about · email me · subscribe
Spurious correlation #1,045 · View random

A linear line chart with years as the X-axis and two variables on the Y-axis. The first variable is Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and the second variable is Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'.  The chart goes from 2004 to 2022, and the two variables track closely in value over that time. Small Image
Download png
, svg

AI explanation

As US households spent more on laundry and cleaning supplies, they became obsessed with achieving the freshest, cleanest scent possible. This obsession extended to wanting the ultimate fresh air experience, leading people to search for flights to Antarctica, known for its crisp, pure air. After all, if your laundry smells like a refreshing polar breeze, why not experience the real deal, right? And who wouldn't want to see penguins rocking their spotless tuxedos in person? Maybe it's time for a new marketing slogan: "Antarctica: Because Freshness Matters!"

Model: dalle-3
Prompt: Prompt: Generate an image that visually portrays a futuristic scene within a bustling store aisle filled with laundry and cleaning supplies. The shelves are stacked with various bottles and packages of detergents, fabric softeners, and cleaning agents. More people are shown purchasing these products, while a cloud of emissions rises from them, symbolizing their environmental impact. Additionally, people are depicted gathering around a computer or smartphone, with images of Antarctica displayed on the screen and searches for flights to Antarctica being typed into a search engine. The ambiance is modern and sleek, showcasing a blend of consumerism and the urge for environmental consciousness. 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 situation described. You respond only with the scene descriptions provided and say nothing else.
User prompt: Here is a situation: As US households spent more on laundry and cleaning supplies, the environmental impact of using these products skyrocketed, causing polar ice caps to melt at an alarming rate. With the increased accessibility to previously frozen areas, people's curiosity led to an uptick in Google searches for flights to Antarctica.. Given that situation, which of the following image descriptions seems most appropriate? Pick the one that seems to be related to one of the variables at hand and the tone of the explanation. Please respond with only one of the following potential descriptions: Hyper-realistic Futuristic Psychedelic Art nouveau Concept art
ChatGPT: Futuristic

Model: gpt-3.5-turbo-1106
System prompt: You describe simple visual scenes that depict the two variables stated and the explanation described. Do not reference graphs or charts; describe physical objects.
User prompt: Please describe a visual scene that depicts the following situation. Keep the description simple. As US households spent more on laundry and cleaning supplies, the environmental impact of using these products skyrocketed, causing polar ice caps to melt at an alarming rate. With the increased accessibility to previously frozen areas, people's curiosity led to an uptick in Google searches for flights to Antarctica.
ChatGPT: In a simple visual scene, there is a depiction of a bustling store aisle filled with laundry and cleaning supplies. The shelves are stocked with various bottles and packages of detergents, fabric softeners, and cleaning agents. There are visibly more people purchasing these products, and the scene is portrayed with a cloud of emissions rising from the products, symbolizing their environmental impact. Meanwhile, there is a lively depiction of people huddled around a computer or smartphone, with images of Antarctica displayed on the screen, and searches for flights to Antarctica are being typed into a search engine.

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: [ Futuristic ] and depicting this scene: In a simple visual scene, there is a depiction of a bustling store aisle filled with laundry and cleaning supplies. The shelves are stocked with various bottles and packages of detergents, fabric softeners, and cleaning agents. There are visibly more people purchasing these products, and the scene is portrayed with a cloud of emissions rising from the products, symbolizing their environmental impact. Meanwhile, there is a lively depiction of people huddled around a computer or smartphone, with images of Antarctica displayed on the screen, and searches for flights to Antarctica are being typed into a search engine. Keep the visual depiction simple. Do not include any words or speech bubbles.
ChatGPT: Prompt: Generate an image that visually portrays a futuristic scene within a bustling store aisle filled with laundry and cleaning supplies. The shelves are stacked with various bottles and packages of detergents, fabric softeners, and cleaning agents. More people are shown purchasing these products, while a cloud of emissions rises from them, symbolizing their environmental impact. Additionally, people are depicted gathering around a computer or smartphone, with images of Antarctica displayed on the screen and searches for flights to Antarctica being typed into a search engine. The ambiance is modern and sleek, showcasing a blend of consumerism and the urge for environmental consciousness.

*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 Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies caused flights to Antarctica (Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica') to increase.

AI academic paper

(Because p < 0.01)
The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'

The Journal of Quirky Socioeconomic Studies

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 Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Make lots of jokes, goofy observations, and puns.

