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Spurious correlation #2,302 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is The distance between Uranus and Saturn and the second variable is UFO sightings in Indiana.  The chart goes from 1975 to 2021, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

As the distance between Uranus and Saturn increases, it creates a gravitational effect that distorts space-time in a way that inadvertently amplifies the visibility of UFOs, particularly over Indiana. It's like the cosmic equivalent of shining a giant UFO spotlight on the state, making it a hotspot for otherworldly visitors.

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Generate an image that simulates a scene from 'Star Wars' with a focus on a mysterious UFO hovering above a small town in Indiana at night. The UFO emits a shimmering glow as it moves between the planets of Uranus and Saturn in the dark sky. The planets should glisten amidst a star-filled expanse, creating a sense of wonder and mystery. The image should capture the eerie beauty of the UFO's presence in the cosmos without the need for words or speech bubbles. 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: The distance between Uranus and Saturn and UFO sightings in Indiana. 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: Minimalism High-tech An image that looks like it is a scene from 'Star Wars' Symbolism 3D Pixar Style
ChatGPT: An image that looks like it is a scene from 'Star Wars'

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 The distance between Uranus and Saturn and UFO sightings in Indiana together. Keep the description simple.
ChatGPT: In a dark night sky over the small town of Indiana, a shimmering UFO hovers between the distant planets of Uranus and Saturn. The planets glisten in the starry expanse, while the UFO casts a mysterious glow as it sails through the cosmos.

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: [ An image that looks like it is a scene from 'Star Wars' ] and depicting this scene: In a dark night sky over the small town of Indiana, a shimmering UFO hovers between the distant planets of Uranus and Saturn. The planets glisten in the starry expanse, while the UFO casts a mysterious glow as it sails through the cosmos. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Generate an image that simulates a scene from 'Star Wars' with a focus on a mysterious UFO hovering above a small town in Indiana at night. The UFO emits a shimmering glow as it moves between the planets of Uranus and Saturn in the dark sky. The planets should glisten amidst a star-filled expanse, creating a sense of wonder and mystery. The image should capture the eerie beauty of the UFO's presence in the cosmos without the need for words or speech bubbles.

*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 increases in The distance between Uranus and Saturn positively influenced UFO sightings in Indiana.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
Out of this World Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana

The Journal of Extraterrestrial Phenomena Research

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 silly researcher writing an academic paper.You write titles and abstracts of goofy academic research papers.
User prompt:
Pretend you are an academic researcher. Your writing sounds like it belongs in a medical or economics journal. However, you frequently crack jokes, make puns, and add unexpected twists in your writing.

Please draft the title and abstract of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between The distance between Uranus and Saturn and UFO sightings in Indiana. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

Make the title a clever pun.

Your research team used data from Caclculated using Astropy and National UFO Reporting Center to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and p < 0.01 for 1975 to 2021.

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 Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the curious correlation between the astronomical distance separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in the state of Indiana. Combining data from Astropy's calculations and reports from the National UFO Reporting Center, we found a striking link between the fluctuating distance between these celestial bodies and the reported UFO sightings in Indiana from 1975 to 2021. Our statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and a p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a significant association between the planetary positions and the mysterious aerial phenomena in the Hoosier state. This whimsical exploration into the cosmic dance of Uranus and Saturn offers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking perspective on the perplexing allure of our universe and its potential influence on earthly observations.


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

Please make up the introduction section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between The distance between Uranus and Saturn and UFO sightings in Indiana. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Out of this World Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the curious correlation between the astronomical distance separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in the state of Indiana. Combining data from Astropy's calculations and reports from the National UFO Reporting Center, we found a striking link between the fluctuating distance between these celestial bodies and the reported UFO sightings in Indiana from 1975 to 2021. Our statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and a p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a significant association between the planetary positions and the mysterious aerial phenomena in the Hoosier state. This whimsical exploration into the cosmic dance of Uranus and Saturn offers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking perspective on the perplexing allure of our universe and its potential influence on earthly observations.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
Ah, the infinite mysteries of the cosmos never fail to fascinate the curious minds of terrestrial beings. From the enigmatic dance of celestial bodies to the perplexing enigma of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), the universe continues to bewilder and beguile us. In this lighthearted yet thought-provoking study, we delve into the unfathomable connection between the standoff of Uranus and Saturn, two distant giants in our solar system, and the peculiar patterns of UFO sightings in the seemingly down-to-earth state of Indiana.

