More or Less: Behind the Stats

Statisticians analyze the life expectancy of popes, showing Pope Francis may have been too pessimistic. Investigating the alleged 'London Olympics curse' with 18 deaths since 2012 - from cancer to murder. Debunking myths about athlete mortality rates after the Olympics and comparing them to the general population.

The podcast discusses the analysis of celebrity deaths this year compared to previous years. It also covers the polling results on British Muslims' opinions, challenges in polling methods, migration statistics, and the European Girls Maths Olympiad. The focus is on increasing female participation in math competitions and the mentoring programs for students.

Explore the historical origins of the concept of average, from its invention for navigation to its application in social and national statistics. Learn how astronomers in the 1600s began finding the average from observations of the skies. Discover how the 'Average Man' was born in the 1800s as the concept of average expanded to societal applications.

Topics discussed include the challenges of low participation in shared parental leave, the concept of exponential love through math and music, the economic impact of EU membership on the UK, and the pitfalls of relying on averages in astronomical measurements.

Debunking the myth of 26,911 words of EU cabbage regulations, tracing it back to American origins. Exploring the evolution of EU cabbage regulations and highlighting unique standards for optimizing crop yield.

Debunking the myth of EU regulations on cabbage being 26,911 words long, exploring the impact and origins of this misconception. Investigating the effectiveness of academies in England and the claims made by a popular reality TV show on contributing a billion pounds to the UK economy. Examining the reliability of food surveys and the challenges in gathering accurate data on food consumption.

Professor David Speigelhalter discusses the new UK alcohol guidelines, debunking myths about alcohol benefits, exploring complexities of alcohol research and health impacts, and highlighting discrepancies in self-reported alcohol consumption. The podcast delves into the controversy around defining safe drinking limits and compares risks of moderate alcohol consumption to other daily activities.

Lawyer Gerald Abila calculates more phones than lightbulbs in Uganda. Thyroid cancer spike post-Fukushima linked to screening, not radiation. Epidemiologists question alarmingly high cases found in under-19 scans, citing likelihood of increased cases from extensive testing.

Christie Aschwanden, FiveThirtyEight's lead writer for science, discusses the challenges and pitfalls of food surveys. She explores the difficulties in accurately recalling food consumption habits and the complexities of quantifying food intake. The podcast also delves into surprising correlations between food choices and unique personal characteristics, emphasizing caution in drawing causal relationships from correlations.

Exploring the truth behind the statistic from The Big Short that ties unemployment to mortality rates. Delving into the debate over the UK's economy as the fifth largest in the world. Fact-checking controversial claims and examining the impact of unemployment on society.