# Wtf/wtg science **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [January 1, 2021, 3:48pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672 "2021-01-01T15:48:50Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![twig93](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/twig93/32/527_2.png) [@twig93](https://community.goactuary.com/u/twig93)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2021, 1:43pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/42 "2021-05-16T13:43:15Z")
What I’ve read on that is that the wolves have made a real difference, but Yellowstone is not completely recovered from the damage caused by killing them off. More plainly: True: The reintroduction of wolves has resulted in significant ecological recovery. False: The reintroduction of wolves has resulted in total ecological recovery. > **[Yellowstone's wolves are back, but they haven't restored the park's...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/science/2018/09/07/wolves-reintroduction-yellowstone-ecosystem/973658002/)** > > Nearly 25 years after wolves were reintroduced, the predators have helped parts of the park bounce back but haven't completely restored Yellowstone. > [@](#): > > “This idea that wolves have caused rapid and widespread restoration of the ecosystem is just bunk,” Hobbs said. “It’s just absolutely a fairytale.” > [@](#): > > Yellowstone’s partial recovery has set off a heated debate in academia over how much bringing back an apex predator, such as the wolf, can help restore a devastated ecosystem. > [@](#): > > Most ecologists agree that Yellowstone has rebounded some. ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2021, 10:27am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/43 "2021-05-18T10:27:36Z")
> **[Mammals can breathe via anus in emergency, finds Japanese study](https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2021/may/15/mammals-can-breathe-via-anus-in-emergency-says-japanese-study-2303054.html)** > > A team of Japanese scientists has shown it is possible for mammals to absorb oxygen via the anus. Intrigued by how certain sea creatures breathe through their i ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:09am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/44 "2021-05-22T10:09:48Z")
Did you know you wanted a third thumb? > **[Robotic ‘Third Thumb’ use can alter brain representation of the hand](https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2021/may/robotic-third-thumb-use-can-alter-brain-representation-hand)** > > Using a robotic ‘Third Thumb’ can impact how the hand is represented in the brain, finds a new study led by UCL researchers. ![image](https://community.goactuary.com/uploads/default/original/2X/1/15e9b447018d8b48e85f56da5528fab7ccb3c39f.jpeg) > [![](https://i.vimeocdn.com/video/1142039826-c82cc1cb614023f53ae699af9b12d55ed0c0dc68470b2f228387e2a98072022f-d?f=webpion=us "Robotic hand augmentation drives changes in neural body representation") ](https://vimeo.com/551468278) ---
**Author:** ![Nick\_Papagiorgio](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/nick_papagiorgio/32/451_2.png) [@Nick\_Papagiorgio](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Nick_Papagiorgio)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2021, 10:51am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/45 "2021-05-22T10:51:02Z")
I’m sure that’s just an estimate right? Did they actually prove it runs 28,000 years? 🤣 ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 8:43pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/46 "2021-05-24T20:43:07Z")
They should do an experiment on married couples, see if any babies are born with extra thumbs. All this time, nature has had it wrong? Or was that extra thumb evolutioned away because it got stubbed too often? ---
**Author:** ![NormalDan](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/normaldan/32/1013_2.png) [@NormalDan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/NormalDan)\ **Post date:** [May 24, 2021, 11:25pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/47 "2021-05-24T23:25:51Z")
> [@dr\_t\_non-fan](#): > > Or was that extra thumb evolutioned away because it got stubbed too often? I’m just imagining… Ow! …Well forget it I’m completely out of the mood now ---
**Author:** ![SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/stevegrondin/32/3257_2.png) [@SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/u/SteveGrondin)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2021, 4:06am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/48 "2021-05-26T04:06:57Z")
[Is that chewing I hear?](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/may/24/research-reveals-why-some-find-the-sound-of-others-eating-so-irritating) ---
**Author:** ![ArthurItas](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/arthuritas/32/63_2.png) [@ArthurItas](https://community.goactuary.com/u/ArthurItas)\ **Post date:** [June 7, 2021, 12:54am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/49 "2021-06-07T00:54:37Z")
Science supports getting stoned with your lobster before you cook it. > **[Effects of vapor exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in the Maine...](https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.05.24.445508v1.full)** > > Rationale Despite a long history of use in synaptic physiology, the lobster has been a neglected model for behavioral pharmacology. A restauranteur proposed that exposing lobster to cannabis smoke reduces anxiety and pain during the cooking process.... ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/50 "2021-08-24T01:53:06Z")
If you’re going to fake your data, USE A REALISTIC DISTRIBUTION > **[A Big Study About Honesty Turns Out To Be Based On Fake Data](https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/stephaniemlee/dan-ariely-honesty-study-retraction)** > > Renowned psychologist Dan Ariely literally wrote the book on dishonesty. Now some are questioning whether the scientist himself is being dishonest. [https://datacolada.org/98](https://datacolada.org/98) I have referred to the original study, too, so I’m a bit peeved. Here is the histogram of the faked data – the number of miles driven: ![image](https://community.goactuary.com/uploads/default/original/2X/4/4baf6468b4eb83ccb35c5815d365160da47ad64d.png) This is a more realistic distribution of number of miles driven: ![image](https://community.goactuary.com/uploads/default/original/2X/6/61a266046834d4b7639e7cf41d64ba320d21c3c4.jpeg) and yeah, I’m going to contact the editor of the newsletter where I referenced this study. This was my old article: > **[stp-2013-iss49-campbell.pdf](https://www.soa.org/globalassets/assets/library/newsletters/stepping-stone/2013/february/stp-2013-iss49-campbell.pdf)** > > 489.36 KB ---
