What value do statistics really have when it comes to describing events in a country? For most people, statistics are a means to an end, a way to validate their point of view. I’ve heard many ...

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. I have absolutely no idea who will win the US election, but at least that uncertainty should be resolved soon.

The term ‘official statistics’ is not usually a headline-grabber. But, around a year ago, when Nature’s news team began exploring reports of problems with the data that governments routinely collect, ...