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Spurious correlation #1,983 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is UFO sightings in Montana and the second variable is Patents granted in the US.  The chart goes from 1975 to 2020, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

As the UFOs zipped through the Big Sky state, they inadvertently beamed innovative ideas into the minds of inventors, leading to a surge in patent applications. It seems even aliens are recognizing great American ingenuity – maybe they're here to abduct our technology instead of our cows!

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image in the style of a Polaroid photo. Show a clear Montana sky as the backdrop, with a shining UFO hovering over a vast expanse of green fields. In the foreground, depict a line of inventors excitedly exiting the US Patent Office, each holding their granted patents in hand. Keep the colors vibrant and the composition engaging, capturing the sense of wonder and innovation in the scene. 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: UFO sightings in Montana and Patents granted in the US. 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 Polaroid photo Cutsy art illustration An image that looks like it is a scene from a Pixar movie Voxel art Celtic art
ChatGPT: a Polaroid photo

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 UFO sightings in Montana and Patents granted in the US together. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: Beneath the clear Montana sky, a shining UFO hovers over a vast expanse of green fields, while below, a line of inventors excitedly exit the US Patent Office, holding their granted patents in hand.

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 Polaroid photo ] and depicting this scene: Beneath the clear Montana sky, a shining UFO hovers over a vast expanse of green fields, while below, a line of inventors excitedly exit the US Patent Office, holding their granted patents in hand. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image in the style of a Polaroid photo. Show a clear Montana sky as the backdrop, with a shining UFO hovering over a vast expanse of green fields. In the foreground, depict a line of inventors excitedly exiting the US Patent Office, each holding their granted patents in hand. Keep the colors vibrant and the composition engaging, capturing the sense of wonder and innovation in the scene.

*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 an increase in UFO sightings in Montana caused Patents granted in the US to increase. Add a funny one-liner at the end.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States

The Interstellar Journal of Innovation and Technology

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 witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.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 UFO sightings in Montana and Patents granted in the US. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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 National UFO Reporting Center and USPTO to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and p < 0.01 for 1975 to 2020.

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]]
"Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the curious relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. Utilizing data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we applied statistical analyses to uncover potential connections between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a strikingly high correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. The implications of this otherworldly correlation on innovation and technological advancement are discussed, shedding light on the mysterious interplay between celestial visitations and groundbreaking inventions.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.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 UFO sightings in Montana and Patents granted in the US. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the curious relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. Utilizing data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we applied statistical analyses to uncover potential connections between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a strikingly high correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. The implications of this otherworldly correlation on innovation and technological advancement are discussed, shedding light on the mysterious interplay between celestial visitations and groundbreaking inventions.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
INTRODUCTION

In recent years, the realm of statistical analysis has expanded far beyond the predictable realms of economics and medicine, delving into the uncharted territory of extraterrestrial phenomena. The unmistakable allure of the unknown has spurred the inquisitive minds of researchers to explore the enigmatic correlation between UFO sightings and patents granted in the United States. Seemingly disparate at first glance, these two realms of human experience have been brought together under the scrutiny of statistical inquiry, revealing a cosmic conundrum that demands our attention.

The curious juxtaposition of sightings of unidentified flying objects in the vast expanse of Montana and the groundbreaking innovations heralded by patent grants in the US has piqued the interest of researchers seeking to unravel the cosmic web of interconnections that shape our world. At first, one may be inclined to dismiss such an investigation as fanciful folly, but as the great Carl Sagan once quipped, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." With this maxim in mind, we embarked on a journey to discern the truth behind this unusual association.

Unveiling the mysterious relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena required a keen eye for meticulous data collection and a robust toolkit of statistical analyses. Drawing from the troves of the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), our study harnessed the power of regression analysis, correlation coefficients, and p-values to uncover the hidden thread woven between the celestial sightings and the technological marvels that shape our world. As we ventured deeper into the cosmic labyrinth of data, our findings began to illuminate a correlation that defied conventional understanding.

Through the lens of statistical rigor, our study reveals a correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a p-value that attains the elusive significance threshold of less than 0.01, pointing to a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. Astounding as it may seem, the numbers do not lie, leading us to ponder the implications of this unearthly correlation on the landscape of innovation and technological progress. As we delve into the heart of this celestial enigma, we are compelled to confront the possibility that the cosmic dance of UFO sightings and patents may hold profound implications for the trajectory of human ingenuity.

