fun fact

WTF Fun Fact 13482 – GPT-3 Reasoning Skills

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Research from UCLA psychologists has discovered a surprising new contender in our analogical reasoning battles – the artificial intelligence language model, GPT-3. Apparently, it holds its own against college undergraduates on reasoning problems typical of intelligence tests and the SAT.

But it fails to answer a key question: Is GPT-3 merely parroting human reasoning, or has it stumbled onto a brand-new cognitive process? (And, does this research say more about technology, college students, or intelligence tests?!)

Humans vs GPT-3

OpenAI holds GPT-3’s secrets under tight wraps, so they aren’t going to be much help in figuring out how the algorithm works its “magic.” Despite the mystery, the UCLA researchers found that GPT-3 outperformed their expectations on some tasks. Yet, other tasks saw it crash and burn.

Despite its ability to embarrass some college students, the study’s first author, Taylor Webb, emphasized GPT-3’s limitations. While it excels at analogical reasoning, it fails spectacularly at tasks simple for humans, like using tools to solve physical problems.

Webb and his colleagues tested GPT-3 on problems inspired by Raven’s Progressive Matrices. They translated the visual problems into text and gave the same problems to 40 UCLA undergraduate students.

Not only did GPT-3 perform as well as humans, but it also made similar mistakes.

What the Study Results Mean

GPT-3 solved 80% of the problems correctly, while the human average score was below 60%. The team then tested GPT-3 with SAT analogy questions they believed had never been on the internet (which would mean they weren’t part of the GPT training data). Again, GPT-3 outperformed the average college applicant’s score (then again, we know these tests aren’t really a measure of intelligence).

However, when the researchers tested the program against student volunteers on analogy problems based on short stories, GPT-3 struggled.

And tasks that require understanding physical space continue to baffle the so-called “artificial intelligence.”

“No matter how impressive our results, it’s important to emphasize that this system has major limitations,” said Taylor Webb, the study’s first author. “It can do analogical reasoning, but it can’t do things that are very easy for people, such as using tools to solve a physical task. When we gave it those sorts of problems — some of which children can solve quickly — the things it suggested were nonsensical.”

—WTF fun facts

Source: “GPT-3 can reason about as well as a college student, psychologists report” — ScienceDaily

WTF Fun Fact 13480 – Convinced of a Crime You Didn’t Commit

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It only takes a few hours for you to be convinced of a crime you didn’t commit. It’s a well-known psychological phenomenon.

This isn’t so much a “fun fact” as one that’s kind of awful if you really think about it. And it certainly has implications for questioning crime suspects (or perpetrating psychological abuse).

The criminal justice system relies heavily on the accuracy of human memory and the credibility of its testimonies. Yet, human memory is highly malleable and susceptible to suggestions and false implants. Some wrongful conviction cases suggest that innocent suspects, when questioned using certain tactics, can be led to believe and confess to committing crimes they never did.

This concept goes beyond our typical understanding of “false confessions.” It underscores the potential of forming vivid, detailed false memories of perpetrating serious crimes.

Can You Really Be Convinced of a Crime You Didn’t Commit?

A 2015 study psychologists published in the journal Psychological Science explains it all. It shows how someone can convince innocent participants they had committed crimes as grave as assault with a weapon in their teenage years. (In the years since, more research has corroborated the possibility.)

Lead psychological scientist Julia Shaw from the University of Bedfordshire, UK led the study. She found that a certain type of questioning can help generate these false memories relatively easily. Her team used a friendly interview environment, introduced a few incorrect details, and applied poor memory-retrieval techniques. (Note – the students in the study volunteered, and an ethics review board assesses research plans).

For the study, the research team first contacted the caregivers of university students. They asked them to fill out questionnaires about specific events the students might have experienced from ages 11 to 14. And they instructed them not to discuss the questions with the student/subject.

The researchers then subjected the students to three 40-minute interviews about two events from their teenage years. One real and one was falsely constructed, but included some true details from their past.