As children of the universe, we are irresistibly drawn to the allure of the unknown. And what could be more intriguing than the juxtaposition of our planet with the whimsical play of the heavens? Certainly not my attempts at astrophysics jokes—space humor always feels like it's in a vacuum! But I digress.

We have all gazed at the night sky, pondering the mysteries beyond our earthly realm. And for the inhabitants of Indiana, these musings take on a whole new dimension as they report sightings of what can only be described as, well, out-of-this-world phenomena. This study seeks to uncover a correlation between these seemingly disparate occurrences and shed light on the celestial influences that may—quite literally—hover over us.

So, grab your telescopes and aluminum foil hats as we embark on an astronomical journey that is part serious scientific inquiry and part whimsical exploration into the strange and inexplicable. We promise to keep the puns as distant as Uranus is from Saturn—well, almost!


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

Please make up a literature review section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between The distance between Uranus and Saturn and UFO sightings in Indiana. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

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

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

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
"Out of this World Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the curious correlation between the astronomical distance separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in the state of Indiana. Combining data from Astropy's calculations and reports from the National UFO Reporting Center, we found a striking link between the fluctuating distance between these celestial bodies and the reported UFO sightings in Indiana from 1975 to 2021. Our statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and a p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a significant association between the planetary positions and the mysterious aerial phenomena in the Hoosier state. This whimsical exploration into the cosmic dance of Uranus and Saturn offers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking perspective on the perplexing allure of our universe and its potential influence on earthly observations.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
Ah, the infinite mysteries of the cosmos never fail to fascinate the curious minds of terrestrial beings. From the enigmatic dance of celestial bodies to the perplexing enigma of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), the universe continues to bewilder and beguile us. In this lighthearted yet thought-provoking study, we delve into the unfathomable connection between the standoff of Uranus and Saturn, two distant giants in our solar system, and the peculiar patterns of UFO sightings in the seemingly down-to-earth state of Indiana.
As children of the universe, we are irresistibly drawn to the allure of the unknown. And what could be more intriguing than the juxtaposition of our planet with the whimsical play of the heavens? Certainly not my attempts at astrophysics jokes—space humor always feels like it's in a vacuum! But I digress.
We have all gazed at the night sky, pondering the mysteries beyond our earthly realm. And for the inhabitants of Indiana, these musings take on a whole new dimension as they report sightings of what can only be described as, well, out-of-this-world phenomena. This study seeks to uncover a correlation between these seemingly disparate occurrences and shed light on the celestial influences that may—quite literally—hover over us.
So, grab your telescopes and aluminum foil hats as we embark on an astronomical journey that is part serious scientific inquiry and part whimsical exploration into the strange and inexplicable. We promise to keep the puns as distant as Uranus is from Saturn—well, almost!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

Previous research into the connection between celestial positions and earthly phenomena offers insightful perspectives that may inform our investigation. Smith (2005) explored the potential impact of planetary alignments on human behavior, offering a fascinating discourse on astrology and its purported influence. Meanwhile, Doe (2010) investigated the psychological effects of gazing at the night sky and its implications for cognitive processes, shedding light on the fascination with celestial observations.

On a more whimsical note, "Cosmic Conundrums: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe" by Jones (2017) provides an entertaining yet informative take on the mysteries of the cosmos, weaving together scientific insights with a touch of humor that might resonate with our own exploration into the interplay of planetary positions and UFO sightings. This book, while not a direct reference to our specific inquiry, serves as a colorful backdrop for the whimsical aspects of our investigation.

In the realm of fiction, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams captivates readers with intergalactic escapades and extraterrestrial encounters, albeit in a humorous and satirical manner that aligns with the spirit of our unconventional study. The cosmic odyssey depicted in this work adds a delightful layer of imagination to our scholarly pursuit, prompting us to ponder the interstellar enigmas in a more light-hearted vein.

Turning to the silver screen, movies such as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977) and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) offer cinematic portrayals of UFO encounters that capture the collective imagination and spark contemplations about the potential influence of otherworldly visitors. While these cinematic endeavors may not provide empirical evidence, they certainly contribute to the cultural fascination with UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena, enlivening our investigation with a dose of cinematic flair.

As we gather insights from both serious scholarly works and whimsical imaginings, we immerse ourselves in a tapestry of cosmic musings that sets the stage for our exploration into the peculiar interplay of planetary alignments and UFO sightings. Exciting times are ahead as we journey through the celestial expanse, guided by both scholarly inquiry and the delightful whimsy that permeates the cosmic landscape.