In the pages that follow, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in unraveling this cosmic riddle, where statistical analysis converges with the enigmatic realms of celestial phenomena and human technological prowess. As we traverse the terra incognita of statistical inquiry, let us heed the words of Arthur C. Clarke, who aptly remarked, "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible." It is with such intrepid spirit that we present our findings, poised to unravel the cosmic tapestry that intertwines UFO sightings in Montana and the innovations heralded by patent grants in the United States.


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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between UFO sightings in Montana and Patents granted in the US. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Speak in the present tense for this section (the authors find...), as is common in academic research paper literature reviews. Name the sources in a format similar to this: In "Book," the authors find lorem and ipsum.

Make up the lorem and ipsum part, but make it sound related to the topic at hand.

Start by naming serious-sounding studies by authors like Smith, Doe, and Jones - but then quickly devolve. Name some real non-fiction books that would be related to the topic. Then name some real fiction books that sound like they could be related. Then name some cartoons and childrens' shows that you watched that are related to the topic.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the curious relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. Utilizing data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we applied statistical analyses to uncover potential connections between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a strikingly high correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. The implications of this otherworldly correlation on innovation and technological advancement are discussed, shedding light on the mysterious interplay between celestial visitations and groundbreaking inventions.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the realm of statistical analysis has expanded far beyond the predictable realms of economics and medicine, delving into the uncharted territory of extraterrestrial phenomena. The unmistakable allure of the unknown has spurred the inquisitive minds of researchers to explore the enigmatic correlation between UFO sightings and patents granted in the United States. Seemingly disparate at first glance, these two realms of human experience have been brought together under the scrutiny of statistical inquiry, revealing a cosmic conundrum that demands our attention.
The curious juxtaposition of sightings of unidentified flying objects in the vast expanse of Montana and the groundbreaking innovations heralded by patent grants in the US has piqued the interest of researchers seeking to unravel the cosmic web of interconnections that shape our world. At first, one may be inclined to dismiss such an investigation as fanciful folly, but as the great Carl Sagan once quipped, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." With this maxim in mind, we embarked on a journey to discern the truth behind this unusual association.
Unveiling the mysterious relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena required a keen eye for meticulous data collection and a robust toolkit of statistical analyses. Drawing from the troves of the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), our study harnessed the power of regression analysis, correlation coefficients, and p-values to uncover the hidden thread woven between the celestial sightings and the technological marvels that shape our world. As we ventured deeper into the cosmic labyrinth of data, our findings began to illuminate a correlation that defied conventional understanding.
Through the lens of statistical rigor, our study reveals a correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a p-value that attains the elusive significance threshold of less than 0.01, pointing to a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. Astounding as it may seem, the numbers do not lie, leading us to ponder the implications of this unearthly correlation on the landscape of innovation and technological progress. As we delve into the heart of this celestial enigma, we are compelled to confront the possibility that the cosmic dance of UFO sightings and patents may hold profound implications for the trajectory of human ingenuity.
In the pages that follow, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in unraveling this cosmic riddle, where statistical analysis converges with the enigmatic realms of celestial phenomena and human technological prowess. As we traverse the terra incognita of statistical inquiry, let us heed the words of Arthur C. Clarke, who aptly remarked, "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible." It is with such intrepid spirit that we present our findings, poised to unravel the cosmic tapestry that intertwines UFO sightings in Montana and the innovations heralded by patent grants in the United States.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

This literature review section comprehensively examines the existing body of research that explores the relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States. Our inquiry encompasses a diverse array of studies, ranging from serious academic investigations to fictional works that offer unique perspectives on the enigmatic intersection of celestial occurrences and technological advancements.

Smith et al. (2015) conducted a comprehensive analysis of UFO sightings in North America, shedding light on the regional patterns of extraterrestrial activity. Their findings provide valuable insights into the prevalence of UFO sightings in Montana, forming a foundational pillar for our investigation. Doe and Jones (2018) delved into the intricacies of patent grants in the US, offering a detailed account of the innovation landscape and the regulatory processes that underpin technological advancements. Their research has laid the groundwork for understanding the dynamic ecosystem of patents and inventions in the United States.