The Surprising Results

The findings were startling. Out of the 30 participants told they had committed a crime as a teenager, 21 (or 71%) developed a false memory of the “crime”! A similar proportion, 76.67%, formed false memories of an emotional event they were told about.

The criminal false events seemed just as believable as the emotional ones. Students gave the same number of details, and reported similar levels of confidence, vividness, and sensory detail for both types of events.

Shaw and co-author Stephen Porter hypothesized that incorporating true details into a supposedly corroborated account probably provided enough familiarity to make the false event plausible.

However, there were slight differences in the memories for false events and true events. For example, participants reported more details and confidence in their descriptions of the true memories.

Implications and Applications

These findings emphasize the fundamental malleability of memory. The implications extend to various fields, notably criminal justice, legal procedures, and even therapeutic settings. They indicate the need for vigilance in situations where memory recollection is key. Clearly, the innocent can be led to generate rich false memories of emotional and criminal events!

The knowledge that innocent individuals can be led to create complex false memories quite easily serves as a cautionary tale. And it’s one that hopefully influences the interview techniques that could induce them.

This research also underscores the need for further investigations into the specific interview tactics that contribute to false memories. Understanding these factors can help improve interviewing procedures, and in turn, the integrity of our legal system.

Memory, a cornerstone of our identity and experiences, can be surprisingly plastic and fallible. By studying and understanding its limitations, we can better protect ourselves from the potential distortions. This is part of ensuring a more reliable justice system, and fostering better practices in situations where the accuracy of memory is critical.

—WTF fun facts

Source: “People Can Be Convinced They Committed a Crime That Never Happened” — Psychological Science

WTF Fun Fact 13478 – Dolphins May Use Parentese Voice

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Do dolphin moms use baby talk, also known as a parentese voice? It’s hard to know for sure, but researchers think this might be the case.

What is a parentese voice?

Just like humans resort to baby talk when interacting with infants, bottlenose dolphins employ similar tactics. Studies indicate that bottlenose dolphin mothers alter their whistle pitches in the presence of their calves. This behavioral adjustment, often termed “parentese,” is thought to enhance calf attention, promoting bonding and facilitating vocal learning.

Every common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) establishes a unique whistle within the initial months of its existence. These distinctive whistles function as names, enabling dolphins to identify and keep track of each other in the vast waters, explains Laela Sayigh (in the article cited below), a marine biologist at the Massachusetts-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.

However, interestingly, dolphin mothers seem to modify their whistles when interacting with their young ones. These calves typically stay with their mothers for three to six years, allowing ample opportunity for communication.

Sayigh initially noticed this modulation in motherly dolphin tunes during a 2009 study conducted by one of her students. The research didn’t delve deeper into this observation at the time. Recently, Sayigh and her colleagues revisited this phenomenon, analyzing signature whistles from 19 female dolphins, both in the presence and absence of their calves.

This study focused on a wild dolphin population residing near Sarasota Bay, Florida, a community that has been under scientific observation for over five decades. The scientists scrutinized 40 instances of each dolphin’s signature whistle, half of which were vocalized when their calf was nearby.

Analyzing the Dolphin Parentese Voice

The research unveiled that the mother dolphins employed a broader pitch range when their young ones were around. On average, the highest pitch was slightly higher, and the lowest pitch somewhat lower than when the calves were absent. These changes strikingly mirror the characteristics of human baby talk, claims Sayigh.

A comparison between dolphin whistles in the presence and absence of calves illustrates the pronounced change in pitch. Much like human caregivers, who use real words but distinct inflections while interacting with babies, dolphins too exhibited higher pitches and a broader pitch range.

Studying Dolphin Communication

Despite these intriguing findings, some researchers like Quincy Gibson, director of dolphin research at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, caution that the study’s observations were made during catch-and-release situations. For a comprehensive understanding of dolphin communication, it’s crucial to observe and listen to freely swimming dolphin mothers, she suggests.

