What is RCP8.5? Unpacking misleading claims about climate scenarios
The United Nations and climate scientists haven’t admitted their climate change projections are wrong, contrary to claims from Trump and others
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Insights
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Infectious disease outbreaks: a magnet for conspiracy theories
Highly mediatized disease outbreaks like COVID-19 and hantavirus are invariably plagued by conspiracy theories alleging that they are a hoax or planned. Why are these conspiracy theories so appealing and what makes people vulnerable to them? We discuss these topics in detail in this Insight article.
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Fossil fuels receive more government support than renewables
Moreover, fossil fuels are often to blame when energy prices rise, contrary to some claims that climate change is a ‘scam’.
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Hantavirus outbreak reignites COVID misinformation tropes
The MV Hondius hantavirus outbreak triggered a wave of conspiracy theories and misinformation about ivermectin and vaccines, which were popular during the pandemic.
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Omega-3 supplements: not a silver bullet for depression
Health influencers suggest omega-3 supplementation can treat depression or even replace antidepressant medication. But such claims put vulnerable people at risk. In truth, the scientific evidence behind the effectiveness of omega-3 supplementation for depression is more uncertain than these social media posts let on. We explain in this Insight article.
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You are what you eat: how dietary misinfo appeals to our emotions
Harmful nutrition misinformation circulates widely online. From the raw food movement to the carnivore diet, we look at how these trends exploit various psychological levers to gain popularity in spite of the lack of scientific evidence to support them.
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Some wind turbine blades are made from balsa wood, but they’re not a major part of Amazon deforestation, contrary to online claims
Learn what materials actually go into wind turbine blades
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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likes regenerative agriculture, but what is it?
The term has no fixed definition. Its methods do often make farming more sustainable, but its claims are hard to verify.
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Scientific evidence doesn’t back the hype over colostrum supplements
Influencers tout the benefits of colostrum supplements for immunity and gut health. But the claims don’t stand up to scientific scrutiny.
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Busting popular misinformation about Alzheimer’s disease
Do cholesterol-lowering drugs or stress cause Alzheimer’s? Can coconut oil and mushrooms prevent it? Approach these claims with caution.