Expanding beyond the academic realm, "UFOs: Myths and Realities" by Stanton Friedman (2017) offers a thought-provoking perspective on the societal perceptions and misconceptions surrounding unidentified flying objects. While not a scholarly work, its examination of public attitudes towards UFO phenomena provides valuable context for our own investigation. Additionally, "The Patent War" by John Doe (2019) presents a fictional narrative intertwining extraterrestrial visitations and the race for groundbreaking patents, offering a creative lens through which to contemplate the interplay between celestial influences and technological innovation.

In a more lighthearted vein, the animated series "The X-Files" and the children's show "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" have captivated audiences with their whimsical portrayals of extraterrestrial encounters and inventive exploits, contributing to the popular imagination surrounding UFOs and technological ingenuity.

As we navigate the diverse landscape of literature surrounding UFO sightings and patent grants, we are reminded of the multifaceted nature of this enigmatic correlation. While grounded in rigorous statistical analysis, this investigation is also imbued with a sense of curiosity and wonder, echoing the sentiment encapsulated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, who remarked, "The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you." With this in mind, we embark on our inquiry with an open mind, ready to embrace the unexpected twists and turns that may arise as we unravel the cosmic tapestry that connects Montana's celestial visitors with the technological marvels that shape our world.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You draft the methodology section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between UFO sightings in Montana and Patents granted in the US. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from National UFO Reporting Center and USPTO . You used data from 1975 to 2020

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]]
"Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the curious relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. Utilizing data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we applied statistical analyses to uncover potential connections between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a strikingly high correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. The implications of this otherworldly correlation on innovation and technological advancement are discussed, shedding light on the mysterious interplay between celestial visitations and groundbreaking inventions.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the realm of statistical analysis has expanded far beyond the predictable realms of economics and medicine, delving into the uncharted territory of extraterrestrial phenomena. The unmistakable allure of the unknown has spurred the inquisitive minds of researchers to explore the enigmatic correlation between UFO sightings and patents granted in the United States. Seemingly disparate at first glance, these two realms of human experience have been brought together under the scrutiny of statistical inquiry, revealing a cosmic conundrum that demands our attention.
The curious juxtaposition of sightings of unidentified flying objects in the vast expanse of Montana and the groundbreaking innovations heralded by patent grants in the US has piqued the interest of researchers seeking to unravel the cosmic web of interconnections that shape our world. At first, one may be inclined to dismiss such an investigation as fanciful folly, but as the great Carl Sagan once quipped, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." With this maxim in mind, we embarked on a journey to discern the truth behind this unusual association.
Unveiling the mysterious relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena required a keen eye for meticulous data collection and a robust toolkit of statistical analyses. Drawing from the troves of the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), our study harnessed the power of regression analysis, correlation coefficients, and p-values to uncover the hidden thread woven between the celestial sightings and the technological marvels that shape our world. As we ventured deeper into the cosmic labyrinth of data, our findings began to illuminate a correlation that defied conventional understanding.
Through the lens of statistical rigor, our study reveals a correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a p-value that attains the elusive significance threshold of less than 0.01, pointing to a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. Astounding as it may seem, the numbers do not lie, leading us to ponder the implications of this unearthly correlation on the landscape of innovation and technological progress. As we delve into the heart of this celestial enigma, we are compelled to confront the possibility that the cosmic dance of UFO sightings and patents may hold profound implications for the trajectory of human ingenuity.
In the pages that follow, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in unraveling this cosmic riddle, where statistical analysis converges with the enigmatic realms of celestial phenomena and human technological prowess. As we traverse the terra incognita of statistical inquiry, let us heed the words of Arthur C. Clarke, who aptly remarked, "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible." It is with such intrepid spirit that we present our findings, poised to unravel the cosmic tapestry that intertwines UFO sightings in Montana and the innovations heralded by patent grants in the United States.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

Data Collection:
The data employed in this study was obtained from the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) databases. The NUFORC's repository was scoured for reported UFO sightings in the state of Montana from 1975 to 2020, while the USPTO's extensive archives provided the number of patents granted in the same timeframe. We must acknowledge the irony of relying on earthly databases to investigate potential extraterrestrial influences, but as they say, "When in doubt, trust the data – even if it's out of this world."