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

Your research team used data from Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends to assess this nagging question. You found a correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and p < 0.01 for 2004 to 2022.

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]]
The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'

[[ABSTRACT]]
As the old adage goes, cleanliness is next to godliness, and apparently, wanderlust is next to laundry detergents. In this paper, we investigate the surprisingly strong connection between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Our research team utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends to scrub away at this curious correlation. The results unveiled a correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and p < 0.01, spanning from 2004 to 2022. Intriguingly, it seems that as Americans ramped up their purchases of cleaning products, their yearning for far-flung adventures toward the icy and remote region of Antarctica soared. This study not only highlights the unexpected bond between domestic cleanliness and polar exploration but also elevates the significance of exploring "clean" data in uncovering unconventional connections between consumer behaviors and wanderlust.


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 Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. 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]]
The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'

[[ABSTRACT]]
As the old adage goes, cleanliness is next to godliness, and apparently, wanderlust is next to laundry detergents. In this paper, we investigate the surprisingly strong connection between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Our research team utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends to scrub away at this curious correlation. The results unveiled a correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and p < 0.01, spanning from 2004 to 2022. Intriguingly, it seems that as Americans ramped up their purchases of cleaning products, their yearning for far-flung adventures toward the icy and remote region of Antarctica soared. This study not only highlights the unexpected bond between domestic cleanliness and polar exploration but also elevates the significance of exploring "clean" data in uncovering unconventional connections between consumer behaviors and wanderlust.

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[INTRODUCTION]]



ChatGPT:
[[INTRODUCTION]]

Cleanliness and wanderlust, two seemingly unrelated concepts, converge in a peculiar dance that has intrigued our research team. The allure of pristine Antarctic landscapes and the pursuit of spotless homes have long captivated the human imagination. However, one might not expect a relationship between the annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and the Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Yet, as the saying goes, "the dirtier the laundry, the stronger the urge to flee to the land of eternal ice."

Researchers have long been drawn to uncovering unexpected correlations in consumer behavior. From the infamous link between the consumption of cheese and the number of people who died by becoming tangled in their bedsheets to the curious relationship between the number of Nicolas Cage movies and swimming pool drownings, the realm of peculiar connections never fails to amuse and baffle.

In the grand tradition of these investigations into the whims of human behavior, we sought to delve into the intricate relationship between domestic cleanliness and the yearning for Antarctic adventures. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends, we rolled up our sleeves, metaphorically speaking, to scrub away at the data and uncover the underlying thread connecting household cleaning habits to far-flung travel aspirations.

Our aim is not only to unravel this enigmatic correlation but also to emphasize the importance of exploring unconventional connections in consumer behavior. By delving into the unexpected relationships that lie beneath the surface of seemingly unrelated phenomena, we hope to shed light on the intricate web of human desires and activities.

So, without further ado, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a journey through the intersection of laundry detergent and polar expeditions. Let's dive into the curious world of the "Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations."


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 Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. 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 cartoons and childrens' shows that you watched that are related to the topic.

Here is the title and abstract of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'

[[ABSTRACT]]
As the old adage goes, cleanliness is next to godliness, and apparently, wanderlust is next to laundry detergents. In this paper, we investigate the surprisingly strong connection between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Our research team utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends to scrub away at this curious correlation. The results unveiled a correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and p < 0.01, spanning from 2004 to 2022. Intriguingly, it seems that as Americans ramped up their purchases of cleaning products, their yearning for far-flung adventures toward the icy and remote region of Antarctica soared. This study not only highlights the unexpected bond between domestic cleanliness and polar exploration but also elevates the significance of exploring "clean" data in uncovering unconventional connections between consumer behaviors and wanderlust.

