Science

Does stretching the back and arms improve liver and spleen function by stimulating certain "meridians," as a post on Facebook suggested? No, that's not true: A gastroenterologist told Lead Stories that "there is no conclusive scientific evidence that meridians exist" and "no evidence that [stretching] can be used to improve liver and spleen function." The page that posted the claim…

Did Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, describe the Moscow concert hall attack on March 22, 2024, as "a lot of fun"? No, that's not true: The video purportedly showing an interview with Danilov is a deepfake, created from two other videos, with a synthetic voice track. Additionally, the website of a software company specializing…

Did former astronaut Buzz Aldrin post on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the Apollo 11 mission, which allowed American astronauts to set foot on the moon for the first time, was "staged"? No, that's not true: Aldrin's official X account does not indicate that he ever made such a statement. Claims that Aldrin, who participated in the Apollo 11…

Did naturopath Barbara O'Neill endorse a "concoction" containing wheat and other herbs said to treat liver and colon tumors, as a post on Facebook suggested? No, that's not true: O'Neill, who is "permanently prohibited from providing any health services" in New South Wales, Australia, is the subject of a fake post on Facebook designed to look as though it belongs…

Did a U.S. Marine Officer spend over 15 years on Mars in a secret space program? No, that's not true: A NASA spokesperson told Lead Stories that NASA has "not yet sent humans to Mars" and has a goal of "having astronauts walk on Mars by 2040." A Pentagon duty officer confirmed to Lead Stories that this claim is "100%…

Does a paste of dates, walnuts, almonds and raisins steeped in water have scientifically proven deworming properties? No, that's not true: A board-certified medical doctor specializing in infectious diseases and internal medicine told Lead Stories that such a mixture is not proven to be effective. Lead Stories found no evidence supporting the claim. The claim appeared in a reel (archived…

When applied to the "liver area," does castor oil "break up" gallstones and kidney stones, as a video on Facebook claimed? No, that's not true: No substantive evidence exists that topically applied castor oil can treat gallstones or kidney stones. Castor oil is "generally recognized as safe and effective as an over-the-counter laxative product," the Food and Drug Administration confirmed…

Did a Danish scientist discover a 14-foot-tall white bird in Antarctica? No, that's not true: This fictional scientific discovery video was fabricated with artificial intelligence and follows a recently trending formula to produce eye-catching conspiracy content to monetize it on social media. The images of the scientist and his purported discovery, and the voice of the script reader resembling that…

Were the Twa tribe the first people to live in modern-day Ireland? No, that's not true: Lead Stories found no evidence supporting this claim. An archeologist and professor of African history interviewed by Lead Stories was not aware of any facts pointing in that direction, either. The claim reappeared in a post (archived here) on TikTok where it was published…

Did a study find that electric cars pollute 1,850 times more than fuel-based vehicles, as some online publications reported when posted about the study? No, that's not true: The "study" in question was an analysis published by an independent emissions research group, not a science journal article. The group's spokesperson told Lead Stories that some online publications misrepresented the analysis.…

Are all disease symptoms the result of the lymphatic system expelling toxins? No, that's not true: Such claims are a "vastly oversimplified concept of how disease in humans occurs," an expert in infectious disease told Lead Stories. Several factors, including exposure to infectious agents, environmental and lifestyle conditions, and genetic predispositions, cause diseases. Though there are some lymphatic system diseases,…

Did vaccines cause an "explosion in autoimmune diseases"? No, that's not true: Only in rare cases has vaccination been associated with autoimmune diseases. Vaccines are rigorously tested for safety before being approved for use, and extensive research has shown that vaccines are not linked to an "explosion of autoimmune diseases." The claim appeared in a post and video (archived here)…

Does a video prove Bill Gates suggested destroying agricultural land? No, that's not true: A convoluted post on social media cut out portions of Gates' response to a question, changing the context of what he said. The edited clip of Gates speaking at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., in 2019 was merged with an unrelated video showing cattle running…

Was "80 percent of Texas' cattle grazing land" destroyed in the 2024 wildfires burning across the Texas Panhandle, as is claimed in a post and video on Instagram? No, that's not true: As of this writing, more than 1.2 million acres have been burned in the state in four active fires in the Texas Panhandle, which contains less than 10…

Did NASA announce it is planning to inject millions of tons of ice into the atmosphere? No, that's not true: NASA has no plans to carry out such a large-scale intervention in the atmosphere. This claim is a misinterpretation of a proposed geoengineering concept, which suggests using ice particles to reflect sunlight and potentially moderate the effects of climate change.…

Does dairy intake cause asthma? No, that's not true: Although someone with both a dairy allergy and asthma may experience heightened asthma symptoms if they consume dairy, dairy is not a root cause of asthma. Asthma may be caused by a variety of other factors, including environment, having a family history of asthma and previous respiratory infections. The claim appeared…

Did the U.S. Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps execute Arati Prabhakar by hanging on February 27, 2024, for committing treason? No, that's not true: Prabhakar, director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, has appeared at a public event following the purported execution date. Also, the website where this claim was made regularly publishes fabricated content. The…

Is water the most powerful blood thinner? No, that's not true: While staying hydrated is important for overall health and can help maintain proper blood viscosity, water does not have the same effect as medications specifically designed to "thin the blood." Some people incorrectly refer to these medications as "blood thinners" but they are actually called anticoagulants. These medications work…

Do chemotherapy drugs consist of "100% mustard gas," as a post on Instagram claimed? No, that's not true: The National Cancer Institute told Lead Stories that its records do not indicate any forms of chemotherapy drugs are known to contain "100% mustard gas." One group of chemotherapy drugs, alkylating agents, contain a less toxic mustard gas derivative known as nitrogen…

Does a photo show the genuine "mud fossil remains" of the "dragon head cave in Egypt," as a video on TikTok claims? No, that's not true: The theory of "mud fossils" is a pseudoscientific notion, and there is no evidence that dragons were real. The image's photographer confirmed to Lead Stories that it showed a geological feature in Egypt's Mount…