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

Please make up the methodology section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between The distance between Uranus and Saturn and UFO sightings in Indiana. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

Your research team collected data from all across the internet, but mostly just used information from Caclculated using Astropy and National UFO Reporting Center . You used data from 1975 to 2021

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 Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the curious correlation between the astronomical distance separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in the state of Indiana. Combining data from Astropy's calculations and reports from the National UFO Reporting Center, we found a striking link between the fluctuating distance between these celestial bodies and the reported UFO sightings in Indiana from 1975 to 2021. Our statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and a p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a significant association between the planetary positions and the mysterious aerial phenomena in the Hoosier state. This whimsical exploration into the cosmic dance of Uranus and Saturn offers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking perspective on the perplexing allure of our universe and its potential influence on earthly observations.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
Ah, the infinite mysteries of the cosmos never fail to fascinate the curious minds of terrestrial beings. From the enigmatic dance of celestial bodies to the perplexing enigma of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), the universe continues to bewilder and beguile us. In this lighthearted yet thought-provoking study, we delve into the unfathomable connection between the standoff of Uranus and Saturn, two distant giants in our solar system, and the peculiar patterns of UFO sightings in the seemingly down-to-earth state of Indiana.
As children of the universe, we are irresistibly drawn to the allure of the unknown. And what could be more intriguing than the juxtaposition of our planet with the whimsical play of the heavens? Certainly not my attempts at astrophysics jokes—space humor always feels like it's in a vacuum! But I digress.
We have all gazed at the night sky, pondering the mysteries beyond our earthly realm. And for the inhabitants of Indiana, these musings take on a whole new dimension as they report sightings of what can only be described as, well, out-of-this-world phenomena. This study seeks to uncover a correlation between these seemingly disparate occurrences and shed light on the celestial influences that may—quite literally—hover over us.
So, grab your telescopes and aluminum foil hats as we embark on an astronomical journey that is part serious scientific inquiry and part whimsical exploration into the strange and inexplicable. We promise to keep the puns as distant as Uranus is from Saturn—well, almost!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To investigate the intriguing connection between the relative positions of Uranus and Saturn and the reported UFO sightings in Indiana, our research team engaged in a whimsical yet rigorous methodological approach. We gathered data on the distance between Uranus and Saturn from the Astropy astronomical calculation library, which provided us with precise information on the celestial standoff from 1975 to 2021. The data on UFO sightings in Indiana was obtained from the National UFO Reporting Center, which cataloged and recorded these otherworldly encounters with due seriousness.

Our first step involved aligning the celestial coordinates with the earthly coordinates of Indiana. This cosmic-meets-terrestrial calibration had us feeling like astronomers with a touch of geolocation expertise! Once we had this alignment in place, we proceeded to merge the astronomical data with the UFO sighting reports, creating a dataset that encapsulated both the celestial ballet of planets and the enigmatic aerial experiences in the Hoosier state.

Now, to analyze this merged dataset, we employed a statistical model that was as precise as a telescope and as comprehensive as a UFO enthusiast's conspiracy board. We calculated the correlation coefficient between the distance separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of reported UFO sightings in Indiana, revealing the degree of association between these two seemingly disparate phenomena. Additionally, we conducted a temporal analysis to explore how changes in the planetary positions corresponded with variations in UFO sighting patterns in Indiana over the observed time period.

Lastly, our research team employed advanced analytical techniques to account for potential confounding variables and cosmic coincidences that might have influenced our findings. As we navigated through this ethereal labyrinth of data analysis, we maintained a healthy sense of wonder and a willingness to embrace the mystique of cosmic correlations, all while ensuring our statistical methods bore the gravitational weight of scientific rigor.

In the end, we arrived at a firm and statistically supported understanding of the relationship between the celestial dance of Uranus and Saturn and the otherworldly sightings in Indiana, offering a blend of celestial musings and terrestrial observations that, much like the mysteries of the universe, kept us captivated, entertained, and occasionally in need of a good cosmic pun to lighten the scientific mood.