-------

And here is the introduction section that led to this literature review:
[[INTRODUCTION]]
Cleanliness and wanderlust, two seemingly unrelated concepts, converge in a peculiar dance that has intrigued our research team. The allure of pristine Antarctic landscapes and the pursuit of spotless homes have long captivated the human imagination. However, one might not expect a relationship between the annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and the Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Yet, as the saying goes, "the dirtier the laundry, the stronger the urge to flee to the land of eternal ice."
Researchers have long been drawn to uncovering unexpected correlations in consumer behavior. From the infamous link between the consumption of cheese and the number of people who died by becoming tangled in their bedsheets to the curious relationship between the number of Nicolas Cage movies and swimming pool drownings, the realm of peculiar connections never fails to amuse and baffle.
In the grand tradition of these investigations into the whims of human behavior, we sought to delve into the intricate relationship between domestic cleanliness and the yearning for Antarctic adventures. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends, we rolled up our sleeves, metaphorically speaking, to scrub away at the data and uncover the underlying thread connecting household cleaning habits to far-flung travel aspirations.
Our aim is not only to unravel this enigmatic correlation but also to emphasize the importance of exploring unconventional connections in consumer behavior. By delving into the unexpected relationships that lie beneath the surface of seemingly unrelated phenomena, we hope to shed light on the intricate web of human desires and activities.
So, without further ado, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a journey through the intersection of laundry detergent and polar expeditions. Let's dive into the curious world of the "Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]



ChatGPT:
[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]

The relationship between consumer spending habits and travel aspirations has long intrigued scholars and researchers alike. In "Smith et al.," the authors find a significant correlation between household expenditures on cleaning products and the desire to embark on novel travel experiences. This unexpected connection has sparked a wave of curiosity and prompted further investigations into the underlying motivations behind such peculiar patterns of behavior.

In pursuit of a holistic understanding of consumer behavior, "Doe and Jones" delved into the intricacies of domestic cleanliness and its potential influence on travel preferences. Their findings echoed the sentiments of previous studies, highlighting the fascinating interplay between mundane household chores and the allure of far-flung destinations.

As we venture deeper into this uncharted territory of consumer psychology, it becomes crucial to consider the broader cultural and societal implications of these findings. In "Clean House, Clear Mind: The Psychological Impact of Tidiness," the authors explore the psychological benefits of maintaining a clean living space, shedding light on the potential link between cleanliness and a yearning for new travel experiences. Similarly, "The Art of Wanderlust: Exploring the Urge to Explore" offers valuable insights into the aspirational aspects of travel, providing a rich context for understanding the underlying motivations that may drive individuals to seek out unconventional and remote destinations.

However, as we navigate through the literature, it is important to acknowledge the potential for unexpected sources of inspiration. For instance, "The Chronicles of Snowy Peaks" and "Frozen Encounters: Tales of Arctic Adventures" offer fictional narratives that, while not grounded in empirical research, may spark the imagination and curiosity of readers, potentially influencing their perceptions of travel destinations, including Antarctica.

Furthermore, popular culture has played a significant role in shaping societal attitudes toward travel and exploration. Animated series such as "Penguin Adventures" and "Ice Cap Escapades" have undoubtedly captured the fascination of audiences, potentially planting the seeds of wanderlust and a yearning for polar expeditions from a young age. While these sources may not directly inform academic research, their impact on the collective psyche is undeniable, warranting consideration in our quest to unravel the enigmatic connection between household spending on cleaning supplies and flights to Antarctica.

In light of these diverse influences and scholarly perspectives, it is clear that the intersection of consumer behavior, domestic habits, and travel aspirations presents a multifaceted and complex tapestry. As we embark on our own expedition to decipher this intriguing correlation, we must remain open to unexpected discoveries and, perhaps, the occasional pun-laden detour along the way.


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 Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. 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 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends . You used data from 2004 to 2022

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

Here is the title, abstract, and introduction of the paper:
[[TITLE]]
The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'

[[ABSTRACT]]
As the old adage goes, cleanliness is next to godliness, and apparently, wanderlust is next to laundry detergents. In this paper, we investigate the surprisingly strong connection between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Our research team utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends to scrub away at this curious correlation. The results unveiled a correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and p < 0.01, spanning from 2004 to 2022. Intriguingly, it seems that as Americans ramped up their purchases of cleaning products, their yearning for far-flung adventures toward the icy and remote region of Antarctica soared. This study not only highlights the unexpected bond between domestic cleanliness and polar exploration but also elevates the significance of exploring "clean" data in uncovering unconventional connections between consumer behaviors and wanderlust.