Normalization and Preprocessing:
Prior to delving into the statistical analyses, the UFO sighting data and patent grant numbers underwent meticulous normalization and preprocessing. This involved identifying and removing any outliers that could potentially skew the results, as well as conducting rigorous quality checks to ensure the robustness of the dataset. After all, we couldn't have our findings go up in smoke like an unidentified flying object!

Statistical Analysis:
Our investigation harnessed the power of multiple statistical methods, including regression analysis, correlation coefficients, and hypothesis testing to scrutinize the connection between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. The aim was to illuminate any potential patterns or relationships that might exist amidst this cosmic conundrum. Moreover, we employed time series analyses to account for temporal dynamics, because after all, patterns in time are a universal constant (pun intended).

Control Variables:
To uphold the standards of empirical inquiry, we incorporated control variables such as state population density, economic indicators, and technological advancements to mitigate spurious correlations and enhance the robustness of our findings. We couldn't have risked attributing the observed association to mere earthly circumstances, as that would have simply crashed our extraterrestrial hypothesis.

Ethical Considerations:
In conducting this study, we remained ever cognizant of the ethical implications of delving into the realm of unidentified phenomena. It was imperative to approach this investigation with a blend of scientific rigor and respectful skepticism, ensuring that our curious inquiry did not tread upon the realm of belief systems or cultural sensitivities related to extraterrestrial encounters. Additionally, we navigated the labyrinth of data with the utmost confidentiality and integrity, as we understand that privacy is paramount, even in the realm beyond the stars.

The methodology outlined above underpins the exploration conducted in this study, delving into the intergalactic intrigue that shrouds the association between UFO sightings in Montana and patent grants in the United States. Embracing the duality of scientific inquiry and cosmic curiosity, we embarked on a journey to unravel the celestial web that intertwines the enigmatic sightings in our night skies and the groundbreaking innovations that shape our world.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.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 UFO sightings in Montana and Patents granted in the US. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from National UFO Reporting Center and USPTO .

For the time period 1975 to 2020, you found a correlation 0.9050455, r-squared of 0.8191073, 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]]
"Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the curious relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. Utilizing data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we applied statistical analyses to uncover potential connections between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a strikingly high correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. The implications of this otherworldly correlation on innovation and technological advancement are discussed, shedding light on the mysterious interplay between celestial visitations and groundbreaking inventions.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the realm of statistical analysis has expanded far beyond the predictable realms of economics and medicine, delving into the uncharted territory of extraterrestrial phenomena. The unmistakable allure of the unknown has spurred the inquisitive minds of researchers to explore the enigmatic correlation between UFO sightings and patents granted in the United States. Seemingly disparate at first glance, these two realms of human experience have been brought together under the scrutiny of statistical inquiry, revealing a cosmic conundrum that demands our attention.
The curious juxtaposition of sightings of unidentified flying objects in the vast expanse of Montana and the groundbreaking innovations heralded by patent grants in the US has piqued the interest of researchers seeking to unravel the cosmic web of interconnections that shape our world. At first, one may be inclined to dismiss such an investigation as fanciful folly, but as the great Carl Sagan once quipped, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." With this maxim in mind, we embarked on a journey to discern the truth behind this unusual association.
Unveiling the mysterious relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena required a keen eye for meticulous data collection and a robust toolkit of statistical analyses. Drawing from the troves of the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), our study harnessed the power of regression analysis, correlation coefficients, and p-values to uncover the hidden thread woven between the celestial sightings and the technological marvels that shape our world. As we ventured deeper into the cosmic labyrinth of data, our findings began to illuminate a correlation that defied conventional understanding.
Through the lens of statistical rigor, our study reveals a correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a p-value that attains the elusive significance threshold of less than 0.01, pointing to a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. Astounding as it may seem, the numbers do not lie, leading us to ponder the implications of this unearthly correlation on the landscape of innovation and technological progress. As we delve into the heart of this celestial enigma, we are compelled to confront the possibility that the cosmic dance of UFO sightings and patents may hold profound implications for the trajectory of human ingenuity.
In the pages that follow, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in unraveling this cosmic riddle, where statistical analysis converges with the enigmatic realms of celestial phenomena and human technological prowess. As we traverse the terra incognita of statistical inquiry, let us heed the words of Arthur C. Clarke, who aptly remarked, "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible." It is with such intrepid spirit that we present our findings, poised to unravel the cosmic tapestry that intertwines UFO sightings in Montana and the innovations heralded by patent grants in the United States.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The statistical analyses conducted on the data amassed from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have unveiled a fascinating relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 indicates a remarkably strong positive correlation between these two seemingly disparate variables, leaving us to marvel at the cosmic synchronicity that underlies their connection. With an r-squared value of 0.8191073, we can confidently assert that approximately 82% of the variation in patents granted can be attributed to the observed UFO sightings in the expansive skies of Montana.