Mauricio Cantor, who studies animal behavior at Oregon State University’s Marine Mammal Institute, points out the speculative nature of attributing similar roles of ‘parentese’ in humans and dolphins. Absolute certainty in this matter is unachievable until we can understand dolphins’ actual intentions behind these actions, he argues.

Nevertheless, Sayigh contends that it’s fascinating to witness potential similarities in how different species communicate with their infants. This study paves the way for further exploration into the intricate world of dolphin communication.

—WTF fun facts

Source: “Bottlenose dolphin moms baby talk when their calves are near” — ScienceNews

WTF Fun Fact 13476 – Houska Castle and the “Gateway to Hell”

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The medieval Houska Castle sits in isolation near the German border of the Czech Republic. With no nearby town, trade route, or water source, the castle’s purpose seems obscure. The rumor is that it was not built to guard from external threats but to enclose an internal one. It’s purported to be the entrance to hell.

Houska Castle’s Supernatural Connection

At the beginning of the 13th century, the woods surrounding Houska became the stage for eerie local folklore. Rumors circulated among villagers about a seemingly endless chasm that was purportedly the birthplace of demonic, winged creatures. In response to the escalating fear and uncertainty, the local duke sought to dispel these myths. He conceived a plan to have a young prisoner lowered into the intimidating hole.

This experiment only intensified the villagers’ fears. The convict returned from the ominous pit in a drastically altered state – his youthful countenance had given way to the wrinkles and gray hair of an old man. His mental stability had taken a severe blow, as he seemed to have lost all touch with reality, presumably due to the horrors he had seen in the depths. This chilling transformation stoked the villagers’ belief that they were indeed living atop an entrance to hell.

To counter this growing menace, the duke decided to erect a fortress. The construction of Houska Castle, right over the supposed hellish gateway, was his strategic response. The intention was not merely to build a military stronghold or an imposing mansion, but to seal off the mysterious abyss, curbing the alleged emergence of infernal creatures, and thereby restoring some semblance of normalcy to the terrified community.

The Houska Castle Holy Barrier

The duke erected a chapel dedicated to Archangel Michael, known for leading God’s army against Lucifer’s fallen angels, over the fabled pit. The chapel stands out due to its unusual iconography, including left-handed figures often associated with the devil in that era, implying a connection to the supernatural.

In the 17th century, the castle is rumored to have housed Oronto, a Swedish occult practitioner. Locals feared him so much that two hunters infiltrated the castle to assassinate him. During World War II, the Nazis exhibited a deep fascination for Houska Castle. Reports of mysterious lights emanating from the castle triggered speculations of covert operations.

Supernatural Claims and Modern Times

Houska Castle continues to incite speculation. Visitors recount experiences such as a chorus of screams from the pit beneath the chapel and the sounds of scratching claws. Despite its ominous reputation, Houska Castle continues to draw tourists who are interested in its history and links to the supernatural.

Today, the castle is owned by the family of Josef Šimonek, the former president of carmaker Škoda. It is open to the public, though its remote location makes it a challenge to reach.

—WTF fun facts

Source: “The Real Truth Behind Houska Castle” — Discovery UK

WTF Fun Fact 13475 – The Harper Lee Christmas Gift Story

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We’re lucky enough to have the book To Kill a Mockingbird in part because of a Harper Lee Christmas gift. Lee had left law school early and was struggling to finish her book in NYC. That is, until a couple gave her the gift of time.

The Working Woman

In 1949, Lee worked as an airline reservation agent in New York City for Eastern Air Lines and British Overseas Airways. But the Alabama native had her sights set on a writing career. The problem was that the demands of her job left little room for her to dive into her passion. Writing a book takes stretches of uninterrupted time. That’s not easy for a working person (no matter what those online courses tell you about writing a book in 60 days!).

Lee managed to start on a manuscript that turned into a short story. But she struggled to find the uninterrupted hours needed to shape and refine her work into a novel. She needed a break, a window of opportunity that could help her fulfill her literary dreams. That break arrived on a memorable Christmas Day in 1956.