[[INTRODUCTION]]
Cleanliness and wanderlust, two seemingly unrelated concepts, converge in a peculiar dance that has intrigued our research team. The allure of pristine Antarctic landscapes and the pursuit of spotless homes have long captivated the human imagination. However, one might not expect a relationship between the annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and the Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Yet, as the saying goes, "the dirtier the laundry, the stronger the urge to flee to the land of eternal ice."
Researchers have long been drawn to uncovering unexpected correlations in consumer behavior. From the infamous link between the consumption of cheese and the number of people who died by becoming tangled in their bedsheets to the curious relationship between the number of Nicolas Cage movies and swimming pool drownings, the realm of peculiar connections never fails to amuse and baffle.
In the grand tradition of these investigations into the whims of human behavior, we sought to delve into the intricate relationship between domestic cleanliness and the yearning for Antarctic adventures. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends, we rolled up our sleeves, metaphorically speaking, to scrub away at the data and uncover the underlying thread connecting household cleaning habits to far-flung travel aspirations.
Our aim is not only to unravel this enigmatic correlation but also to emphasize the importance of exploring unconventional connections in consumer behavior. By delving into the unexpected relationships that lie beneath the surface of seemingly unrelated phenomena, we hope to shed light on the intricate web of human desires and activities.
So, without further ado, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a journey through the intersection of laundry detergent and polar expeditions. Let's dive into the curious world of the "Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[METHODOLOGY]]



ChatGPT:

[[METHODOLOGY]]

To explore the surprising relationship between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica', we employed a methodological approach that was as thorough and meticulous as sorting socks from a mountain of laundry. We gathered data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to track trends in household expenditure on cleaning supplies from 2004 to 2022. This involved sifting through quantitative data on purchases of detergents, soaps, and other cleaning products, which, to our delight, didn't leave any stains on our findings.

In parallel, we waded into the digital domain of Google Trends, where we donned our virtual pith helmets and searched for patterns in searches related to flights to Antarctica over the same period. Our foray into the online wilderness of search queries and trends was akin to embarking on an expedition to uncharted territories, complete with the occasional unexpected encounters with "clean flights" and "polar vacation packages".

The correlation analysis was conducted with the scrutiny of a forensic investigator examining evidence at a crime scene. We employed robust statistical methods to tease out the intricacies of the relationship between household spending on cleaning supplies and the desire to wing one's way toward Antarctica. The thorough statistical analysis was undoubtedly a mental workout, not unlike navigating the labyrinth of laundry detergents in an overcrowded supermarket aisle - but we persevered, undeterred by the occasional tumble into a pile of foam and fabric softeners.

Additionally, we applied advanced time series analysis techniques to detect any underlying patterns and seasonal variations in both the household spending on cleaning supplies and the frequency of searches for Antarctic adventures. This involved venturing into the wilderness of econometric models and signal processing to uncover any hidden rhythms in the data, navigating through fluctuations that were almost as unpredictable as the quest for the perfect stain remover.

In summary, our methodology involved a judicious combination of traditional economic data analysis, digital exploration of search trends, and advanced statistical techniques, resulting in a kaleidoscope of methods that led us on a wild and winding journey through the colorful landscapes of consumer behavior and travel ambitions.


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 Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. 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 Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends .

For the time period 2004 to 2022, you found a correlation 0.9064779, r-squared of 0.8217021, 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]]
The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'

[[ABSTRACT]]
As the old adage goes, cleanliness is next to godliness, and apparently, wanderlust is next to laundry detergents. In this paper, we investigate the surprisingly strong connection between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Our research team utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends to scrub away at this curious correlation. The results unveiled a correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and p < 0.01, spanning from 2004 to 2022. Intriguingly, it seems that as Americans ramped up their purchases of cleaning products, their yearning for far-flung adventures toward the icy and remote region of Antarctica soared. This study not only highlights the unexpected bond between domestic cleanliness and polar exploration but also elevates the significance of exploring "clean" data in uncovering unconventional connections between consumer behaviors and wanderlust.

-------

And here is the methodology section that led to this result:
[[METHODOLOGY]]
Cleanliness and wanderlust, two seemingly unrelated concepts, converge in a peculiar dance that has intrigued our research team. The allure of pristine Antarctic landscapes and the pursuit of spotless homes have long captivated the human imagination. However, one might not expect a relationship between the annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and the Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Yet, as the saying goes, "the dirtier the laundry, the stronger the urge to flee to the land of eternal ice."
Researchers have long been drawn to uncovering unexpected correlations in consumer behavior. From the infamous link between the consumption of cheese and the number of people who died by becoming tangled in their bedsheets to the curious relationship between the number of Nicolas Cage movies and swimming pool drownings, the realm of peculiar connections never fails to amuse and baffle.
In the grand tradition of these investigations into the whims of human behavior, we sought to delve into the intricate relationship between domestic cleanliness and the yearning for Antarctic adventures. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends, we rolled up our sleeves, metaphorically speaking, to scrub away at the data and uncover the underlying thread connecting household cleaning habits to far-flung travel aspirations.
Our aim is not only to unravel this enigmatic correlation but also to emphasize the importance of exploring unconventional connections in consumer behavior. By delving into the unexpected relationships that lie beneath the surface of seemingly unrelated phenomena, we hope to shed light on the intricate web of human desires and activities.
So, without further ado, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a journey through the intersection of laundry detergent and polar expeditions. Let's dive into the curious world of the "Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations."

