Science

Does a video of a non-laboratory test using the T-Square brand oral fluid drug test prove that Red Bull energy drink contains the drugs buprenorphine and cocaine? No, that's not true: There is no way to confirm that the people featured in a video shared on social media used the drug test correctly and used an uncontaminated cup to hold…

Does a video on social media show a "hack" that will "slash your gas expenses"? No, that's not true: This video fails to deliver what is promised in seven minutes of drawn-out instructions on how to make a nonfunctional contraption. How the gas savings might occur is never disclosed. Furthermore, a safety professional with the National Fire Protection Association advises…

Did a documentary produced for the Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" provide "new evidence" from a NASA satellite photo that shows a living megalodon off the coast of Brazil? No, that's not true: The megalodon was a species of megatooth shark that has been extinct for several million years. The Shark Week episode "Megalodon: The New Evidence" has disclaimers and is…

Is a "potato poultice" a proven effective treatment for tissue inflammation? No, that's not true: Though potatoes contain certain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, Lead Stories found no evidence that externally applied potato poultices are scientifically proven to treat inflammation. A nutrition expert confirmed to Lead Stories that most accounts describing potato poultices are outdated and anecdotal. The claim originated in…

Did a study detect human DNA in many hot dog samples tested with a new type of technology, finding that many hot dogs, even vegetarian hot dogs, are made with human meat? No, that's not true: A startup named Clear Food, which was seeking Kickstarter funding at the time, published a report that identified 14.4 percent of the hot dogs…

Did Wolf Blitzer and Dr. Oz endorse a new drug that can cure diabetes? No, that's not true: The video showing the CNN host and the physician uses digitally added sound that does not match their mouth movements and there is no record of them ever making the statements shown on the video. As of this writing, there is no…

Is Bill Gates facing life behind bars on child rape charges due to his alleged inclusion on convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein's supposed client list? No, that's not true: The article making the claim offers no proof that any charges have been filed against billionaire Gates as of November 6, 2023. Gates' ex-wife Melinda did not post a social media message…

Did 80 percent of COVID-19 patients put on ventilators during the COVID-19 pandemic die? No, that's not true: A Johns Hopkins public health expert told Lead Stories that "80% is high," adding that the actual number is "around 30-40%." The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention agreed that such deaths are far less than 80 percent. Ventilators are used for…

Is castor oil a safe and effective method to cure eye floaters in just a few days? No, that's not true: There is no FDA-approved castor oil treatment for eye floaters, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. They recommend that people with problems with their eyelids or vision see an eye doctor before self-medicating with unproven and potentially dangerous…

Is cucumber-and-carrot juice a "100% effective" way to restore vision within a week? No, that's not true: There is no scientific evidence that this drink can improve eyesight or cure any degenerative diseases of the eye, the National Eye Institute told Lead Stories. A clinical nutritionist confirmed that a cucumber-carrot-juice drink would not restore vision loss, particularly in seven days.…

Did climate activist Greta Thunberg advocate for "biodegradable missiles" in an interview with the BBC? No, that's not true: A clip that circulated on social media in October 2023 featured altered audio from an BBC interview in 2022 in which Thunberg discussed climate change. Nowhere in the original interview did Thunberg mention "biodegradable missiles" or other claims that were included…

Did U.S. Special Climate Envoy John Kerry say, "We must sacrifice billions of humans to save planet Earth"? No, that's not true: A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department told Lead Stories that this claim is false. The article making this claim has twisted quotes by Kerry to fit its narrative. And while this quote is in the article's headline,…

Does a video show a dispute between pro-Palestinian protesters and police in Barcelona, Spain, during the 2023 Hamas-Israel conflict? No, that's not true: The video dates back to 2020, almost three years before the conflict arising from Hamas' October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. According to contemporaneous reports, the people shown in the video were actually protesting against COVID-19 restrictions…

Is the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) "required to take the COVID vaccines off the market" as of October 21, 2023? No, that's not true: COVID-19 vaccines are not being taken off the market by the FDA as of this writing. All vaccines that were available in October 2023 had a reassuring safety profile, and health experts point to statistics…

Did a social media video document an aircraft releasing a swarm of mosquitoes over Los Angeles in October 2023? No, that's not true: Los Angeles' vector control districts, responsible for pest eradication, said there have been no known airborne releases of mosquitoes over the city in October 2023. Both the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the California Department of Food…

Does an article published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and featured in a video on social media prove that vaccination causes a greater prevalence of childhood illnesses? No, that's not true: Journal editors retracted the study because its "conclusions were not supported by strong scientific data." Additionally, the consensus in the scientific and medical communities…

Did vaccines kill millions during the Spanish flu pandemic of 1918? No, that's not true: According to medical research and medical experts, the pandemic, which killed at least 50 million people worldwide, was caused by an influenza A (H1N1) virus. A social media post offered no evidence to support its claim, which is contradicted by the body of medical research…

Did BBC News broadcast "breaking" news that Elon Musk has a new trading app that will allow Britons to make so much money that they won't have to work anymore? No, that's not true: The BBC's website includes no such report and the footage of Musk is from an appearance at the World Government Summit on February 15, 2023. He…

Did Pope Francis declare World Economic Forum chairman Klaus Schwab a "more important" figure than Jesus Christ? No, that's not true: The People's Voice, the website originally making the claim, provided no sources proving the pope said this. The site has a long history of publishing fake or made up quotes and has a liability disclaimer that seeks to absolve…

Does a photo show Elon Musk reading a book titled "The Flat-Earth Conspiracy"? No, that's not true: The image in the post has been digitally altered. The photo, which originated from another author's official social media page, displays Musk reading a book with a different cover and title. The claim appeared in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter,…