The Wall Street Journal examines the way numbers are used, and abused.
New York, NY
Joined April 2009
- Tweets1K
- Following39
- Followers12.1K
- Likes0
Jo Craven McGinty shares her thoughts on numbers and numeracy (and a quiz!) as she says goodbye to the Numbers column wsj.com/articles/the-final-c… via @WSJ
LED light bulbs promise greater longevity than their incandescent counterparts. Here’s why that claim might not always hold up. wsj.com/articles/why-led-bul… via @WSJ
The net undercount of young children in the 2010 census was 4.6%, demographers estimate. They say it might be larger for the 2020 census. wsj.com/articles/counting-li… via @WSJ
Thirty people volunteered to get Covid-19 for the sake of science. wsj.com/articles/unlike-clin… via @WSJ
The main index used to measure obesity—called BMI—is flawed: It doesn’t distinguish fat from muscle or other tissue. Here’s why doctors continue to use it. wsj.com/articles/youre-overw… via @WSJ
Hurricane names are reused until a storm causes too much damage. Ten were named "Florence" before that name was retired, and dozens more have also been removed from the list of approved names. #WSJNumbers wsj.com/articles/hurricane-k… via @WSJ
Deaths and serious injuries related to fireworks rose sharply last year—and surged around July 4—as revenue from sales of pyrotechnics grew to a record $1.9 billion wsj.com/articles/fireworks-s… via @WSJ
Dietary supplements are more popular than ever, but what's on the label isn't necessarily what's in the bottle wsj.com/articles/the-fine-pr…
People are generally bad at assessing probabilities--and one famous example demonstrated that even experts can get tripped up. wsj.com/articles/what-are-th…
To the irritation of the scientific community, the word "supermoon" was coined by an astrologer and describes a phenomenon scientists contend the human eye can’t detect. Pizzas help visualize the difference. #WSJNumbers wsj.com/articles/the-most-su… via @WSJ
Not all plastics stamped with a recycling code will be recycled--even if they make it into a recycling bin. Here's why 90% of plastics end up in a landfill or incinerator. wsj.com/articles/recycling-i… via @WSJ #WSJNumbers
A lot about how Rawlings makes MLB’s official ball is kept secret. Here’s what we do know ahead of the 2021 season’s Opening Day wsj.com/articles/as-mlb-near… via @WSJ
Guess how many NCAA Division I athletic departments generate enough revenue to cover their own expenses? #WSJNumbers wsj.com/articles/march-madne… via @WSJ
How many Americans plan to get a Covid-19 vaccine? The answer might depend on how you ask the question. wsj.com/articles/in-covid-19… via @WSJ
In four hours, 65 commercials costing an average $5.6 million per 30-second spot aired before 91.5 million Super Bowl LV viewers. Was it worth it? wsj.com/articles/the-return-… via @WSJ
“Chicks don’t want a guy with a cat.” When it comes to online dating, the pet in your profile matters. wsj.com/articles/for-better-… via @WSJ
Why is the world’s tallest geyser so tall? And why did it reactivate after 3.5 dormant years? #WSJNumbers wsj.com/articles/the-worlds-… via @WSJ
The Numbers retweeted
What animal has a lifespan of up to 512 years? What is the average normal human-body temperature? Which month sees the most drug approvals? Here’s a quiz to test recollections of our The Numbers column on.wsj.com/3p4K3bL
Did Benford’s Law, an accounting tool used to detect fraud, really uncover cheating in the presidential election? wsj.com/articles/can-account… via @WSJ
Pop culture suggests humans use only 10% of their brains. Science says that's not true. But where did the idea come from to begin with? #WSJNumbers wsj.com/articles/is-your-bra… via @WSJ