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

Please make up the results section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between The distance between Uranus and Saturn and UFO sightings in Indiana. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

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

For the time period 1975 to 2021, you found a correlation 0.8462086, r-squared of 0.7160690, 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 Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the curious correlation between the astronomical distance separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in the state of Indiana. Combining data from Astropy's calculations and reports from the National UFO Reporting Center, we found a striking link between the fluctuating distance between these celestial bodies and the reported UFO sightings in Indiana from 1975 to 2021. Our statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and a p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a significant association between the planetary positions and the mysterious aerial phenomena in the Hoosier state. This whimsical exploration into the cosmic dance of Uranus and Saturn offers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking perspective on the perplexing allure of our universe and its potential influence on earthly observations.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
Ah, the infinite mysteries of the cosmos never fail to fascinate the curious minds of terrestrial beings. From the enigmatic dance of celestial bodies to the perplexing enigma of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), the universe continues to bewilder and beguile us. In this lighthearted yet thought-provoking study, we delve into the unfathomable connection between the standoff of Uranus and Saturn, two distant giants in our solar system, and the peculiar patterns of UFO sightings in the seemingly down-to-earth state of Indiana.
As children of the universe, we are irresistibly drawn to the allure of the unknown. And what could be more intriguing than the juxtaposition of our planet with the whimsical play of the heavens? Certainly not my attempts at astrophysics jokes—space humor always feels like it's in a vacuum! But I digress.
We have all gazed at the night sky, pondering the mysteries beyond our earthly realm. And for the inhabitants of Indiana, these musings take on a whole new dimension as they report sightings of what can only be described as, well, out-of-this-world phenomena. This study seeks to uncover a correlation between these seemingly disparate occurrences and shed light on the celestial influences that may—quite literally—hover over us.
So, grab your telescopes and aluminum foil hats as we embark on an astronomical journey that is part serious scientific inquiry and part whimsical exploration into the strange and inexplicable. We promise to keep the puns as distant as Uranus is from Saturn—well, almost!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

Our investigation into the cosmic conundrum linking the distance between Uranus and Saturn to the prevalence of UFO sightings in Indiana has unearthed quite the unearthly correlation. From 1975 to 2021, we delved into the data with the heavenly precision that Copernicus himself would envy. Our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086, which has an r-squared value of 0.7160690 and a p-value less than 0.01. To put it simply: we found a statistically significant connection, more robust than the rings around Saturn, between these celestial positions and the reported UFO sightings in the Hoosier state.

Fig. 1 illustrates our findings with a scatterplot that beautifully captures the strong correlation between the astronomical gap separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in Indiana. It's almost as if the planets are sending cosmic signals to the UFOs, saying, "Hey, let's visit Indiana today!"

The implications of this correlation are fascinating, to say the least. While we'd hate to jump to conclusions faster than SpaceX's Starship, these findings tantalizingly suggest that the relative positions of these gas giants might actually have some influence on the cosmic curiosities witnessed in Indiana. So, when the next UFO is spotted over the cornfields of Indiana, perhaps we might whimsically blame it on the befuddling ballet of Uranus and Saturn.

Our findings open the door to lighthearted yet thought-provoking conversations about the intertwining of the celestial and the terrestrial. And let's be honest, who doesn't love blending astrophysics and alien humor? It's truly out of this world!


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

Please make up the discussion section of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between The distance between Uranus and Saturn and UFO sightings in Indiana. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

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 Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the curious correlation between the astronomical distance separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in the state of Indiana. Combining data from Astropy's calculations and reports from the National UFO Reporting Center, we found a striking link between the fluctuating distance between these celestial bodies and the reported UFO sightings in Indiana from 1975 to 2021. Our statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and a p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a significant association between the planetary positions and the mysterious aerial phenomena in the Hoosier state. This whimsical exploration into the cosmic dance of Uranus and Saturn offers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking perspective on the perplexing allure of our universe and its potential influence on earthly observations.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
Previous research into the connection between celestial positions and earthly phenomena offers insightful perspectives that may inform our investigation. Smith (2005) explored the potential impact of planetary alignments on human behavior, offering a fascinating discourse on astrology and its purported influence. Meanwhile, Doe (2010) investigated the psychological effects of gazing at the night sky and its implications for cognitive processes, shedding light on the fascination with celestial observations.
On a more whimsical note, "Cosmic Conundrums: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe" by Jones (2017) provides an entertaining yet informative take on the mysteries of the cosmos, weaving together scientific insights with a touch of humor that might resonate with our own exploration into the interplay of planetary positions and UFO sightings. This book, while not a direct reference to our specific inquiry, serves as a colorful backdrop for the whimsical aspects of our investigation.
In the realm of fiction, "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" by Douglas Adams captivates readers with intergalactic escapades and extraterrestrial encounters, albeit in a humorous and satirical manner that aligns with the spirit of our unconventional study. The cosmic odyssey depicted in this work adds a delightful layer of imagination to our scholarly pursuit, prompting us to ponder the interstellar enigmas in a more light-hearted vein.
Turning to the silver screen, movies such as "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977) and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982) offer cinematic portrayals of UFO encounters that capture the collective imagination and spark contemplations about the potential influence of otherworldly visitors. While these cinematic endeavors may not provide empirical evidence, they certainly contribute to the cultural fascination with UFOs and extraterrestrial phenomena, enlivening our investigation with a dose of cinematic flair.
As we gather insights from both serious scholarly works and whimsical imaginings, we immerse ourselves in a tapestry of cosmic musings that sets the stage for our exploration into the peculiar interplay of planetary alignments and UFO sightings. Exciting times are ahead as we journey through the celestial expanse, guided by both scholarly inquiry and the delightful whimsy that permeates the cosmic landscape.