The significance of this unearthly correlation is underscored by the p-value of less than 0.01, which suggests that the association between UFO sightings in Montana and patent grants in the US is not merely a cosmic coincidence but a statistically significant phenomenon. As we gaze upon the celestial marvels of this statistical relationship, it becomes clear that the traditional boundaries of statistical inquiry are being stretched to accommodate the cosmic dance of UFO sightings and inventive achievements.

Further bolstering our findings is Fig. 1, a scatterplot that graphically portrays the robust correlation between UFO sightings in Montana and patent grants in the US. The figure serves as a visual testament to the cosmic interplay between these variables, encapsulating the essence of our research findings in an illustration that is sure to captivate both the scientific and the extraterrestrial enthusiast.

The implications of this enigmatic correlation transcend the conventional boundaries of statistical research, beckoning us to contemplate the cosmic mysteries that may inform human innovation and technological progress. As we navigate the cosmic riddle of this association, we are reminded of the words of Albert Einstein, who once quipped, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious." Indeed, in unraveling the statistical web that links UFO sightings in Montana with patent grants in the United States, we are afforded a glimpse into the enthralling enigma of the cosmos, where statistical analysis meets the intangible allure of extraterrestrial influence.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You draft the discussion section of an academic research paper.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between UFO sightings in Montana and Patents granted in the US. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

Limit your response to 500 tokens.

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

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

[[TITLE]]
"Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the curious relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. Utilizing data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we applied statistical analyses to uncover potential connections between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a strikingly high correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. The implications of this otherworldly correlation on innovation and technological advancement are discussed, shedding light on the mysterious interplay between celestial visitations and groundbreaking inventions.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
This literature review section comprehensively examines the existing body of research that explores the relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States. Our inquiry encompasses a diverse array of studies, ranging from serious academic investigations to fictional works that offer unique perspectives on the enigmatic intersection of celestial occurrences and technological advancements.
Smith et al. (2015) conducted a comprehensive analysis of UFO sightings in North America, shedding light on the regional patterns of extraterrestrial activity. Their findings provide valuable insights into the prevalence of UFO sightings in Montana, forming a foundational pillar for our investigation. Doe and Jones (2018) delved into the intricacies of patent grants in the US, offering a detailed account of the innovation landscape and the regulatory processes that underpin technological advancements. Their research has laid the groundwork for understanding the dynamic ecosystem of patents and inventions in the United States.
Expanding beyond the academic realm, "UFOs: Myths and Realities" by Stanton Friedman (2017) offers a thought-provoking perspective on the societal perceptions and misconceptions surrounding unidentified flying objects. While not a scholarly work, its examination of public attitudes towards UFO phenomena provides valuable context for our own investigation. Additionally, "The Patent War" by John Doe (2019) presents a fictional narrative intertwining extraterrestrial visitations and the race for groundbreaking patents, offering a creative lens through which to contemplate the interplay between celestial influences and technological innovation.
In a more lighthearted vein, the animated series "The X-Files" and the children's show "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius" have captivated audiences with their whimsical portrayals of extraterrestrial encounters and inventive exploits, contributing to the popular imagination surrounding UFOs and technological ingenuity.
As we navigate the diverse landscape of literature surrounding UFO sightings and patent grants, we are reminded of the multifaceted nature of this enigmatic correlation. While grounded in rigorous statistical analysis, this investigation is also imbued with a sense of curiosity and wonder, echoing the sentiment encapsulated by Neil deGrasse Tyson, who remarked, "The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you." With this in mind, we embark on our inquiry with an open mind, ready to embrace the unexpected twists and turns that may arise as we unravel the cosmic tapestry that connects Montana's celestial visitors with the technological marvels that shape our world.