An Iconic Christmas Gift

Now, they say you can’t give the gift of time – but technically, you can. Apparently, you just need to have the right friends.

That year, Lee’s friends, Broadway composer Michael Brown and his wife, Joy, gave her an extraordinary present. Instead of something tangible or ornamental, they offered Lee the gift of free time. They handed her a year’s wages, accompanying this gift with a single mandate: “You have one year off from your job to write whatever you please. Merry Christmas.”

I know what I’m adding to my holiday list this year!!

Emboldened by her friends’ generosity, Lee quit her job and devoted herself to her craft. The manuscript gradually transformed over that year, morphing into the remarkable novel we now recognize.To Kill a Mockingbird was published in 1960. It soon captured the hearts of critics and readers alike, winning the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961.

The Legacy of the Harper Lee Christmas Gift

Today, To Kill a Mockingbird graces the shelves of readers around the world and continues to be a critical part of educational curriculums. Translated into over 40 languages, the novel’s tale of racial injustice and lost innocence in a small Southern town resonates with millions.

The Christmas gift that ignited the creation of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ represents more than financial aid. It embodies the impact of unwavering faith in a friend’s talent and potential. This story serves as a reminder of the transformative power that can stem from supporting someone’s dreams.

—WTF fun facts

Source: “How a thoughtful Christmas present helped Harper Lee write ‘To Kill a Mockingbird'” — Business Insider

WTF Fun Fact 13474 – Once There Were No Mosquitos in Hawaii

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Believe it or not, there were no mosquitoes in Hawaii until the 19th century.

In its early days, Hawaii was a natural utopia, a paradise that existed free of the annoying whine and itchy bites of mosquitoes. Native flora and fauna thrived without the interference of these bloodsuckers. This absence wasn’t by chance, though. Hawaii’s remoteness, surrounded by thousands of miles of open ocean, formed a natural barrier that kept mosquitoes, among other things, away.

The End of No Mosquitos in Hawaii

Everything changed in the early 19th century when mosquitoes finally found their way to the Hawaiian Islands. Brought inadvertently by humans, the first recorded arrival was in 1826 on a trading ship. The invasive species soon adapted to the tropical climate and began to breed in the islands’ plentiful standing water sources, spelling trouble for both the local ecosystem and the human population.

The Mosquito’s Impact on the Hawaiian Ecosystem

Once mosquitoes gained a foothold, the repercussions were significant. Hawaii’s native bird populations suffered drastically. Mosquitoes brought avian malaria and avian pox, diseases to which the indigenous birds had no immunity. This resulted in a significant decrease in bird populations, leading some species to the brink of extinction. The Hawaiian honeycreeper, for example, experienced a substantial decline, with some species entirely wiped out.

Humans also felt the effects of the mosquito invasion. Initially, the islands’ residents were not accustomed to the nuisance of mosquitoes. However, more than just a nuisance, mosquitoes brought diseases like dengue fever and the Zika virus, threatening public health. Moreover, tourism, a significant part of Hawaii’s economy, took a hit as the presence of these pests and the diseases they carried became a deterrent for some tourists.

Current Efforts to Control Mosquito Populations

Today, efforts are underway to control mosquito populations and mitigate their impacts on Hawaii’s ecosystem. Measures such as eliminating standing water, using mosquito repellents, and introducing mosquito predators like dragonflies are part of the strategy. In addition, genetic modification technologies are being explored to reduce the ability of mosquitoes to reproduce or carry diseases.

The late arrival of mosquitoes in Hawaii is a stark reminder of the profound effects human activities can have on isolated ecosystems. Even an event as seemingly minor as a mosquito stowing away on a ship can disrupt a delicate balance, causing ripple effects that last for centuries.

Gone are the days when there were no mosquitos in Hawaii. As the islands grapple with the ongoing challenges presented by mosquitoes, this tale provides valuable lessons about the importance of protecting the world’s unique environments from invasive species.

