&Quot;National Geographic&Quot;

Does a photo published on social media show Palestinian children killed during the Israel-Hamas conflict that began on October 7, 2023? No, that's not true: While the image does depict children who lost their lives in the Middle East, it actually dates back to 2013 and was taken during the civil war in Syria. The person making the claim later…

Is the human body "designed" for a plant-based diet and incapable of ingesting and breaking down meat? No, that's not true: Two nutrition experts confirmed that to Lead Stories. The claim in a social media post is largely based on the incorrect definition of the word "omnivore," which is a term used to refer to the species that can eat…

Does a National Geographic magazine cover purportedly published in December 2020 display what appears to be two adults and two children who are all white-complexioned beside a headline that reads "WHITE PEOPLE"? No, that's not true: A National Geographic representative told Lead Stories the cover image in this tweet has been "completely fabricated." The actual December 2020 cover on the…

Does a collection of photos shared on social media show "another world" and remnants of a lost civilization or buried spacecraft under the ice of Antarctica? No, that's not true: These photos come from several sources. Some are presented with no context, while others are mislabeled or have been digitally edited to create science-fiction fantasy scenes. The collection of 11…

Is it true that "Yellowstone officials just closed down the park & said the volcanic uplift is rising" on December 18, 2022? No, that's not true: A video that made this claim reused shots from a fictional movie that has been available on YouTube since at least 2021. Officials say the park is open, and the U.S. Geological Survey says…

Did actor Morgan Freeman announce after performing at the 2022 World Cup that he has converted to Islam? No, that's not true: There is no evidence that Freeman ever publicly confirmed that he converted to Islam. The claim appeared in a Facebook post published on November 23, 2022. The post's caption read: Morgan freeman converted to islamThe famouse hollywood actor#MorganFreeman…

Did the Smithsonian Institute admit to destroying thousands of giant human skeletons? Did the U.S. Supreme Court order the Smithsonian to release classified documents that would prove this? No, neither are true: A representative for the Smithsonian told Lead Stories that the claim that they've destroyed thousands of giant human skeletons was not true. There are no press releases from…

By Uliana Malashenko and James Rosen Was U.S. citizen Brent Renaud, who was killed March 13 by Russian troops at a checkpoint near the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv, an American intelligence operative? No, it is not true. The claim was made with no evidence of Renaud's affiliation with the CIA or any other U.S. spy agencies. He was an award-winning…

Does the grid pattern on a seismic activity map indicate the La Palma volcanic eruption and earthquakes are an artificial attack? No, that's not true: The grid effect which appears on the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (ESMC) map, showing the seismic activity on the island of La Palma is not the result of a pattern on the ground, but is due…

Is an image appearing to show a giant skeleton being discovered real? No, that's not true: This is a doctored image, and digitally altered photos featuring a giant skeleton have been debunked since 2007. The claim appeared in a Facebook post (archived here) on July 11, 2012, with the image of what seems to be a giant human skeleton being…