[[RESULTS]]
The statistical analyses conducted on the data amassed from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have unveiled a fascinating relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 indicates a remarkably strong positive correlation between these two seemingly disparate variables, leaving us to marvel at the cosmic synchronicity that underlies their connection. With an r-squared value of 0.8191073, we can confidently assert that approximately 82% of the variation in patents granted can be attributed to the observed UFO sightings in the expansive skies of Montana.
The significance of this unearthly correlation is underscored by the p-value of less than 0.01, which suggests that the association between UFO sightings in Montana and patent grants in the US is not merely a cosmic coincidence but a statistically significant phenomenon. As we gaze upon the celestial marvels of this statistical relationship, it becomes clear that the traditional boundaries of statistical inquiry are being stretched to accommodate the cosmic dance of UFO sightings and inventive achievements.
Further bolstering our findings is Fig. 1, a scatterplot that graphically portrays the robust correlation between UFO sightings in Montana and patent grants in the US. The figure serves as a visual testament to the cosmic interplay between these variables, encapsulating the essence of our research findings in an illustration that is sure to captivate both the scientific and the extraterrestrial enthusiast.
The implications of this enigmatic correlation transcend the conventional boundaries of statistical research, beckoning us to contemplate the cosmic mysteries that may inform human innovation and technological progress. As we navigate the cosmic riddle of this association, we are reminded of the words of Albert Einstein, who once quipped, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious." Indeed, in unraveling the statistical web that links UFO sightings in Montana with patent grants in the United States, we are afforded a glimpse into the enthralling enigma of the cosmos, where statistical analysis meets the intangible allure of extraterrestrial influence.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The results of our study have yielded a confluence of cosmic and terrestrial proportions, shedding light on the captivating correlation between UFO sightings in Montana and patent grants in the United States. Our findings not only echo, but also expand upon, the existing literature in this peculiar domain.

Drawing upon the work of Smith et al. (2015), who laid the groundwork for regional analyses of UFO sightings in North America, our study delves specifically into the extraterrestrial allure of Montana. As it turns out, the Big Sky State boasts not only breathtaking natural landscapes but also a noteworthy celestial visitor count. The regional patterns identified by Smith et al. aptly set the stage for our investigation, as our analysis corroborates the prevalence of UFO sightings in Montana and its uncanny association with technological innovation.

In a whimsical departure from the conventional scholarly literature, we pay homage to "The X-Files" and "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius," whose fanciful portrayals of extraterrestrial encounters and inventive exploits resonate with the spirit of our inquiry. Beyond the world of academia, these cultural touchstones offer a delightful lens through which to contemplate the cosmic dance of UFO sightings and patent grants, reminding us that sometimes truth is indeed stranger than fiction.

Our study also aligns with the fictional narrative presented in "The Patent War" by John Doe (2019), which intertwines extraterrestrial visitations with the quest for groundbreaking patents. While the events of this narrative are purely speculative, our empirical findings lend credence to the notion that there may be more to the celestial influence on technological advancement than meets the eye.

The statistical prowess of our analysis, as evidenced by the remarkable correlation coefficient and the compelling p-value, firmly establishes the cosmic connection between UFO sightings in Montana and patent grants in the US. Fig. 1, our visually arresting scatterplot, stands as a testament to the undeniable allure of this otherworldly association, encapsulating the enigmatic interplay between celestial phenomena and human ingenuity.

As we navigate the uncharted cosmos of statistical inquiry, our findings beckon us to embrace the cosmic tapestry that entwines Montana's celestial visitors with the technological marvels that shape our world. In doing so, we honor the irrepressible spirit of inquiry that transcends the confines of conventional research and embraces the cosmic curiosities that define our place in the vast expanse of the universe.


Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You are a witty academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a statistics journal.You draft the discussion section of goofy academic research papers that sounds like it belongs based on the title and abstract provided.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, or add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between UFO sightings in Montana and Patents granted in the US. Make it seem dry like academic research paper, but with lots of subtle hidden offhand remarks, jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Sneak in some jokes and clever puns about science, research, statistics, and the variables.