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[RESULTS]]



ChatGPT:

[[RESULTS]]

The findings of our investigation into the intriguing relationship between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica' are nothing short of chilling—pun intended—yet undeniably fascinating. The data analysis revealed a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and an r-squared value of 0.8217021, with a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a highly significant relationship between the two variables.

Fig. 1 illustrates the scatterplot, which visually captures the compelling correlation between annual household spending on cleaning supplies and the frequency of Google searches for flights to Antarctica. The plot unmistakably depicts a steep upward trend, with a surge in cleaning product expenditures seemingly paralleling a heightened interest in embarking on Antarctic voyages. It's as if the increased scent of fresh laundry has somehow wafted its way into the minds of Americans, stoking their desire to venture towards the icy wonders of the South Pole.

Intriguingly, the results align with the notion that as domestic cleanliness ascended, so did the aspirations for far-flung travels to the pristine and uncharted territories of Antarctica. While we may not have found the "smoking gun" for this correlation, it seems that the allure of a sparkling home somehow ignites an inner desire for polar exploration. The study brings to light the unexpected bond between mundane household chores and the romanticized appeal of polar expeditions, urging a reevaluation of the intricate web of human desires and activities.

These compelling findings not only contribute to the growing body of research on consumer behavior but also underscore the importance of exploring unconventional correlations, even if they appear as remote and unlikely as the frosty landscapes of Antarctica. As the data would have it, when it comes to the connection between household cleanliness and wanderlust, the evidence is crystal clear—it's time to break out the laundry detergent and pack our bags for the ultimate journey to the polar south!


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 Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. 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]]
The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'

[[ABSTRACT]]
As the old adage goes, cleanliness is next to godliness, and apparently, wanderlust is next to laundry detergents. In this paper, we investigate the surprisingly strong connection between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Our research team utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends to scrub away at this curious correlation. The results unveiled a correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and p < 0.01, spanning from 2004 to 2022. Intriguingly, it seems that as Americans ramped up their purchases of cleaning products, their yearning for far-flung adventures toward the icy and remote region of Antarctica soared. This study not only highlights the unexpected bond between domestic cleanliness and polar exploration but also elevates the significance of exploring "clean" data in uncovering unconventional connections between consumer behaviors and wanderlust.

[[LITERATURE REVIEW]]
The relationship between consumer spending habits and travel aspirations has long intrigued scholars and researchers alike. In "Smith et al.," the authors find a significant correlation between household expenditures on cleaning products and the desire to embark on novel travel experiences. This unexpected connection has sparked a wave of curiosity and prompted further investigations into the underlying motivations behind such peculiar patterns of behavior.
In pursuit of a holistic understanding of consumer behavior, "Doe and Jones" delved into the intricacies of domestic cleanliness and its potential influence on travel preferences. Their findings echoed the sentiments of previous studies, highlighting the fascinating interplay between mundane household chores and the allure of far-flung destinations.
As we venture deeper into this uncharted territory of consumer psychology, it becomes crucial to consider the broader cultural and societal implications of these findings. In "Clean House, Clear Mind: The Psychological Impact of Tidiness," the authors explore the psychological benefits of maintaining a clean living space, shedding light on the potential link between cleanliness and a yearning for new travel experiences. Similarly, "The Art of Wanderlust: Exploring the Urge to Explore" offers valuable insights into the aspirational aspects of travel, providing a rich context for understanding the underlying motivations that may drive individuals to seek out unconventional and remote destinations.
However, as we navigate through the literature, it is important to acknowledge the potential for unexpected sources of inspiration. For instance, "The Chronicles of Snowy Peaks" and "Frozen Encounters: Tales of Arctic Adventures" offer fictional narratives that, while not grounded in empirical research, may spark the imagination and curiosity of readers, potentially influencing their perceptions of travel destinations, including Antarctica.
Furthermore, popular culture has played a significant role in shaping societal attitudes toward travel and exploration. Animated series such as "Penguin Adventures" and "Ice Cap Escapades" have undoubtedly captured the fascination of audiences, potentially planting the seeds of wanderlust and a yearning for polar expeditions from a young age. While these sources may not directly inform academic research, their impact on the collective psyche is undeniable, warranting consideration in our quest to unravel the enigmatic connection between household spending on cleaning supplies and flights to Antarctica.
In light of these diverse influences and scholarly perspectives, it is clear that the intersection of consumer behavior, domestic habits, and travel aspirations presents a multifaceted and complex tapestry. As we embark on our own expedition to decipher this intriguing correlation, we must remain open to unexpected discoveries and, perhaps, the occasional pun-laden detour along the way.

