Reflecting Pool algae bloom is one of biggest recorded in years after $14M renovation
washingtonpost.com
A $14M renovation failed to stop the Reflecting Pool's algae blooms — and the conspiracy theories that followed reveal exactly how humans misattribute cause and effect when expensive fixes disappoint.
Proportionality BiasIllusion of ControlConspiracy Theory FormationAttribution Error
Theory Briefing
- The Reflecting Pool's algae bloom is one of the biggest recorded in years, despite a $14M renovation meant to fix the problem.
- The bloom's return has spawned conspiracy theories, showing how people seek hidden causes when costly, official solutions visibly fail.
- Public debate around the algae illustrates the illusion of control — the belief that enough money and intervention should guarantee a desired outcome.