**Author:** ![SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/stevegrondin/32/3257_2.png) [@SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/u/SteveGrondin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 12:03pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/51 "2021-08-24T12:03:25Z")
Holy cow. That is flat out amazing. Any word on whether he attested for data accuracy at the beginning or end of the paper? OK, more seriously, here is the Ariely’s response to Data Colada: [Response](http://datacolada.org/storage_strong/DanBlogComment_Aug_16_2021_final.pdf) Interestingly: •I did not suspect any problems with the data. • I also did not test the data for irregularities, which after this painful lesson, I will start doing regularly An actuary that admits this almost certainly would fail ASOP 23 . Sounds like a professionalism case study in the making. ETA: As actuaries we most often operate in auditable circumstances. I would never imagine I could deny auditors access to the underlying seriatim data. The Data Colada group notes: There will never be a perfect solution, but there is an obvious step to take: Data should be posted. The fabrication in this paper was discovered because the data were posted. If more data were posted, fraud would be easier to catch. And if fraud is easier to catch, some potential fraudsters may be more reluctant to do it. Other disciplines are already doing this. For example, many top economics journals _require_ authors to post their raw data [[16](https://datacolada.org/98#footnote_15_6142)]. There is really no excuse. All of our journals should require data posting. ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 12:20pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/52 "2021-08-24T12:20:27Z")
Yup, I was going to write about professionalism (I am eagerly awaiting my article on Batman and professionalism, yes, really) – ASOP 23, data reliance, etc. This is one reason I always link to my original data sources (as well as mention the date I extracted the data). Anyway, there are loads of things I can think of relating to this stuff: - negative results vs. positive results - data checks - reliance on others - motivations - data science/AI/ML - assumptions - professional standards and discipline etc. ---
**Author:** ![NormalDan](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/normaldan/32/1013_2.png) [@NormalDan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/NormalDan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 12:47pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/53 "2021-08-24T12:47:56Z")
> [@SteveGrondin](#): > > I also did not test the data for irregularities, which after this painful lesson, I will start > doing regularly An actuary used raw data and had to admit to that? That’s kinda bad ---
**Author:** ![SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/stevegrondin/32/3257_2.png) [@SteveGrondin](https://community.goactuary.com/u/SteveGrondin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/54 "2021-08-24T13:45:59Z")
Sorry, to be clear, Ariely is not an actuary. I was musing about how this behavior would be analyzed if he were. And if he were an actuary hopefully he would have performed analysis under ASOP 23 that would have called the data into question (although I have a suspicion he faked the data himself). ---
**Author:** ![NormalDan](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/normaldan/32/1013_2.png) [@NormalDan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/NormalDan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 1:47pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/55 "2021-08-24T13:47:23Z")
😆 I see, makes sense. If he’s faking the data then I imagine he wouldn’t be too bothered by ASOP 23. Glad to hear he’s not an actuary though. ---
**Author:** ![meep](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/meep/32/44_2.png) [@meep](https://community.goactuary.com/u/meep)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 2:10pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/56 "2021-08-24T14:10:44Z")
Well, this is going to be part of the argument I make. If an actuary were involved in this (actually, I should go check), there could be serious repercussions. Sometimes in academia, there are repercussions, but they generally don’t rescind your PhD… they may yank grants, though. ---
**Author:** ![SpaceLobster](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/spacelobster/32/38216_2.png) [@SpaceLobster](https://community.goactuary.com/u/SpaceLobster)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 2:11pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/57 "2021-08-24T14:11:10Z")
Combo wtg science and wtg life insurance industry. I had a friend tell me that companies in Canada are now issuing life insurance to MtF trans people at standard female premiums (presuming underwriting is standard). The cases that were described to me were on people that had fully (?) transitioned medically. I don’t know, but suspect if they haven’t transitioned medically they’d probably be declined due to outstanding medical treatment. And I don’t know how it’s handled if they’ve not medically transitioned at all. Probably stuff that’s still being worked through. Nevertheless, wtg science for making this possible and wtg insurance for being progressive in this area. A great example of why I’m so passionate about the industry. ---
**Author:** ![NormalDan](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/normaldan/32/1013_2.png) [@NormalDan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/NormalDan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 2:13pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/58 "2021-08-24T14:13:09Z")
I’ve gotta believe that’s just a PR decision. I’d be amazed if life insurers had enough credibility on trans people to even have a statistical view. ---
**Author:** ![SpaceLobster](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/spacelobster/32/38216_2.png) [@SpaceLobster](https://community.goactuary.com/u/SpaceLobster)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 2:35pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/59 "2021-08-24T14:35:14Z")
I believe it was just that, though they can’t really use it as PR. Nevertheless, it was a really good outreach decision. Changing your linkedin background during pride month is one thing. Issuing female rates otoh is really putting your money where your mouth is. ---
**Author:** ![dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/d/a8b319/32.png) [@dr\_t\_non-fan](https://community.goactuary.com/u/dr_t_non-fan)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 4:03pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/60 "2021-08-24T16:03:06Z")
> [@SpaceLobster](#): > > Issuing female rates otoh is really putting your money where your mouth is. Well, there aren’t THAT many cases, so, not that much money stuffed into its mouth, wherever that might be in an insurance company. ---
**Author:** ![Snake](https://community.goactuary.com/user_avatar/community.goactuary.com/snake/32/1846_2.png) [@Snake](https://community.goactuary.com/u/Snake)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2021, 5:14pm UTC](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672/61 "2021-08-24T17:14:02Z")
Are they doing it the other way round as well? I’m guessing it mostly matters because women live longer and therefore have lower rates? [Previous page](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672.md?page=2) [Next page](https://community.goactuary.com/t/wtf-wtg-science/1672.md?page=4)