[[RESULTS]]
The findings of our investigation into the intriguing relationship between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica' are nothing short of chilling—pun intended—yet undeniably fascinating. The data analysis revealed a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and an r-squared value of 0.8217021, with a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a highly significant relationship between the two variables.
Fig. 1 illustrates the scatterplot, which visually captures the compelling correlation between annual household spending on cleaning supplies and the frequency of Google searches for flights to Antarctica. The plot unmistakably depicts a steep upward trend, with a surge in cleaning product expenditures seemingly paralleling a heightened interest in embarking on Antarctic voyages. It's as if the increased scent of fresh laundry has somehow wafted its way into the minds of Americans, stoking their desire to venture towards the icy wonders of the South Pole.
Intriguingly, the results align with the notion that as domestic cleanliness ascended, so did the aspirations for far-flung travels to the pristine and uncharted territories of Antarctica. While we may not have found the "smoking gun" for this correlation, it seems that the allure of a sparkling home somehow ignites an inner desire for polar exploration. The study brings to light the unexpected bond between mundane household chores and the romanticized appeal of polar expeditions, urging a reevaluation of the intricate web of human desires and activities.
These compelling findings not only contribute to the growing body of research on consumer behavior but also underscore the importance of exploring unconventional correlations, even if they appear as remote and unlikely as the frosty landscapes of Antarctica. As the data would have it, when it comes to the connection between household cleanliness and wanderlust, the evidence is crystal clear—it's time to break out the laundry detergent and pack our bags for the ultimate journey to the polar south!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[DISCUSSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[DISCUSSION]]

The unexpected correlation between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica' has left us spinning in a whirlpool of speculation, detergent puns, and nomadic yearning. The results of this study not only validate previous research but also unearth an unprecedented link between the scent of fresh laundry and the allure of remote polar landscapes.

As we reflect on the findings, the echoes of "Smith et al." and "Doe and Jones" reverberate through the laundry-scented air, affirming the robustness of our results within the context of prior investigations. It seems that the suds of consumer behavior and the snowdrifts of wanderlust are indeed intertwined, creating an intricate tapestry of domestic aspirations and travel whims.

Furthermore, the literature review prompted us to consider the potential for unexpected sources of inspiration, including the fictional narratives of "The Chronicles of Snowy Peaks" and "Frozen Encounters: Tales of Arctic Adventures." While these tales may not be grounded in empirical reality, they might just hold a glacial fragment of truth in igniting the imagination and influencing travel preferences, including the enigmatic allure of Antarctica.

The results of our study provide empirical support for the underlying motivations that may drive individuals to seek out unconventional and remote destinations, paving the way for a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between domestic habits and the yearning for polar expeditions. The findings not only contribute to the expanding landscape of consumer behavior research but also underscore the necessity of peeling back the layers of seemingly disparate variables to reveal the intriguing connections that lie beneath.

In conclusion—although we'll reserve the official conclusion for later—this study emphasizes the significance of exploring unconventional correlations, even if they appear as remote and unlikely as the frosty landscapes of Antarctica. The evidence speaks for itself, proclaiming a profound connection between domestic aspirations for cleanliness and the timeless allure of polar exploration. As we navigate through the realms of consumer behavior and travel aspirations, it's clear that sometimes the unlikeliest pairings create the most compelling narratives. So, while the laundry machine spins, so too does the desire for adventure, beckoning us irresistibly toward the frozen frontiers of the southernmost continent. Onward, to the laundromats and the great white expanse!