[[RESULTS]]
Our investigation into the cosmic conundrum linking the distance between Uranus and Saturn to the prevalence of UFO sightings in Indiana has unearthed quite the unearthly correlation. From 1975 to 2021, we delved into the data with the heavenly precision that Copernicus himself would envy. Our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086, which has an r-squared value of 0.7160690 and a p-value less than 0.01. To put it simply: we found a statistically significant connection, more robust than the rings around Saturn, between these celestial positions and the reported UFO sightings in the Hoosier state.
Fig. 1 illustrates our findings with a scatterplot that beautifully captures the strong correlation between the astronomical gap separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in Indiana. It's almost as if the planets are sending cosmic signals to the UFOs, saying, "Hey, let's visit Indiana today!"
The implications of this correlation are fascinating, to say the least. While we'd hate to jump to conclusions faster than SpaceX's Starship, these findings tantalizingly suggest that the relative positions of these gas giants might actually have some influence on the cosmic curiosities witnessed in Indiana. So, when the next UFO is spotted over the cornfields of Indiana, perhaps we might whimsically blame it on the befuddling ballet of Uranus and Saturn.
Our findings open the door to lighthearted yet thought-provoking conversations about the intertwining of the celestial and the terrestrial. And let's be honest, who doesn't love blending astrophysics and alien humor? It's truly out of this world!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

The results of our study lead us to ponder the celestial conundrum of Uranus and Saturn's dance and its potential impact on the UFO sightings in Indiana. It is indeed an out-of-this-world revelation that the fluctuating distance between these distant planets is correlated with the frequency of UFO reports in the Hoosier state. Our findings add another layer of intrigue to the cosmic tapestry, affirming and expanding upon the lighthearted musings of previous scholarly and whimsical works.

Drawing from Smith (2005) and Doe (2010), who explored the influence of celestial occurrences on human behavior and cognitive processes, our study contributes to the broader conversation about the mysterious interconnectedness of the cosmos and earthly occurrences. We've taken their serious inquiries and given them a lighthearted twist, demonstrating that even the most far-fetched connections between celestial events and terrestrial phenomena might hold some celestial truth.

In a delightful nod to the whimsical literature review, our results provide empirical support for the playful yet thought-provoking musings of "Cosmic Conundrums: Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe" by Jones (2017). Just as Jones seamlessly blended scientific insights with humor, our study marries astrophysics and otherworldly wit in a cosmic concert of discovery.

The correlations we uncovered are stronger than the gravitational pull of a black hole, with a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and a p-value less than 0.01. Our findings suggest that the cosmic ballet of Uranus and Saturn might be orchestrating a symphony of UFO appearances in Indiana. It's almost as if the planets are whispering conspiratorially to the unidentified flying objects, "Hey, let's pay a visit to Indiana today!"

This stellar correlation opens the door to discussions that are both whimsical and thought-provoking, embracing the cosmic humor of Douglas Adams' "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" and the cinematic allure of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" and "E.T." We can't help but marvel at the interplay of celestial positions and earthly sightings, adding a touch of levity to the serious study of planetary influences.

In conclusion, our findings add a touch of cosmic whimsy to the field of astrophysical inquiries, inviting us to twirl with the celestial curtain and ponder the deep-fried absurdity of the universe. After all, if space has taught us anything, it's that the cosmos is the ultimate jester, forever playfully teasing us with its enigmatic dance.


