spurious correlations
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View details about correlation #2,428
Neptune's Nautical Nuisance: Navigating the Link Between the Distance from Neptune and the Number of Burglaries in Kansas
As Neptune got closer, its gravitational pull on Neptune-etheless law-abiding citizens increased, creating a cosmic neighborhood watch.
What else correlates?
The distance between Neptune and Earth · all planets
Burglaries in Kansas · all random state specific
The distance between Neptune and Earth · all planets
Burglaries in Kansas · all random state specific
View details about correlation #5,941
Russell Crowe's Reels and Walgreens' Wants: A Witty Wanderlust
Russell Crowe's intense energy was being siphoned off by the film industry, leading to a nationwide shortage of gruff charm. This, in turn, resulted in Walgreens customers feeling a conspicuous lack of ruggedness and righteous indignation while shopping for their everyday needs.
View details about correlation #1,427
Moniker of Maladies: Manchester's Miasma and Meddling with Mortality
With cleaner air, people were simply not being as 'heart-pressed' to find unconventional remedies, leading to a drop in searches for 'how to treat internal bleeding.'
View details about correlation #4,949
Up in Flames: Exploring the 'Mocking Spongebob' Meme's Correlation with LPG Consumption in Kyrgyzstan
As the 'mocking spongebob' meme gained popularity, more people were using internet memes as a source of energy, leading to an overall increase in the nation's happiness levels. This collective increase in happiness manifested as spontaneous laughter, which in turn generated small but measurable amounts of static electricity. This collective static electricity was then harnessed and channeled to power facilities that produce liquefied petroleum gas in Kyrgyzstan. This unintended but highly effective use of meme power ultimately contributed to an uptick in the production and use of liquefied petroleum gas in the country.
What else correlates?
Popularity of the 'mocking spongebob' meme · all memes
Liquefied petroleum gas used in Kyrgyzstan · all energy
Popularity of the 'mocking spongebob' meme · all memes
Liquefied petroleum gas used in Kyrgyzstan · all energy
View details about correlation #1,065
Playing with Fire: The Scorching Relationship Between Arson in Alabama and the Number of Library Assistants
Many library assistants were getting bored and needed some heat in their jobs, so they deliberately sparked up their workplace environment. As the saying goes, where there's smoke, there's a hiring freeze!
What else correlates?
Arson in Alabama · all random state specific
The number of library assistants in Alabama · all cccupations
Arson in Alabama · all random state specific
The number of library assistants in Alabama · all cccupations
View details about correlation #1,152
Revving Up the Spam: An Exhaustive Examination of the Relationship between Yamaha Motorcycle Registrations in the UK and Annual Email Spam Rates
The roar of more Yamaha motorcycles on the streets revved up a chain reaction - it created a 'cycle' of electromagnetic interference, inadvertently boosting the signal for spammers to 'wheelie' inundate our inboxes. It seems like these two-wheeled wonders were inadvertently paving the way for a different kind of 'motor' fraud.
What else correlates?
Number of registered Yamaha motorcycles in the UK · all weird & wacky
Annual Email Spam Rates · all weird & wacky
Number of registered Yamaha motorcycles in the UK · all weird & wacky
Annual Email Spam Rates · all weird & wacky
View details about correlation #1,943
Clearing the Air: Examining the Smoky Relationship Between Air Pollution in Wichita and Teck-ing Resources' Stock Price
The smog in Wichita created a strong demand for air purifiers, leading to a spike in the production of electronic components, which ultimately boosted the need for Teck Resources' mined materials like copper and zinc.
What else correlates?
Air pollution in Wichita · all weather
Teck Resources' stock price (TECK) · all stocks
Air pollution in Wichita · all weather
Teck Resources' stock price (TECK) · all stocks
View details about correlation #5,958
The Jovial Level: One Does Not Simply Meme Popularity and Republican Senatorial Votes in Massachusetts
As the 'one does not simply' meme gained popularity, it led to an unexpected surge in interest in Massachusetts politics. People across the state were captivated by the meme's clever spin on the concept of complexity. This heightened engagement prompted a greater turnout of Republican voters, who were inspired by the meme's assertion that certain tasks or outcomes were not as straightforward as they may seem. In a strange turn of events, the meme inadvertently served as a catalyst for energizing the Republican base in Massachusetts, ultimately impacting the votes for Senators. After all, in the world of politics, one does not simply underestimate the influence of internet memes!
What else correlates?