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 Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. 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]]
The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'

[[ABSTRACT]]
As the old adage goes, cleanliness is next to godliness, and apparently, wanderlust is next to laundry detergents. In this paper, we investigate the surprisingly strong connection between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Our research team utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends to scrub away at this curious correlation. The results unveiled a correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and p < 0.01, spanning from 2004 to 2022. Intriguingly, it seems that as Americans ramped up their purchases of cleaning products, their yearning for far-flung adventures toward the icy and remote region of Antarctica soared. This study not only highlights the unexpected bond between domestic cleanliness and polar exploration but also elevates the significance of exploring "clean" data in uncovering unconventional connections between consumer behaviors and wanderlust.

[[INTRDUCTION]]
Cleanliness and wanderlust, two seemingly unrelated concepts, converge in a peculiar dance that has intrigued our research team. The allure of pristine Antarctic landscapes and the pursuit of spotless homes have long captivated the human imagination. However, one might not expect a relationship between the annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and the Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Yet, as the saying goes, "the dirtier the laundry, the stronger the urge to flee to the land of eternal ice."
Researchers have long been drawn to uncovering unexpected correlations in consumer behavior. From the infamous link between the consumption of cheese and the number of people who died by becoming tangled in their bedsheets to the curious relationship between the number of Nicolas Cage movies and swimming pool drownings, the realm of peculiar connections never fails to amuse and baffle.
In the grand tradition of these investigations into the whims of human behavior, we sought to delve into the intricate relationship between domestic cleanliness and the yearning for Antarctic adventures. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends, we rolled up our sleeves, metaphorically speaking, to scrub away at the data and uncover the underlying thread connecting household cleaning habits to far-flung travel aspirations.
Our aim is not only to unravel this enigmatic correlation but also to emphasize the importance of exploring unconventional connections in consumer behavior. By delving into the unexpected relationships that lie beneath the surface of seemingly unrelated phenomena, we hope to shed light on the intricate web of human desires and activities.
So, without further ado, fasten your seatbelts and prepare for a journey through the intersection of laundry detergent and polar expeditions. Let's dive into the curious world of the "Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations."

[[RESULTS]]
The findings of our investigation into the intriguing relationship between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica' are nothing short of chilling—pun intended—yet undeniably fascinating. The data analysis revealed a remarkably strong correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and an r-squared value of 0.8217021, with a p-value of less than 0.01, indicating a highly significant relationship between the two variables.
Fig. 1 illustrates the scatterplot, which visually captures the compelling correlation between annual household spending on cleaning supplies and the frequency of Google searches for flights to Antarctica. The plot unmistakably depicts a steep upward trend, with a surge in cleaning product expenditures seemingly paralleling a heightened interest in embarking on Antarctic voyages. It's as if the increased scent of fresh laundry has somehow wafted its way into the minds of Americans, stoking their desire to venture towards the icy wonders of the South Pole.
Intriguingly, the results align with the notion that as domestic cleanliness ascended, so did the aspirations for far-flung travels to the pristine and uncharted territories of Antarctica. While we may not have found the "smoking gun" for this correlation, it seems that the allure of a sparkling home somehow ignites an inner desire for polar exploration. The study brings to light the unexpected bond between mundane household chores and the romanticized appeal of polar expeditions, urging a reevaluation of the intricate web of human desires and activities.
These compelling findings not only contribute to the growing body of research on consumer behavior but also underscore the importance of exploring unconventional correlations, even if they appear as remote and unlikely as the frosty landscapes of Antarctica. As the data would have it, when it comes to the connection between household cleanliness and wanderlust, the evidence is crystal clear—it's time to break out the laundry detergent and pack our bags for the ultimate journey to the polar south!

-------

Your response should start like this:

[[CONCLUSION]]



ChatGPT:

[[CONCLUSION]]

In conclusion, our investigation into the surprising link between US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica' has not only scrubbed away at conventional wisdom but also revealed an unexpected correlation. The chillingly strong correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and the r-squared value of 0.8217021 indicate a connection as potent as the power of a robust laundry detergent. The visual depiction of the upward trend in Fig. 1 is just as striking as a pristine, newly laundered white shirt fresh out of the dryer.

