Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

On the blind use of statistical tools in the analysis of globular cluster stars

As with most data analysis methods, the Bayesian method must be handled with care. We show that its application to determine stellar evolution parameters within globular clusters can lead to paradoxical results if used without the necessary precautions. This is a cautionary tale on the use of statistical tools for big data analysis.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1: Colour–magnitude diagram for the two analysed globular clusters.
The alternative text for this image may have been generated using AI.

References

  1. Sarajedini, A. et al. Astron. J. 133, 1658–1672 (2007).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Piotto, G. et al. Astron. J. 149, 91 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Carretta, E. Astrophys. J. 810, 148 (2015).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Wagner-Kaiser, R. et al. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 468, 1038–1055 (2017).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Dotter, A. et al. Astrophys. J. Suppl. 178, 89–101 (2008).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Norris, J. E. Astrophys. J. Lett. 612, L25–L28 (2004).

  7. Piotto, G. et al. Astrophys. J. Lett. 661, L53–L56 (2007).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Tailo, M., Di Criscienzo, M., D’Antona, F., Caloi, V. & Ventura, P. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 457, 4525–4535 (2016).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Salaris, M., Riello, M., Cassisi, S. & Piotto, G. Astron. Astrophys. 420, 911–919 (2004).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Iben, I. Nature 220, 143–146 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Sweigart, A. V. Astrophys. J. Suppl. 65, 95–135 (1987).

  12. D’Antona, F. et al. Astrophys. J. 631, 868–878 (2005).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Böhm-Vitense, E. Zeitschrift für Astrophysik 46, 108 (1958).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Trampedach, R., Stein, R. F., Christensen-Dalsgaard, J., Nordlund, Å. & Asplund, M. Mon. Not. R. Astron. Soc. 445, 4366–4384 (2014).

  15. Leek, J., McShane, B. B., Gelman, A., Nuijten, M. B. & Goodman, S. Nature 551, 557–559 (2017).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Francesca D’Antona.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

D’Antona, F., Caloi, V. & Tailo, M. On the blind use of statistical tools in the analysis of globular cluster stars. Nat Astron 2, 270–272 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0408-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Version of record:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41550-018-0408-1

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing AI and Robotics

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: AI and Robotics newsletter — what matters in AI and robotics research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing: AI and Robotics