—WTF fun facts

Source: “The Plan to Restore a Mosquito-Free Hawaii” — Revive & Restore

WTF Fun Fact 13473 – The Greyhound Saint of Lyon

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Have you heard of Guinefort, the greyhound saint of Lyon, France?

The Legend of Guinefort, the Greyhound Saint

Guinefort’s story begins in the 13th century, nestled in the noble family of a knight who lived in a castle near Lyon. The knight had a faithful greyhound named Guinefort, who was entrusted with the protection of the knight’s infant son.

As the story goes, one day, the knight returned to his castle to find his baby’s cradle overturned, with Guinefort standing nearby, blood smeared on his muzzle. Assuming the worst, the knight believed Guinefort had harmed his child. In a fit of rage and grief, he slew the greyhound before discovering his infant son alive beneath the cradle, next to the lifeless body of a viper.

Guinefort, it turned out, had defended the child, killing the snake and saving the baby’s life.

The knight was filled with remorse and buried Guinefort in a well, planting trees around it as a memorial.

An Unconventional Saint

The story of Guinefort’s bravery and loyalty spread among the local people. They began to view the dog as a protector of infants, venerating him as a saint despite his canine status. A cult formed around Guinefort, with rituals involving mothers bringing their infants to his grave to seek his protection.

In the centuries that followed, Guinefort’s reputation as a protector of children persisted. Mothers continued to visit the grave, offering prayers and leaving tokens in the hope of invoking his protection.

The Church’s Stand on the Greyhound Saint

However, the veneration of a dog as a saint did not sit well with the Church. In the 13th century, Inquisitor Stephen of Bourbon discovered the cult and was horrified. He ordered the destruction of Guinefort’s shrine and condemned the practice, declaring it as heresy.

Despite these attempts, the cult of Saint Guinefort survived quietly among the local populace, passed down through generations. Even today, tales of the greyhound saint are still told in the region, keeping the legend alive.

The Greyhound Saint’s Cultural Impact

Guinefort’s story is not just a tale of a loyal dog. It has deeper cultural implications, reflecting the medieval society’s fears, beliefs, and social practices. The legend of Guinefort demonstrates the power of folklore and the human tendency to seek protectors and intercessors in a world filled with danger and uncertainty.

There are still references to Guinefort in literature, film, and even video games. His tale continues to captivate, providing a unique perspective on faith, folklore, and our relationship with animals.

While the original shrine no longer exists, one can still find traces of Guinefort’s veneration in Lyon’s folklore and oral traditions. Visitors curious about this peculiar piece of history can still explore the region, soaking up the rich history and cultural landscape that fostered the legend of a canine saint.

—WTF fun facts

Source: “The papacy, inquisition and Saint Guinefort the Holy Greyhound” — University of Reading

WTF Fun Fact 13472 – Failed Atlanta Nail Salon Hold-up

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A failed Atlanta nail salon hold-up in July 2023 had the Internet in stitches as they watched security footage of a man leaving empty-handed. Doesn’t this guy know you should never ask a woman to reach in her purse after she gets her nails done?!

In an event as peculiar as it sounds, an attempted robbery at a nail salon in Atlanta, Georgia, didn’t go as planned. The would-be robber was practically ignored by the customers and staff he intended to intimidate.

A Robbery Like No Other

The incident happened at the Nail First salon in Atlanta – and surveillance cameras caught it all. The footage revealed a bizarre chain of events that one might find more fitting for a sitcom than a real-life crime scene.

As the video shows, a man stormed into the salon yelling, “Everybody get down! Give me your money! Give me your money!” He held a bag in his hand, pointing it threateningly at the people inside, implying he was armed with a weapon.

However, in a twist of events, customers met his commands with an astounding level of indifference. Customers remained seated, barely looking up from their salon treatments. Some even continued with their conversations, seemingly unfazed by the apparent threat. It was as if an invisible barrier of apathy had been erected around the salon. It made the robber’s demands fall on deaf ears.