Our findings highlight the unforeseen bond between domestic cleanliness and the urge to traverse the daunting and remote landscapes of Antarctica. It appears that as Americans padded their laundry rooms with an array of cleaning products, their aspirations for Antarctic escapades soared to unprecedented heights, much like a flight bound for the South Pole. It seems the scent of clean laundry has a way of wafting into the psyche, fueling a yearning for the uncharted territories of polar exploration.

The quirky relationship between laundry and Antarctica serves as a reminder of the whimsical nature of human desires and activities, akin to stumbling upon a pair of missing socks amidst the vast expanse of the laundry abyss. Furthermore, the study underscores the value of delving into unconventional connections in consumer behavior, even if they seem as distant as a flight to the ends of the Earth.

In light of these compelling results, we assert that no further research is needed in this area. After all, when it comes to the connection between household cleanliness and wanderlust, the evidence is as clear as a glass of stain-free, sparklingly clean water. It's time to fold this story and place it neatly in the drawer of unconventional yet fascinating research findings. And with that, we bid adieu to our unusual yet enlightening journey into the "Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations."


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 The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'. Respond only with the name of a fictional academic journal.

ChatGPT:

The Journal of Quirky Socioeconomic Studies


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 The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica'. Respond only with the name of a fictional organization.

ChatGPT:

The Society for Quirky Behavioral Research (SQBR)


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 The Dirty Laundry of Travel Aspirations: Exploring the Relationship between US Household Spending on Cleaning Supplies and Google Searches for 'Flights to Antarctica' with an abstract of As the old adage goes, cleanliness is next to godliness, and apparently, wanderlust is next to laundry detergents. In this paper, we investigate the surprisingly strong connection between annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies and Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'. Our research team utilized data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics and Google Trends to scrub away at this curious correlation. The results unveiled a correlation coefficient of 0.9064779 and p < 0.01, spanning from 2004 to 2022. Intriguingly, it seems that as Americans ramped up their purchases of cleaning products, their yearning for far-flung adventures toward the icy and remote region of Antarctica soared. This study not only highlights the unexpected bond between domestic cleanliness and polar exploration but also elevates the significance of exploring "clean" data in uncovering unconventional connections between consumer behaviors and wanderlust.

ChatGPT:

US household spending, cleaning supplies, Google searches, flights to Antarctica, wanderlust, domestic cleanliness, polar exploration, consumer behaviors, unconventional connections, data analysis, wanderlust correlation, cleaning products, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Google Trends, consumer spending patterns

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



Random correlation

Discover a new correlation

View all correlations

View all research papers

Report an error


Data details

Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies
Detailed data title: Average annual household spend on laundry and cleaning supplies
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
See what else correlates with Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies

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

See what else correlates with Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'

Correlation r = 0.9064779 (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 = 0.8217021 (Coefficient of determination)
This means 82.2% of the change in the one variable (i.e., Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica') is predictable based on the change in the other (i.e., Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies) over the 19 years from 2004 through 2022.

p < 0.01, which is statistically significant(Null hypothesis significance test)
The p-value is 9.0E-8. 0.0000000897176036533206900000
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 9.0E-6% of random cases. Said differently, if you correlated 11,146,085 random variables You don't actually need 11 million 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 18 degrees of freedom, Degrees of freedom is a measure of how many free components we are testing. In this case it is 18 because we have two variables measured over a period of 19 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.

[ 0.77, 0.96 ] 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.
2004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies (Household spend)149134151140148156150145155154148156160177184185170178170
Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica' (Rel. search volume)11.16677.8333319.916713.083316.083313.7517.416715.583318.2518.666717.833322.2525.166731.535.416734.2528.416721.333329.4167




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([149,134,151,140,148,156,150,145,155,154,148,156,160,177,184,185,170,178,170,])
array_2 = np.array([11.1667,7.83333,19.9167,13.0833,16.0833,13.75,17.4167,15.5833,18.25,18.6667,17.8333,22.25,25.1667,31.5,35.4167,34.25,28.4167,21.3333,29.4167,])
array_1_name = "Annual US household spending on laundry and cleaning supplies"
array_2_name = "Google searches for 'flights to Antarctica'"

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

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



Reuseable content

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

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

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

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

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

Download images for these variables:


View another random correlation

How fun was this correlation?

Your rating is pure awesomeness!


Correlation ID: 1045 · Black Variable ID: 19913 · Red Variable ID: 1373
about · subscribe · emailme@tylervigen.com · twitter

CC BY 4.0