical analysis itself is singing, "Every breath you take, every move you make, I'll be correlating you."
Furthermore, the p-value of less than 0.01 provided strong evidence against the null hypothesis, underscoring the statistical significance of the relationship. This level of significance indicates that the likelihood of obtaining such a strong correlation purely by chance is less than 1 in 100, reinforcing the substantial nature of our findings. It's as if the data itself is shouting, "This correlation is no fluke—I'm here to stay!"
Fig. 1 presents a scatterplot illustrating the marked correlation between air pollution in Tampa and physical album shipment volume in the United States. The data points form a clear, upward-trending pattern, reminiscent of a musical crescendo rising in tandem with increased pollution levels. One can't help but wonder if the smog was inadvertently conducting a symphony of album sales across the nation.
In conclusion, our analysis revealed a remarkably robust and statistically significant correlation between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. This unexpected linkage not only highlights the need for further exploration into the intriguing interplay between environmental factors and consumer behaviors but also serves as a reminder that in the world of research, even the most unexpected connections can strike a chord—and occasionally, elicit a groan-inducing dad joke or two.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]

ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In closing, our study has unmasked a surprising symphony of statistical connection between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. This unexpected relationship not only raises intriguing questions but also adds a breath of fresh air to the field of research, leaving us with quite a "punny" feeling.

As we sifted through the data, one can't help but wonder, did the air pollution in Tampa take a "record-breaking" approach to influencing nationwide album shipments? It seems that the smog in the Sunshine State may have been casting a musical spell across the country!

The robust correlation coefficient (r = 0.9319937) and the impressive r-squared value (0.8686122) suggest a compelling connection, demonstrating that the influence of air pollution on album sales is no mere "air-y" speculation. It's as if the data itself is harmonizing, "I get by with a little help from my correlated friends!"

Moreover, the statistically significant p-value (p < 0.01) underscores the robustness of this association, debunking any notion that this finding was just a statistical "one-hit wonder." It's as if the data points were shouting, "Don't stop believin' in this correlation!"

At this point, one might think, "Should we carry out further research to delve deeper into this intriguing correlation?" But as any good dad joke aficionado will tell you, "No, we're done!"

In this unconventional tale of environmental influence on consumer behavior, it's abundantly clear that the smog in Tampa wasn't just blowing hot air—it was blowing album sales across the nation. So, as we bid adieu to this investigation, let's remember that in the world of research, sometimes the most unexpected connections can hold valuable insights—and the occasional groan-worthy dad joke.

And as for the need for further research, we confidently assert: "No need to go chasing correlations—this one hits all the right notes!"

In the end, what did the researcher say to the unexpected correlation between air pollution and album sales? "Let's wrap it up—this correlation deserves a standing ovation!"

No more research needed in this area.

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 Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

Journal of Ecological Economics and Pop Culture

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 Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Institute for Urban Atmospheric Dynamics and Cultural Economics

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 Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States with an abstract of The correlation between air pollution and various health and environmental impacts has been widely studied, but the potential influence of air quality on consumer behaviors and economic indicators has received less attention. In this study, we delve into the unexpected connection between air pollution levels in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States. Our research draws on data from the Environmental Protection Agency and Statista to illuminate this unconventional relationship.
In our exploration, we uncovered a striking correlation coefficient of 0.9319937 and a statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a robust association between air pollution in Tampa and the volume of physical album shipments in the country from 1999 to 2022. This unexpected finding prompted us to dig deeper into the potential mechanisms underlying this correlation, leading to some rather surprising insights.
As we navigated the data, we couldn't help but be smog-struck by the implications of our results. It appears that higher levels of air pollution in Tampa are associated with an increase in physical album shipments across the United States. While our findings raise more questions than answers, we can't help but wonder if there's a certain "air of mystery" surrounding the influence of pollution on music consumption.
This unexpected correlation leaves us pondering the potential impact of air quality on consumer preferences and economic activities. As we navigate through this uncharted territory, we must acknowledge the need for further research to illuminate the underlying mechanisms and potential implications of this quirky yet significant association.
In conclusion, our study not only sheds light on the curious connection between air pollution in Tampa, Florida, and physical album shipment volume in the United States, but it also serves as a reminder that sometimes, the most unexpected relationships can hold valuable insights—leading us to exclaim, "The smoggier, the merrier, for album sales, it seems!

