More or Less: Behind the Stats

Exploration of controversial use of Compass Assessment in criminal justice system. Highlighting racial biases in risk assessment algorithms. Debating algorithm bias in criminal justice.

Bjorn Lomborg criticizes the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, arguing 17 goals and 169 targets are too broad. The podcast explores the feasibility of the goals, challenges in education targets, optimizing efforts, and the relationship between aid money and achieving the goals.

Exploring the divided polling results on who won the US Presidential Debate between Clinton and Trump. Highlighting the importance of representative sampling in polls and the susceptibility of online polls to manipulation. Contrasting the accuracy of historical election predictions with the influence of sample selection on media outlet polls.

This week Donald Trump claimed that there are some inner city areas in the US which are suffering from the worst crime rates ever. They are so dangerous, he says, that Afghanistan is safer than many of these areas. But could this be true? We take a look at crime in the US and assess whether you can compare it to a conflict zone such as Afghanistan. (Image: Chicago - Neighbourhood residents watch as police investigate a homicide scene. Credit: Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Economist Maria Kozlovskaya discusses wedding gift economics, helping a friend navigate the dilemma of how much to give without overspending. Topics include factors to consider for gift giving, balancing friendship and budget, and traditional etiquette around wedding presents.

Delving into the controversial drug policy in the Philippines, questioning the accuracy of reported death tolls. Exploring the intersection of mathematics and gambling, revealing strategies to improve lottery odds and exploit loopholes for guaranteed wins.

Exploring the myth of menstrual synchronization among women, with a look at the controversial theory and origins. Investigating the idea through a study on college women and baboons' data, suggesting it may be more about chance than strategy. Delving into skepticism and human fascination with narratives over randomness.

Britons flock to apply for Irish passports post-Brexit. Debunking the myth of menstrual synchronization. Exploring math in music compositions. Cathy O'Neil discusses dangerous algorithms. Desk of Good News looks at organ donations trends.

Parvais Jabbar, Co-director of the Death Penalty Project, discusses the complexities of global capital punishment abolition. The podcast explores countries that have stopped executions but still pass death sentences, the challenges in abolishing the death penalty, and the political factors affecting abolition efforts worldwide.

Exploring the gender pay gap, contrasting research on post-childbirth earnings with claims of equal pay for women born after 1975. Questioning the effectiveness of using hospitals as a measure of wasteful spending. Analyzing claims on Jeremy Corbyn's campaign efforts and electoral success. Investigating global trends in death penalty abolition and challenges to execution practices. Delving into political resistance to capital punishment and positive tourism statistics in the UK.