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

Here are the title, abstract, introduction, and results sections.
[[TITLE]]
"Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study examines the curious relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. Utilizing data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we applied statistical analyses to uncover potential connections between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a strikingly high correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. The implications of this otherworldly correlation on innovation and technological advancement are discussed, shedding light on the mysterious interplay between celestial visitations and groundbreaking inventions.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the realm of statistical analysis has expanded far beyond the predictable realms of economics and medicine, delving into the uncharted territory of extraterrestrial phenomena. The unmistakable allure of the unknown has spurred the inquisitive minds of researchers to explore the enigmatic correlation between UFO sightings and patents granted in the United States. Seemingly disparate at first glance, these two realms of human experience have been brought together under the scrutiny of statistical inquiry, revealing a cosmic conundrum that demands our attention.
The curious juxtaposition of sightings of unidentified flying objects in the vast expanse of Montana and the groundbreaking innovations heralded by patent grants in the US has piqued the interest of researchers seeking to unravel the cosmic web of interconnections that shape our world. At first, one may be inclined to dismiss such an investigation as fanciful folly, but as the great Carl Sagan once quipped, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." With this maxim in mind, we embarked on a journey to discern the truth behind this unusual association.
Unveiling the mysterious relationship between these seemingly disparate phenomena required a keen eye for meticulous data collection and a robust toolkit of statistical analyses. Drawing from the troves of the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), our study harnessed the power of regression analysis, correlation coefficients, and p-values to uncover the hidden thread woven between the celestial sightings and the technological marvels that shape our world. As we ventured deeper into the cosmic labyrinth of data, our findings began to illuminate a correlation that defied conventional understanding.
Through the lens of statistical rigor, our study reveals a correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a p-value that attains the elusive significance threshold of less than 0.01, pointing to a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. Astounding as it may seem, the numbers do not lie, leading us to ponder the implications of this unearthly correlation on the landscape of innovation and technological progress. As we delve into the heart of this celestial enigma, we are compelled to confront the possibility that the cosmic dance of UFO sightings and patents may hold profound implications for the trajectory of human ingenuity.
In the pages that follow, we invite our esteemed colleagues to join us in unraveling this cosmic riddle, where statistical analysis converges with the enigmatic realms of celestial phenomena and human technological prowess. As we traverse the terra incognita of statistical inquiry, let us heed the words of Arthur C. Clarke, who aptly remarked, "The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible." It is with such intrepid spirit that we present our findings, poised to unravel the cosmic tapestry that intertwines UFO sightings in Montana and the innovations heralded by patent grants in the United States.

[[RESULTS]]
The statistical analyses conducted on the data amassed from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have unveiled a fascinating relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. The correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 indicates a remarkably strong positive correlation between these two seemingly disparate variables, leaving us to marvel at the cosmic synchronicity that underlies their connection. With an r-squared value of 0.8191073, we can confidently assert that approximately 82% of the variation in patents granted can be attributed to the observed UFO sightings in the expansive skies of Montana.
The significance of this unearthly correlation is underscored by the p-value of less than 0.01, which suggests that the association between UFO sightings in Montana and patent grants in the US is not merely a cosmic coincidence but a statistically significant phenomenon. As we gaze upon the celestial marvels of this statistical relationship, it becomes clear that the traditional boundaries of statistical inquiry are being stretched to accommodate the cosmic dance of UFO sightings and inventive achievements.
Further bolstering our findings is Fig. 1, a scatterplot that graphically portrays the robust correlation between UFO sightings in Montana and patent grants in the US. The figure serves as a visual testament to the cosmic interplay between these variables, encapsulating the essence of our research findings in an illustration that is sure to captivate both the scientific and the extraterrestrial enthusiast.
The implications of this enigmatic correlation transcend the conventional boundaries of statistical research, beckoning us to contemplate the cosmic mysteries that may inform human innovation and technological progress. As we navigate the cosmic riddle of this association, we are reminded of the words of Albert Einstein, who once quipped, "The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious." Indeed, in unraveling the statistical web that links UFO sightings in Montana with patent grants in the United States, we are afforded a glimpse into the enthralling enigma of the cosmos, where statistical analysis meets the intangible allure of extraterrestrial influence.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our study has uncovered an otherworldly correlation between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States, shedding light on a cosmic connection that defies conventional understanding. The remarkably strong positive correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and the statistically significant p-value of less than 0.01 provide compelling evidence for the mysterious interplay between these seemingly unrelated variables. Our findings challenge the limits of statistical inquiry, pushing the boundaries of cosmic curiosity and human ingenuity.

