How not to be misled by numbers in the news

+ which states are losing representatives, electors US Edition - Today's top story: Numbers can trip you up during the pandemic – here are 4 tips to help you figure out tricky stats [View in browser]( US Edition | 27 April 2021 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair The COVID-19 pandemic has unleashed a flood of numbers that news consumers are left to try to wade through. Vaccine efficacy stats, coronavirus case counts, survey breakdowns of attitudes toward the vaccines. It’s a lot to keep straight. Plenty of people might find themselves wondering if they’re completely getting what these numbers are trying to say. Ellen Peters is a decision psychologist at the University of Oregon. She studies how people understand and use numbers when they’re figuring out risks and making choices. She’s pulled four examples from the news to help readers gain some confidence around the [kinds of statistics that come up in COVID-19 coverage](. Also today: - [What a growing Chinese middle class means to the rest of the world]( - [FBI reaches out to Hasidic Jews to fight antisemitism]( - [Humans can’t end climate change by planting trees]( Maggie Villiger Senior Science + Technology Editor Today's newsletter supported by [MarketWatch]( Understanding vaccine effectiveness stats can help you weigh the risks of travel. AP Photo/Rick Bowmer [Numbers can trip you up during the pandemic – here are 4 tips to help you figure out tricky stats]( Ellen Peters, University of Oregon Understanding numbers in the news or social media can empower you to figure out risks and make good choices. Here's what to look out for to make sure you aren't misled by COVID-19 coverage. Politics + Society - [Census results shift political power in Congress, presidential elections]( Dudley L. Poston Jr., Texas A&M University The US Census Bureau has announced which states will gain and lose representation in Congress as a result of the 2020 census. Here's how it makes the calculations. Economy + Business - [If China’s middle class continues to thrive and grow, what will it mean for the rest of the world?]( Amitrajeet A. Batabyal, Rochester Institute of Technology If China's economy recovers from the pandemic, its authoritarian political system could become even more influential around the world. - [Airbnb hosts, Uber drivers and waiters who are more politically conservative get slightly higher ratings and tips]( Alexander Davidson, Wayne State University This finding was a surprise, since consumers actually seem to think liberals will provide better service. Ethics + Religion - [FBI reaches out to Hasidic Jews to fight antisemitism – but bureau has fraught history with Judaism]( Sarah Imhoff, Indiana University During the Cold War, the FBI boasted a 'Judeo-Christian' heritage in the US but also demonstrated anti-Jewish prejudice. Environment + Energy - [Arbor Day should be about growing trees, not just planting them]( Karen D. Holl, University of California, Santa Cruz; Pedro Brancalion, Universidade de São Paulo Planting trees is a popular way to do something for nature, but putting seedlings in the ground is just the first step. And without long-term care, those sprouts may not last. Health - [Trans youth are coming out and living in their gender much earlier than older generations]( Jae A. Puckett, Michigan State University The survey also found that trans people who live in their affirmed gender report experiencing less stigma, anxiety and depression. Science + Technology - [FTC warns the AI industry: Don’t discriminate, or else]( Ryan Calo, University of Washington The Federal Trade Commission is rattling its saber at the technology industry over growing public concern about biased AI algorithms. Can the agency back up its threats? From our international editions - [Climate scientists: concept of net zero is a dangerous trap]( James Dyke, University of Exeter; Robert Watson, University of East Anglia; Wolfgang Knorr, Lund University Prominent academics, including a former IPCC chair, round on governments worldwide for using the concept of net zero emissions to 'greenwash' their lack of commitment to solving global warming. - [South Africa remains a nation of insiders and outsiders, 27 years after democracy]( Steven Friedman, University of Johannesburg In the country’s insider politics, the majority who try to survive outside the formal economy are talked about, but are never heard. - [COVID-19 in India: an unfolding humanitarian crisis]( Michael Head, University of Southampton Stories of reaching herd immunity were certainly premature. --------------------------------------------------------------- Today’s graphic [A map of the United States showing which states will either lose or gain seats in Congress as a result of the 2020 census.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe](. 303 Wyman Street, Suite 300 Waltham, MA 02451