William M. Briggs

Can A Scientist Believe In Miracles? — Guest Post by Bob Kurland

Visit Kurland's site for more. "Miracles always relate to the faith. That is why a belief in miracles is not a vacation from reason, a little holiday from the tedious…

Statistics

Another Drake Equation Paper Shows Why Drake Always Fails

We've seen the Drake equation in many forms, none of them very impressive. They all share the same failing, as we'll see. Two fellows, Frank and Sullivan, have another go.…

Podcast

You—Yes, You—Are Doing Probability & Statistics Wrong — Podcast

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rNCoSp8w9I Download MP3 Fellow users of probability, statistics, and computer "learning" algorithms, physics and social science modelers, big data wranglers, philosophers of science, epistemologists; other respected citizens. We're doing it…

Statistics

The Gambler’s Fallacy Proves Classical Statistics (Frequentist & Bayes) Fails

Everybody who's anybody---which makes, as we'll see, a lot of nobodies---knows the gambler's fallacy. Gambler watches the roulette wheel come up red six times running and says to himself, "Black…

Culture

Pride In Objectively Disordered Sexual Desires?

https://twitter.com/NYPD34Pct/status/747135422459940864 Yesterday was "Pride" day. Pride. Pride? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart. No, surely not that kind of pride. Pride goeth before destruction, and an…

Philosophy SAMT

Summary Against Modern Thought: Good And Evil Aren’t Wholly Opposites

See the first post in this series for an explanation and guide of our tour of Summa Contra Gentiles. All posts are under the category SAMT. Previous post. We're deep…

Culture

Brexit: A Decision By A Democracy

Picture from here (somehow the Twitter embedding didn't work). So, Brexit. A democracy has spoken. The will of the people being sovereign, or so says the theory which all love…

Culture

Britain Free. France, Texas Next? Brexit Open Thread

https://twitter.com/Outsideness/status/746172629166391296 Last day of class. Your regular broadcast resumes tomorrow. Wales and England, except in the metropolitan areas (surprise), said Leave and Scotland and Northern Ireland said Remain. With the…

Cary D Cotterman on What A WinterJanuary 20, 2026
There's always something busting on a house or a car, and mean weather doesn't help. The joy of home and…
shawn marshall on What A WinterJanuary 20, 2026
c'mon global warming!
Chad W Jessup on What A WinterJanuary 20, 2026
Wish some of that snow would come west, as it looks like La Niña is not helping out here. Repairing…
Brian (bulaoren) on What A WinterJanuary 20, 2026
Dr. Briggs I reckon you can be forgiven for today's little screed; That weather sounds pretty nasty. My only experience…
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health on What A WinterJanuary 20, 2026
Doesn't sound fun, but hang in there. Here in the center of the country, we've had very little snow and…

William M. Briggs

What A Winter

FDA Goes Bayes: It Should Have Gone Probability

Class 76: That’s Not Noise. That’s Signal!

AI: The Earth Is Spinning Faster & Slower (Because “Climate Change”)

Confirmation Bias In The Minneapolis Shooting

Sports Betting Is An Excellent Way To Lose Money

Class 75: A Gentle Introduction To Time Series

The Consent Fallacy

On Laws Banning Hacking Women’s Genitals & Imposing Beliefs

Register Your Predictions For 2026!

Happy New Year!

How Did We Do In Our 2025 Predictions?

Why The Drake Equation Fails

Canada Invents New Euphemism For Doctor Killings

Merry Christmas!

Complete List Of All Moral & Ethical Questions Answered By Science

Why British & EU Rulers Are Juicing War With Russia

Climate Models

Is Powerball A “Fair Game”?

No Class: But Here’s Some Homework

On The Form Of Species: ‘Dance To The Tune Of Life’ by Denis Noble Reviewed

What A Winter

FDA Goes Bayes: It Should Have Gone Probability

Can A Scientist Believe In Miracles? — Guest Post by Bob Kurland

Another Drake Equation Paper Shows Why Drake Always Fails

You—Yes, You—Are Doing Probability & Statistics Wrong — Podcast

The Gambler’s Fallacy Proves Classical Statistics (Frequentist & Bayes) Fails

Pride In Objectively Disordered Sexual Desires?

Summary Against Modern Thought: Good And Evil Aren’t Wholly Opposites

Brexit: A Decision By A Democracy

Britain Free. France, Texas Next? Brexit Open Thread

There Is No Culture Without Inequality: Stove 1

Impose Your Beliefs Before They Impose Theirs

Telekinesis: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification

The Physics Of Blessings: Ideas In Our Reenchantment & Rectification