Popularity of the 'one does not simply' meme · all memes
Votes for Republican Senators in Massachusetts · all elections
Popularity of the 'one does not simply' meme · all memes
Votes for Republican Senators in Massachusetts · all elections
View details about correlation #2,455
Mowing the Competition: The Grassroots Influence of Outdoor Power Equipment Mechanics on Volkswagen Challenger Set Final Match Score Differences
As the Final Match Score Difference in the Volkswagen Challenger Set increased, so did the number of outdoor power equipment mechanics in Pennsylvania. It seems the players' performance was directly impacting the state's workforce. They really set the bar high, leading to a mow-tivational surge in mechanics wanting to leaf their own mark on the industry. It's like they say, when it comes to shaping the future of outdoor power equipment, every point counts!
View details about correlation #5,236
Energizing the Web: Uncovering the Link Between Online Domains and Wind Power Generation
As the internet expanded, it created a surge in cat video consumption. This led to an increase in laughter around the world, which in turn resulted in stronger and more frequent gusts of wind, ultimately boosting the total wind power generated globally. Remember, laughter is truly the best renewable energy source!
What else correlates?
Number of websites on the internet · all weird & wacky
Total wind power generated globally · all energy
Number of websites on the internet · all weird & wacky
Total wind power generated globally · all energy
View details about correlation #2,183
Smoggy with a Chance of Tiffany: The Correlation Between the Popularity of the Name Tiffany and Poor Air Quality in Los Angeles
As fewer Tiffanys were around, there were fewer people asking, "Isn't it just Tiff-any for a smoggy day in LA?". With less demand for punny pollution commentary, the air quality improved in a stroke of bizarre linguistic luck!
What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Tiffany · all first names
Air pollution in Los Angeles · all weather
Popularity of the first name Tiffany · all first names
Air pollution in Los Angeles · all weather
View details about correlation #5,960
Analyzing the Purrfect Storm: A Feline Scratches and Coca-Cola Stock Price Correlation
As Google searches for 'my cat scratched me' went up, more people began to seek out the comfort of a cold, fizzy beverage. This led to a surge in demand for Coca-Cola products, ultimately driving up The Coca-Cola Company's stock price. It seems like even feline antics couldn't scratch the surface of Coca-Cola's success!
What else correlates?
Google searches for 'my cat scratched me' · all google searches
The Coca-Cola Company's stock price (KO) · all stocks
Google searches for 'my cat scratched me' · all google searches
The Coca-Cola Company's stock price (KO) · all stocks
View details about correlation #2,723
The Great Alaska Robbery: A Causative Correlation with Professorial Paychecks?
As robberies decreased in Alaska, the demand for security systems also decreased, leading to a surplus of security devices. This surplus put pressure on the manufacturing industry, causing companies to cut costs. Since many of these companies also happened to be major university donors, they had less funds available to contribute to professor salaries, ultimately leading to a nationwide decrease in pay for educators. This just goes to show that even the most unexpected trends can have a ripple effect on our economy and day-to-day lives. Remember, a safer Alaska could mean a lighter wallet for your favorite professor!
What else correlates?
Robberies in Alaska · all random state specific
Professor salaries in the US · all education
Robberies in Alaska · all random state specific
Professor salaries in the US · all education
View details about correlation #1,172
Spreading Wealth: The Butter-ly Effect on the Economic Churn in the Washington Metro Area
As butter consumption increased, so did the number of buttery smooth business transactions, churning out profits and greasing the wheels of the local economy. The correlation is udderly undeniable - more butter, more economic power in the Washington metro area.
What else correlates?
Butter consumption · all food
Economic output of Washington metro area · all weird & wacky
Butter consumption · all food
Economic output of Washington metro area · all weird & wacky
View details about correlation #4,630
The Actuarial Arithmetic: A Quantitative Analysis of Numberphile Video Titles and the Actuary Population in Utah
As the number of actuaries in Utah increases, so does their collective brainpower. This leads to a surge in mathematical prowess within the state. As a result, the residents of Utah become better at appreciating and understanding complex numerical concepts. This heightened numerical acumen creates a demand for even more engaging mathematical content, prompting Numberphile to step up their video title game. It's like a quadratic formula for success – as the actuaries square up in Utah, Numberphile's video titles experience exponential growth!
What else correlates?
How good Numberphile YouTube video titles are · all YouTube
The number of actuaries in Utah · all cccupations
How good Numberphile YouTube video titles are · all YouTube
The number of actuaries in Utah · all cccupations
View details about correlation #1,102
Correlation between Cuban Kerosene Consumption and CIA Hotline Searches: A Curious Connection
This is clearly a case of spies being left in the dark! As the kerosene supply dwindled, Cuban spies had to cut back on their clandestine activities. Without enough fuel for their sneaky operations, they couldn't keep their hotline to the CIA burning. So, the reduction in kerosene usage in Cuba quite literally put a damper on their ability to make calls to the CIA hotline.
What else correlates?
