Content about “

risk

”

Cognitive biases shape how we understand. Being aware of them gives us a better chance of avoiding them.

What does it mean to say there's a 30% chance of rain today?

Does knowing statistics about a whole population tell you how they apply to you?

The way we talk about numbers affects the decisions people make - so think carefully about what you say!

How shocking is it when your risk of getting a particular disease doubles?

Probabilities and statistics: they are everywhere, but they are hard to understand and can be counter-intuitive. So what's the best way of communicating them to an audience that doesn't have the time, desire, or background to get stuck into the numbers? This article explores modern visualisation techniques and finds that the right picture really can be worth a thousand words.

Insurance companies offer protection against rare but catastrophic events like hurricanes or earthquakes. But how do they work out the financial risks associated to these disasters? Shane Latchman investigates.