Blog Archives

Managing the highs and lows of data overload

Managing the highs and lows of data overload

We live in a world with a lot of data. In fact, we’re bombarded by it. Estimates suggest that today we take in about five times as much information as we did 25 years ago, and that we process as much data in a day — approximately 34 gigabytes — as our 15th-century ancestors would have in […] … learn more→

Statistical drugs: Depression and cholesterol

Statistical drugs: Depression and cholesterol

It’s summer, higher education slows a bit, and I get to consider other things. So, we have another depressing headline in the news: CDC: Teen suicide rate up 70% from 2006 to 2016 This is a pretty hefty increase over a mere decade. Some news sites are trying to spin this as inadequate medical coverage, […] … learn more→

How to stop haemorrhaging data on Facebook

How to stop haemorrhaging data on Facebook

If you are one of 2.2 billion Facebook users worldwide, you have probably been alarmed by the recent coverage of the Cambridge Analytica scandal, a story that began when The Guardian revealed 50 million (now thought to be 87 million) user profiles had been retrieved and shared without the consent of users. Though the #deletefacebook campaign has gained […] … learn more→

Why you stink at fact-checking

Why you stink at fact-checking

Here’s a quick quiz for you: In the biblical story, what was Jonah swallowed by? How many animals of each kind did Moses take on the Ark? Did you answer “whale” to the first question and “two” to the second? Most people do … even though they’re well aware that it was Noah, not Moses […] … learn more→

Discovering the Iguazu Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage:

Discovering the Iguazu Falls, a UNESCO World Heritage:

Iguazu Falls, also known as Iguazú Falls, Iguassu Falls, or Iguaçu Falls, isn’t just a waterfall but up to 300 individual waterfalls that bridge the border between Argentina and Brazil making it the biggest waterfalls system in the world. The falls live inside protected national parks, Iguazú National Park (Argentina) and Iguaçu National Park (Brazil), […] … learn more→

Why education and health are so vitally important

Why education and health are so vitally important

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention works diligently to educate the public on all types of medical conditions, especially communicable diseases. This education offers a broad range of benefits, in terms of preventing the spread of these diseases. Without education, a single outbreak of a communicable disease would turn into a catastrophe in […] … learn more→