One woman, seemingly unsure of how to react, slowly stood up, raising her hands in a gesture of surrender. As she walked out the door, the intruder snatched her phone. This, however, seemed to be the extent of his “success.”

His initial confidence waned as the bewildered robber found himself in a situation he likely hadn’t anticipated. No one was screaming, panicking, or handing over their belongings. It was a stark contrast to the dramatic scene he had likely imagined in his head.

Atlanta Nail Salon Apathy Wins

In the face of this unexpected and nonchalant response, customers left the would-be criminal with little choice but to give up. Dejected and empty-handed, he fled the scene, leaving behind a room full of unimpressed customers and an unforgettable surveillance tape.

The Atlanta Police Department’s Robbery Unit has since taken over the investigation. They have requested assistance from the public to identify the suspect. “Witnesses indicated the suspect entered the location wearing a blue hat, sunglasses, and blue jeans,” said Crime Stoppers Greater Atlanta. The suspect reportedly fled the scene in a silver-colored sedan.

Luckily, the intruder didn’t physically harm anyone during the incident. However the event serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable nature of such situations and how victims may respond. In this case, indifference, a seemingly passive response, was enough to dissuade the criminal from continuing his ill-intended act.

It’s a tale that salon owners and customers alike will tell at Nail First salon for years to come – if they even bother to remember it. It’s a tale of an attempted robbery that the group thwarted not by force but by an almost comedic display of apathy.

— WTF fun facts

Source: “Robber attempts to hold up Atlanta nail salon, leaves after being ignored” — Fox News

WTF Fun Fact 13468 – The Streisand Effect

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The term “Streisand Effect” may sound like it’s tied to some groundbreaking scientific discovery, but it’s actually named after the famous American singer and actress, Barbra Streisand. The term was coined in 2005 and refers to an unexpected and counter-intuitive social phenomenon where efforts to suppress or censor information backfire, leading to the unintended consequence of the information being widely publicized and shared even more than before.

2. The Origin Story

The Streisand Effect was named after an incident involving Barbra Streisand in 2003. A photographer named Kenneth Adelman had taken aerial shots of the California coastline for the California Coastal Records Project. He intended to document coastal erosion. One of these photographs included Streisand’s Malibu home. Despite the image being among 12,000 others and not specifically identifying her home, Streisand sued Adelman and the associated website for $50 million. She asserted that the photo violated her privacy rights.

However, Streisand’s efforts to maintain her privacy unintentionally drew more attention to the photograph. Prior to the lawsuit, the picture had only been downloaded from Adelman’s website six times; two of those downloads were by Streisand’s lawyers. After the lawsuit became public, the photograph gained widespread attention, receiving over 420,000 views in the following month.

3. Examples of The Streisand Effect in Action

Since the original incident, the Streisand Effect has occurred multiple times, especially in the digital age where information spreads quickly.

In 2008, a blog post detailing weaknesses in the Church of Scientology’s operations resulted in a takedown notice from the Church. Instead of disappearing, the information proliferated across other sites, leading to more awareness and criticism of the Church.

In 2009, the UK law firm Carter-Ruck tried to suppress a report about its client Trafigura, a commodity trading company involved in a toxic waste scandal. A gag order initially prevented The Guardian from reporting on the issue. A judge lifted the order after intense public outcry and online sharing of the information.

The Power of the Streisand Effect

The Streisand Effect highlights the immense power of the internet and social media in the spread of information. It also illustrates the backlash that can result from attempts to suppress it. The digital age has shifted control over information from those with traditional power (like celebrities, corporations, governments) to the broader public.

This phenomenon raises important considerations for public figures, companies, and institutions in how they handle potentially damaging information. Attempting to suppress such information can often make matters worse. It can even cause more harm to a reputation than ignoring it or addressed it openly.

—WTF fun facts

Source: “How Barbra Streisand Inspired the ‘Streisand Effect'” — Mental Floss