Science

Did MSNBC host Rachel Maddow post on X discouraging people from disclosing vaccine injuries "on social media," as a post on Instagram suggested? No, that's not true: A spokesperson for MSNBC confirmed to Lead Stories that "the post is fake." Lead Stories also conducted advanced searches through Maddow's X profile, both live and archived versions, dating to February 15, 2024,…

Did a study find that vaccination for measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) causes an increased likelihood of asthma and eczema? No, that's not true: The study authors did not come up with that conclusion. They said, "Our data suggest that currently recommended routine vaccinations are not a risk factor for asthma or eczema." The claim appeared in a post and…

Did Amy Schumer say she developed "vaccine acquired immune deficiency syndrome" (VAIDS) as a result of COVID-19 vaccination? No, that's not true: Schumer said on her Instagram account that she has endometriosis, a disease that causes tissue similar to the lining of the uterus to grow outside the uterus. VAIDS is not a recognized medical condition related to COVID-19 vaccination…

Did a drop in vaccine uptake in Japan cause a drastic drop in infant mortality, as a post on Instagram suggested? No, that's not true: While there was a policy change in 1994 that removed government requirements for childhood vaccines, Japanese health authorities and experts still recommend a routine vaccine schedule similar to those implemented in the U.S. Japan has…

Has rabies "never been proven to exist"? No, that's not true: Rabies is a viral disease that affects mammals, including humans, and is typically transmitted through the saliva of infected animals, often through bites. The existence of rabies is well-documented in medical and scientific literature, and extensive efforts worldwide are made to prevent and control its spread through vaccination and…

Did a video shared on social media genuinely show a UFO that was recorded flying over Sweden? No, that's not true: Lead Stories determined that the original clip shared on Instagram was created as part of a school project by 16-year-old Swedish "3D artist" @qvist_designs. The account holder confirmed to Lead Stories that the video was "fake." A version of…

Do transplanted organs transmit character traits from the donor to the person receiving them, as a video on social media claims? No, that's not true: Transplant surgeons and a nonprofit for transplant patients told Lead Stories that no scientific evidence or credible research supports the idea that transplanted organs can transmit character traits from the donor to the recipient. Organ…

Does a NASA video prove that satellites are "manifestly fake," as a post on TikTok claimed? No, that's not true: The clip shared to TikTok used genuine NASA footage of an artistic rendering of satellites orbiting in space. Those clips were not presented by NASA as authentic satellite images, and the video shared to TikTok cropped out the label that…

Was the Gemini 9 spacewalk in 1966 faked, as a 2024 post on social media implies with a video clip? No, that's not true: Video footage included in the post is from a 1966 televised re-enactment of what was happening in space on June 5 of that year. CBS News Correspondent Walter Cronkite said multiple times during the live broadcast…

Did NASA's Hubble Telescope take the Weekly World News' "Photo of Heaven" as part of hundreds of photos beamed back from space to the Goddard Space Flight Center in December 1993? No, that's not true: NASA told Lead Stories that it is "not a real Hubble image," but artwork. The Hubble Space Telescope, launched in 1990, has provided stunning images…

Did an immunologist accidentally admit that COVID-19 vaccines were intended to sterilize humans, as a video on Instagram implied? No, that's not true: Though the post included genuine footage, it lacked context that makes clear what was meant. Dr. John Bell's comments in an interview were about "sterilizing immunity", a public health term that refers to eradicating a virus from…

Does a homemade concoction made of boiled citrus fruits, root vegetables and herbs prevent COVID-19? No, that's not true: An infectious disease expert told Lead Stories that "there's absolutely no evidence that this will work," and there is no verified scientific study confirming the effectiveness of such a mixture in preventing a person from contracting the virus. He recommended that…

Did the World Health Organization seek "surveillance powers to monitor every man, woman, and child for 'disease control'" as a post on Instagram implied? No, that's not true: The post in question referred to a set of WHO recommendations that WHO member countries expand pathogen tracking and vaccine development in advance of potential pandemics. There is no call to surveil…

Did Microsoft announce plans to disable the computers of users who share "non-mainstream content" online? No, that's not true: This claim is completely made up, mis-stating what Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella said in an interview with NBC's Lester Holt. Nadella did not say computers would be disabled if people were sharing "non-mainstream content" online, as is clear from the video…

Does a government health poster list "heart attacks," "strokes" and "sudden death" as side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine, as shown in an Instagram post? No, that's not true: It is counterfeit. Though it was made to look like official Irish government health circulars, the Irish government never published a poster listing those as side effects. Additionally, there is no…

Did scientists prove in 2024 that "orgone energy" exists in the form of orgonite? No, that's not true: A Princeton physics professor interviewed by Lead Stories described the claim as unscientific. The post in which the claim was made is an apparent attempt to promote a website selling hand-made decorative crystals branded as "orgonite", said to have properties rooted in…

Does a video on Instagram of an Alexa digital assistant prove the accuracy of the chemtrails conspiracy theory that the U.S. government sprays aluminum in the sky for nefarious purposes? No, that's not true: There is no verified evidence of a widespread U.S. government program to spray metal nanoparticles in the sky. Amazon's Alexa produces answers gathered from a variety…

Does a picture on social media of a tiny skeleton found in Chile's Atacama Desert show an "alien creature from another planet"? No, that's not true: The skeleton in question has been extensively studied. Scientific analysis, including DNA testing, has determined that the mummified body is of human origin and likely represents the remains of a human female fetus with…

Is there evidence health care providers are using lidocaine to secretly inject people with vaccines without the person's knowledge, as is suggested in a social media post by an anti-vaccine activist? No, that's not true: The suggestion is made in the "just asking questions" mode in which allegations are framed as questions to inject falsehood into public discussion. In this…

Did an RSV "vaccine" cause "12 deaths during clinical trials," as a post on Instagram suggested? No, that's not true: None of the 15 deaths of thousands of children in three key clinical trials were deemed to be caused by the drug. The Food and Drug Administration, AstraZeneca and an infectious disease expert all independently confirmed these results to Lead…