In this episode of "More or Less," Tim Harford and his correspondents dissect various numerical claims in the news. They investigate a YouGov survey suggesting a resurgence in UK church attendance, questioning its validity against other data. The podcast also verifies the statistic that 1,000 people daily begin claiming Personal Independence Payments (PIP) in England and Wales, exploring the reasons behind these claims and the increasing number of recipients. Additionally, they debunk a fitness guru's claim about deaths from falls, providing accurate statistics from the WHO and CDC. The team also investigates the government's claims regarding the number of people they have removed from the country, clarifying the difference between "enforced" and "voluntary" returns. Finally, they address the claim that the new Vera Rubin Observatory Telescope could see a golf ball on the moon, consulting with the Astronomer Royal for Scotland to explain why this is not possible.
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