Kerosene used in Cuba · all energy
Google searches for 'cia hotline' · all google searches
Kerosene used in Cuba · all energy
Google searches for 'cia hotline' · all google searches
View details about correlation #1,081
Jordan Robberies: A Study of the Correlation Between the Name and Crime in South Carolina
More babies were named Jordan, leading to an increased demand for personalized basketball jerseys. This demand caused a spike in underground jersey counterfeiting operations, ultimately leading to an uptick in overall criminal activity, including robberies, in South Carolina.
What else correlates?
Popularity of the first name Jordan · all first names
Robberies in South Carolina · all random state specific
Popularity of the first name Jordan · all first names
Robberies in South Carolina · all random state specific
View details about correlation #5,891
Trading Meme: The Insider Connection Between Bloomberg's Money Stuff and 'Bad Luck Brian' Popularity
As fewer articles were published, insider traders had less guidance, leading to a series of comically unfortunate events in their attempts to make illicit gains. This inadvertently mirrored the classic 'bad luck Brian' meme, thus reducing the need for its online circulation.
View details about correlation #1,689
A Liberal Arts Prescription: The Pediatric Predicament in Massachusetts
As the number of Bachelor's degrees awarded in Liberal Arts decreased, there was a corresponding decrease in the availability of people who could properly interpret children's finger paintings, leading to a decline in accurate early developmental assessments. This ultimately resulted in a reduced number of qualified pediatricians in Massachusetts as the demand for quality crayon-based diagnostics exceeded the supply.
What else correlates?
Bachelor's degrees awarded in Liberal arts · all education
The number of pediatricians in Massachusetts · all cccupations
Bachelor's degrees awarded in Liberal arts · all education
The number of pediatricians in Massachusetts · all cccupations
View details about correlation #5,904
Grate Expectations: The Gouda News on Cheddar Cheese Consumption and Solar Power Generated in Haiti
As Cheddar cheese consumption increased, the collective brainpower of the population reached new heights. With innovative solutions, they developed a way to harness the renewable energy of cheese dreams, leading to a surge in solar power generation in Haiti. The Cheesy Brainwave Initiative has now sparked a gouda revolution in the energy sector! Curd you believe it?
What else correlates?
Cheddar cheese consumption · all food
Solar power generated in Haiti · all energy
Cheddar cheese consumption · all food
Solar power generated in Haiti · all energy
Why this works
- Data dredging: I have 25,237 variables in my database. I compare all these variables against each other to find ones that randomly match up. That's 636,906,169 correlation calculations! This is called “data dredging.”
Fun fact: the chart used on the wikipedia page to demonstrate data dredging is also from me. I've been being naughty with data since 2014.
Instead of starting with a hypothesis and testing it, I instead tossed a bunch of data in a blender to see what correlations would shake out. It’s a dangerous way to go about analysis, because any sufficiently large dataset will yield strong correlations completely at random. - Lack of causal connection: There is probably no direct connection between these variables, despite what the AI says above.
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.
This is exacerbated by the fact that I used "Years" as the base variable. Lots of things happen in a year that are not related to each other! Most studies would use something like "one person" in stead of "one year" to be the "thing" studied. - Observations not independent: For many variables, sequential years are not independent of each other. You will often see trend-lines form. 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 naive p-value calculation does not take this into account.
You will calculate a lower chance of "randomly" achieving the result than represents reality.
To be more specific: p-value tests are probability values, where you are calculating the probability of achieving a result at least as extreme as you found completely by chance. When calculating a p-value, you need to assert how many "degrees of freedom" your variable has. I count each year (minus one) as a "degree of freedom," but this is misleading for continuous variables.
This kind of thing can creep up on you pretty easily when using p-values, which is why it's best to take it as "one of many" inputs that help you assess the results of your analysis.
- Y-axes doesn't start at zero: I truncated the Y-axes of the graphs 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. If you click on any of the charts that abuse this, you can scroll down to see a version that starts at zero. - Confounding variable: Confounding variables (like global pandemics) will cause two variables to look connected when in fact a "sneaky third" variable is influencing both of them behind the scenes.
- Outliers: Some datasets here have outliers which drag up the correlation.
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.
Because this page is automatically generated, I don't know whether any of the charts displayed on it have outliers. I'm just a footnote. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I intentionally mishandeled outliers, which makes the correlation look extra strong. - Low n: There are not many data points included in some of these charts.
You can do analyses with low ns! But you shouldn't data dredge with a low n.
Even if the p-value is high, we should be suspicious of using so few datapoints in a correlation.
Pro-tip: click on any correlation to see:
- Detailed data sources
- Prompts for the AI-generated content
- Explanations of each of the calculations (correlation, p-value)
- Python code to calculate it yourself