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

Please make up a short conclusion of an academic research paper presenting the findings of the connection between The distance between Uranus and Saturn and UFO sightings in Indiana. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns. Stay serious and dry most of the time, but then occasionally let your wit shine through.

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 Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana"

[[ABSTRACT]]
This study delves into the curious correlation between the astronomical distance separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in the state of Indiana. Combining data from Astropy's calculations and reports from the National UFO Reporting Center, we found a striking link between the fluctuating distance between these celestial bodies and the reported UFO sightings in Indiana from 1975 to 2021. Our statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and a p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a significant association between the planetary positions and the mysterious aerial phenomena in the Hoosier state. This whimsical exploration into the cosmic dance of Uranus and Saturn offers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking perspective on the perplexing allure of our universe and its potential influence on earthly observations.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
Ah, the infinite mysteries of the cosmos never fail to fascinate the curious minds of terrestrial beings. From the enigmatic dance of celestial bodies to the perplexing enigma of unidentified flying objects (UFOs), the universe continues to bewilder and beguile us. In this lighthearted yet thought-provoking study, we delve into the unfathomable connection between the standoff of Uranus and Saturn, two distant giants in our solar system, and the peculiar patterns of UFO sightings in the seemingly down-to-earth state of Indiana.
As children of the universe, we are irresistibly drawn to the allure of the unknown. And what could be more intriguing than the juxtaposition of our planet with the whimsical play of the heavens? Certainly not my attempts at astrophysics jokes—space humor always feels like it's in a vacuum! But I digress.
We have all gazed at the night sky, pondering the mysteries beyond our earthly realm. And for the inhabitants of Indiana, these musings take on a whole new dimension as they report sightings of what can only be described as, well, out-of-this-world phenomena. This study seeks to uncover a correlation between these seemingly disparate occurrences and shed light on the celestial influences that may—quite literally—hover over us.
So, grab your telescopes and aluminum foil hats as we embark on an astronomical journey that is part serious scientific inquiry and part whimsical exploration into the strange and inexplicable. We promise to keep the puns as distant as Uranus is from Saturn—well, almost!

[[RESULTS]]
Our investigation into the cosmic conundrum linking the distance between Uranus and Saturn to the prevalence of UFO sightings in Indiana has unearthed quite the unearthly correlation. From 1975 to 2021, we delved into the data with the heavenly precision that Copernicus himself would envy. Our analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086, which has an r-squared value of 0.7160690 and a p-value less than 0.01. To put it simply: we found a statistically significant connection, more robust than the rings around Saturn, between these celestial positions and the reported UFO sightings in the Hoosier state.
Fig. 1 illustrates our findings with a scatterplot that beautifully captures the strong correlation between the astronomical gap separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in Indiana. It's almost as if the planets are sending cosmic signals to the UFOs, saying, "Hey, let's visit Indiana today!"
The implications of this correlation are fascinating, to say the least. While we'd hate to jump to conclusions faster than SpaceX's Starship, these findings tantalizingly suggest that the relative positions of these gas giants might actually have some influence on the cosmic curiosities witnessed in Indiana. So, when the next UFO is spotted over the cornfields of Indiana, perhaps we might whimsically blame it on the befuddling ballet of Uranus and Saturn.
Our findings open the door to lighthearted yet thought-provoking conversations about the intertwining of the celestial and the terrestrial. And let's be honest, who doesn't love blending astrophysics and alien humor? It's truly out of this world!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]
In conclusion, our study has unveiled a remarkable connection between the celestial standoff of Uranus and Saturn and the enigmatic sightings of UFOs in the heartland of Indiana. The correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 astonishes even the most skeptical observers, reminding us that sometimes truth is stranger than science fiction. Our findings suggest that there might be more to the twinkling lights in the Indiana sky than just fireworks or overzealous stargazers mistaking airplanes for unidentified objects.
While our research tickles the imagination, we must acknowledge its limitations. It’s essential to approach these conclusions with a healthy dose of skepticism, just like we do with alien conspiracy theories and promises of free intergalactic travel. Correlation, as they say, does not imply causation, and attributing UFO sightings solely to the cosmic tango of Uranus and Saturn might be a leap even Superman would hesitate to make.
As we bid adieu to this peculiar correlation, we encourage fellow researchers to explore the cosmic depths and unearth their own correlations, whether in the orbit of Pluto and Charon or the gravitational pull of black holes. But when it comes to the link between Uranus, Saturn, and UFOs in Indiana, let’s not overextend our telescopic lenses. Let’s leave some wonderment and jaw-dropping mystery for the ages.
In the spirit of scientific curiosity and interstellar whimsy, we declare that this particular avenue of research has reached its terminal orbit. Let’s embrace the peculiarities of the universe, enjoy the occasional UFO sighting with a side of skepticism, and remember that sometimes, the most extraordinary phenomena are right in front of our telescopic lenses, not beyond the rings of Saturn or the sixth planet from the Sun.

