9 unexpected facts, which we have learned through the science of large data

Now we are entering a new age of the gold rush, but instead of gold hunting is carried out for the data - the main resource of the information age. Corporations and governments on a daily basis collect terabytes of data, the analysis of which can bring the gold mountain, this time in the present.

whether the number of crimes increased after sporting events? Vegetarians are less likely to arrive late on a plane? Does your email address anything about your intentions? Yes, yes and yes!

Here are 9 of unusual facts that we have learned through science about big data. Facts taken from the enlarged edition of the book by Eric Siegel "Calculate the future. Who clicks, buy, sovret or die. "

1. Cookies before hurricane

cookie sale to hurricanes increased by 7 times.

Our explanation

Before the disaster, people hoard long-life products.

2. More crimes - more orders taxis

In the San Francisco area with the highest crime rate, prostitution and alcoholism are the most popular to order a taxi by Uber.

Our explanation

Elevated crime rate due to the fact that the area remains a lot of people who do not live there: they come to spend the evening, hang out and go home.

3. Increase the creditworthiness of the correct letters

People, neatly filling the online application forms creditThey are more reliable borrowers. Those who fills in all the fields in lower case are less reliable. The worst of the reputation of those who fills all in capital letters.

Our explanation

Compliance with the rules of grammar reflects the general tendency of the person to comply with the rules and laws.

4. Chrome and Firefox users work better

Among the employees working remotely or in support of sales, there is the following pattern: those who use the Chrome browser or Firefox, we show the best results in the accounting system of labor efficiency, and tend to stay in one organization longer.

Our explanation

The fact that you have installed another browser, instead of using the default browser, It says that you're an advanced user, care about its productivity and its ready improve.

5. Skipping breakfast is bad for the heart

Men aged 45 to 82 years, regularly skipping breakfastThey are 27% more likely to develop coronary heart disease over the next 16 years.

Our explanation

If you do not take into account possible direct medical reason, skipping breakfast can be an indicator of stress and unhealthy lifestyle. Such men are more likely to be smokers, workaholics, unmarried, less mobile and consume a lot of alcohol.

6. Involvement of personnel affects safety

At the refinery level increasing involvement of personnel in the operation of business only 1% leads to a decrease in accidents at 4%.

Our explanation

Involved in the corporate governance work more focused and better focus at work.

7. Smart people eat potatoes in the form of curls

If you layknuli photo fries in the form of curls, then most likely you have a high intelligence.

Our explanation

Probably, it was something like this: some smart guy layknul photo, then tightened his friends and also layknuli, then - their friends, and so on a chain. According to statistics, intelligent people are more likely to have smart friends - and turned a statistical correlation with the level of intelligence.

8. Hurricanes with female names more lethal

Investigation of the most devastating hurricanes in the United States showed that hurricanes with female names killed almost 3 times more people than hurricanes with men: an average of 42 people against 15.

Our explanation

All because of the hidden sexismHurricanes with female names subconsciously perceived as less hazardous than with male hurricanes.

9. Higher status - the less polite

Analysis edits articles "Wikipedia" has shown that those who are politely talking in the comments, often raised to administrators, who give more rights. In this case, after the increase in the level of courtesy newly made administrators falls.

Our explanation

One of politeness theory suggests that she has a negative correlation with the status: the higher a person in the social hierarchy, the less polite.

And now an important announcement: all the explanations - this is just a hypothesis without empirical evidence. they came through pure intuition, the real causes of these phenomena are unknown.

Moreover, the statistics are well aware of: the correlation between two variables does not mean that among them all there is a causal connection, even indirect.

On the other hand, it is not necessary for predictive analytics. Whatever the reason for the correlation, of the knowledge of it is enough. Therefore, predicting the future is now possible to do without any explanation - Thank you very much data!

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