ChatGPT:

air pollution, Tampa, Florida, physical album shipment volume, United States, correlation, consumer behavior, economic indicators, Environmental Protection Agency, Statista, correlation coefficient, p-value, pollution, music consumption, consumer preferences, economic activities

*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 Tampa, Florida
Detailed data title: Percentage of days with moderate or worse air quality in Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL
Source: Environmental Protection Agency
See what else correlates with Air pollution in Tampa, Florida

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

Correlation r = 0.9319937 (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 = 0.8686122 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 86.9% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Physical album shipment volume in the United States) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Air pollution in Tampa, Florida) over the 24 years from 1999 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 3.6E-11.^Show 0.0000000000361235142577630800
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 0.93 in 3.6E-9% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 27,682,799,433 random variables^Note You don't actually need 27 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 23 degrees of freedom, ^Note Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 23 because we have two variables measured over a period of 24 years. It's just the number of years minus ( the number of variables minus one ), which in this case simplifies to the number of years minus one.
you would randomly expect to find a correlation as strong as this one.

[ 0.85, 0.97 ] 95% correlation confidence interval (using the Fisher z-transformation)
^{Read more about the confidence interval} The confidence interval is an estimate the range of the value of the correlation coefficient, using the correlation itself as an input. The values are meant to be the low and high end of the correlation coefficient with 95% confidence.

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

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

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

	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022
Air pollution in Tampa, Florida (Bad air quality days)	63.8356	65.0273	59.4521	53.6986	51.5069	66.9399	67.3973	63.5616	54.2466	44.5355	43.8356	49.863	37.2603	31.694	30.411	34.7945	33.6986	27.3224	30.411	32.3288	26.5753	25.9563	27.1233	27.9452
Physical album shipment volume in the United States (Units)	938900000	942500000	881900000	803300000	746000000	767000000	705400000	619700000	511100000	368400000	292900000	253000000	240800000	198200000	172200000	142800000	122900000	97600000	87700000	52000000	47500000	31600000	46700000	33400000

Why this works

Data dredging: I have 25,237 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 636,906,169 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([63.8356,65.0273,59.4521,53.6986,51.5069,66.9399,67.3973,63.5616,54.2466,44.5355,43.8356,49.863,37.2603,31.694,30.411,34.7945,33.6986,27.3224,30.411,32.3288,26.5753,25.9563,27.1233,27.9452,])
array_2 = np.array([938900000,942500000,881900000,803300000,746000000,767000000,705400000,619700000,511100000,368400000,292900000,253000000,240800000,198200000,172200000,142800000,122900000,97600000,87700000,52000000,47500000,31600000,46700000,33400000,])
array_1_name = "Air pollution in Tampa, Florida"
array_2_name = "Physical album shipment volume in the United States"

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

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

Reuseable content

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

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

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

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

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

Download images for these variables:

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

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

Alternatively you can use a tool like Inkscape.
High resolution line chart, optimized for mobile
Alternative high resolution line chart
Scatterplot
Portable line chart (png)
Portable line chart (png), optimized for mobile
Line chart for only Air pollution in Tampa, Florida
Line chart for only Physical album shipment volume in the United States
AI-generated correlation image
The spurious research paper: Shipping Up to Smog: The Correlation Between Air Pollution in Tampa, Florida and Physical Album Shipment Volume in the United States

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Correlation ID: 5729 · Black Variable ID: 21330 · Red Variable ID: 155


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