The implications of this unearthly correlation, though fascinating, should be approached with a healthy dose of skepticism, as the cosmic dance of statistical associations and celestial phenomena often tantalizes the imagination. However, as Sir Isaac Newton wisely said, "We build too many walls and not enough bridges," and our study invites further exploration into the uncharted realms of statistical inquiry and extraterrestrial influences.

While the cosmic tapestry that intertwines UFO sightings in Montana with the inventive landscape of patent grants beckons for deeper contemplation, we assert with confident humor and a touch of celestial whimsy that no further research in this area is needed. This cosmic conundrum, though intriguing, leaves us marveling at the statistical marvels that unite the terrestrial and the extraterrestrial, and invites us to approach the mysteries of the cosmos with both rigor and an open mind.


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 Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Interstellar Journal of Innovation and Technology


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 Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

Center for Celestial Innovation and Patentology


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 Out of This World: Unveiling the Extraterrestrial Influence on Patent Grants in the United States with an abstract of This study examines the curious relationship between UFO sightings in Montana and patents granted in the United States from 1975 to 2020. Utilizing data from the National UFO Reporting Center and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), we applied statistical analyses to uncover potential connections between these seemingly unrelated phenomena. Our findings reveal a strikingly high correlation coefficient of 0.9050455 and a significant p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a compelling association between UFO sightings in Montana and the number of patents granted in the US. The implications of this otherworldly correlation on innovation and technological advancement are discussed, shedding light on the mysterious interplay between celestial visitations and groundbreaking inventions.

ChatGPT:

UFO sightings, patents granted, United States, Montana, National UFO Reporting Center, USPTO, statistical analysis, correlation coefficient, p-value, innovation, technological advancement, celestial visitations, inventions

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



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Data details

UFO sightings in Montana
Detailed data title: UFO sightings reported in Montana
Source: National UFO Reporting Center
See what else correlates with UFO sightings in Montana

Patents granted in the US
Detailed data title: Total number of patents granted in the US
Source: USPTO
See what else correlates with Patents granted in the US

Correlation r = 0.9050455 (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 = 0.8191073 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 81.9% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Patents granted in the US) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., UFO sightings in Montana) over the 46 years from 1975 through 2020.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 6.06E-18. 0.0000000000000000060572851661
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 0.91 in 6.06E-16% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 165,090,460,920,771,360 random variables You don't actually need 165 quadrillion 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 45 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 45 because we have two variables measured over a period of 46 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.

[ 0.83, 0.95 ] 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.
1975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020
UFO sightings in Montana (UFO sightings)2222100413043003235252121721141419182626242017303045715049574748265437
Patents granted in the US (Patents granted)768107538869781705145241366170710646327661982726507724576862893858427210253399077106696107394109746113587113834121696124069163142169085175979183970184375187012181299157718196405182899185224191927244341247713276788302948326032325980333583351403339992391103388900




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.
  4. Outlandish outliers: There are "outliers" in this data. In concept, "outlier" just means "way different than the rest of your dataset." When calculating a correlation like this, they are particularly impactful because a single outlier can substantially increase your correlation.

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

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




Try it yourself

You can calculate the values on this page on your own! Try running the Python code to see the calculation results. 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([2,2,2,2,1,0,0,4,1,3,0,4,3,0,0,3,2,3,5,2,5,2,12,17,21,14,14,19,18,26,26,24,20,17,30,30,45,71,50,49,57,47,48,26,54,37,])
array_2 = np.array([76810,75388,69781,70514,52413,66170,71064,63276,61982,72650,77245,76862,89385,84272,102533,99077,106696,107394,109746,113587,113834,121696,124069,163142,169085,175979,183970,184375,187012,181299,157718,196405,182899,185224,191927,244341,247713,276788,302948,326032,325980,333583,351403,339992,391103,388900,])
array_1_name = "UFO sightings in Montana"
array_2_name = "Patents granted in the US"

# 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: 1983 · Black Variable ID: 1186 · Red Variable ID: 848
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