The Numbers

The Wall Street Journal examines the way numbers are used, and abused.

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Jo Craven McGinty shares her thoughts on numbers and numeracy (and a quiz!) as she says goodbye to the Numbers column https://t.co/JNv06YoRXS via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

LED light bulbs promise greater longevity than their incandescent counterparts. Here’s why that claim might not always hold up. https://t.co/oYuzEOGkGX via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

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. https://t.co/QmPQ2fuzt3 via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

Thirty people volunteered to get Covid-19 for the sake of science. https://t.co/J6oM2HZg18 via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

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. https://t.co/p98Hwsj0Dz via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

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 https://t.co/75otxtblS4 via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

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 https://t.co/3pTL5W3g6d via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

Dietary supplements are more popular than ever, but what's on the label isn't necessarily what's in the bottle https://t.co/hHUNaqakNT

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

People are generally bad at assessing probabilities--and one famous example demonstrated that even experts can get tripped up. https://t.co/q1ACSgRuA0

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

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 https://t.co/yRVhbcaKFT via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

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. https://t.co/DZp81U4LJy via @WSJ #WSJNumbers

[The Numbers @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 https://t.co/N9krBxESuf via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

Guess how many NCAA Division I athletic departments generate enough revenue to cover their own expenses? #WSJNumbers https://t.co/vMiYU2vGCN via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

How many Americans plan to get a Covid-19 vaccine? The answer might depend on how you ask the question. https://t.co/EftsC3aFsh via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

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? https://t.co/IhwPU42YOI via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

“Chicks don’t want a guy with a cat.” When it comes to online dating, the pet in your profile matters. https://t.co/SGRSyU1AT0 via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

Why is the world’s tallest geyser so tall? And why did it reactivate after 3.5 dormant years? #WSJNumbers https://t.co/xts5Wbs5vH via @WSJ

[The Wall Street Journal @WSJ]

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 https://t.co/dYEa5eveG6

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

Did Benford’s Law, an accounting tool used to detect fraud, really uncover cheating in the presidential election? https://t.co/H0AnOimPsS via @WSJ

[The Numbers @WSJnumbers]

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 https://t.co/vdPkY5fgrz via @WSJ