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 Out of this World Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Extraterrestrial Phenomena Research


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 Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Institute for Extraterrestrial Studies and Anomalies


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 Connections: The Celestial Standoff between Uranus and Saturn and its Impact on UFO Sightings in Indiana with an abstract of This study delves into the curious correlation between the astronomical distance separating Uranus and Saturn and the frequency of UFO sightings in the state of Indiana. Combining data from Astropy's calculations and reports from the National UFO Reporting Center, we found a striking link between the fluctuating distance between these celestial bodies and the reported UFO sightings in Indiana from 1975 to 2021. Our statistical analysis revealed a correlation coefficient of 0.8462086 and a p-value of less than 0.01, suggesting a significant association between the planetary positions and the mysterious aerial phenomena in the Hoosier state. This whimsical exploration into the cosmic dance of Uranus and Saturn offers a lighthearted yet thought-provoking perspective on the perplexing allure of our universe and its potential influence on earthly observations.

ChatGPT:

Uranus, Saturn, celestial bodies, distance, UFO sightings, Indiana, Astropy, National UFO Reporting Center, correlation, statistical analysis, planetary positions, mysterious aerial phenomena, cosmic dance, universe, influence on observations

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



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Data details

The distance between Uranus and Saturn
Detailed data title: The average distance between Uranus and Saturn as measured on the first day of each month
Source: Caclculated using Astropy
Additional Info: I wrote a Python script using Astropy to calculate the distance between the named planets on the first day of each month for every year.

See what else correlates with The distance between Uranus and Saturn

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

Correlation r = 0.8462086 (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 = 0.7160690 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 71.6% of the change in the one variable (i.e., UFO sightings in Indiana) is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., The distance between Uranus and Saturn) over the 47 years from 1975 through 2021.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 6.9E-14. 0.0000000000000690460485934207
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 0.85 in 6.9E-12% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 14,483,088,031,417 random variables You don't actually need 14 trillion 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 46 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 46 because we have two variables measured over a period of 47 years. It's just the number of years minus ( the number of variables minus one ), which in this case simplifies to the number of years minus one.
you would randomly expect to find a correlation as strong as this one.

[ 0.74, 0.91 ] 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.
19751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021
The distance between Uranus and Saturn (Planetary distance (AU))21.899420.748519.542618.298517.034715.768914.528213.33612.220811.216310.36979.728869.343099.251069.467739.9778410.74411.72112.857914.113815.453916.850818.271419.692221.089522.442423.722824.911125.988826.94227.754228.418628.931529.292629.50329.567729.492929.284928.951528.499827.936227.264926.494225.627824.669723.621722.4927
UFO sightings in Indiana (UFO sightings)1057855224334533761986819295337374175100826276117739292138141147787854441019631




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. 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. 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. 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([21.8994,20.7485,19.5426,18.2985,17.0347,15.7689,14.5282,13.336,12.2208,11.2163,10.3697,9.72886,9.34309,9.25106,9.46773,9.97784,10.744,11.721,12.8579,14.1138,15.4539,16.8508,18.2714,19.6922,21.0895,22.4424,23.7228,24.9111,25.9888,26.942,27.7542,28.4186,28.9315,29.2926,29.503,29.5677,29.4929,29.2849,28.9515,28.4998,27.9362,27.2649,26.4942,25.6278,24.6697,23.6217,22.4927,])
array_2 = np.array([10,5,7,8,5,5,2,2,4,3,3,4,5,3,3,7,6,1,9,8,6,8,19,29,53,37,37,41,75,100,82,62,76,117,73,92,92,138,141,147,78,78,54,44,101,96,31,])
array_1_name = "The distance between Uranus and Saturn"
array_2_name = "UFO sightings in Indiana"

# 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: 2302 · Black Variable ID: 1966 · Red Variable ID: 1167
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