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Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life

Tim Harford explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

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More or Less: Brain food and bacteria

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Chocolates

16/11/2012

Brain food and bacteria

BBC World Service - More or Less, Brain food and bacteria

Ruth Alexander explains the numbers and statistics in the news and in life.

There's not an obvious link between chocolate and Nobel prizes, but this did not stop news outlets around the world reporting the amount of chocolate a country consumes influences the number of Nobel prizes they will win. 

In many cases the scientific study was reported without question or comment. Ruth Alexander asks what this story tells us about the way the media reports scientific studies, and why the correlation between the two might be so strong. 

Also – it's often said that chopping boards or dishcloths have many more bacteria than toilet seat but is this really true?

(Image: Rows of chocolates, Credit: AFP/Getty Images)

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