REVIEW In March 2024, a Facebook video claimed that applying castor oil packs on the skin eliminates tumors, bone spurs, and uterine fibroids. The video was posted on the Facebook account of naturopath Barbara O’Neill, which has over 250,000 follo
Search Results (2020) for: scientific
PolitiFact→ Elon Musk – Elon Musk says there’s ‘scientific consensus’ on birth control depression, suicide risk. He’s wrong
There is “clear scientific consensus” that “hormonal birth control makes you fat, doubles risk of depression and triples risk of suicide.”
Health Feedback→ Folk remedy of placing raw onions on feet to cure illness lacks scientific evidence
REVIEW A post shared on Facebook on 27 December 2023 claimed that chopped raw onions absorb toxins and purify air. The post also claimed that placing sliced raw onions against the feet can alleviate symptoms of sinus infections including cough. Acco
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Amateur Photography Of Mars Does NOT Disprove Current Scientific Understanding of The Red Planet
Does a video of Mars filmed with a Nikon p1000 camera prove that Hubble Space Telescope images of Mars are fake, and that Mars is not really a planet but a shining star that looks like "light shimmering in water"? No, that's not true: Ima
AllSides→ Scientific Discoveries In 2023 Reached A Whole New Level Of Wild
https://dailycaller.com/2023/12/29/weird-cool-scientific-discoveries-2023/ Is it just us, or was 2023 f
Truth or Fiction?→ Unraveling the Invention of the Airplane: Scientific Insight
Without any shadow of doubt, the advent of aviation stands as one of the paramount marvels of the 20th century. Pioneered by the Wright Brothers, the monumental feat of achieving powered, controlled, and sustained flight marked a new epoch in the ann
Truth or Fiction?→ Decoding the Invention of the Radio: A Scientific Retrospection
The inception and evolution of radio technology is a testament to the prowess of human ingenuity. A profound journey, it is intertwined with the pioneering visions of acclaimed thinkers and reflect a combination of scientific understanding, explorato
Health Feedback→ Naturopath promotes scientifically unsubstantiated claim that cayenne pepper is “the most powerful blood thinner”
REVIEW The saying “Food is medicine” encapsulates one of the guiding principles of healthcare, recognizing the role that our diet plays in our health. But this concept is sometimes oversimplified and exploited to spread attractive but unsubstant
Logically→ No scientific evidence that a ‘flu bomb’ can cure COVID or other respiratory diseases
Logically→ No, scientific studies don’t support ‘hot pineapple water cure’ for cancer
Logically→ No, there is no lack of scientific proof that carbon dioxide causes global warming
Full Fact→ Minister wrong to claim UK is only European country not using scientific age assessments for asylum seekers
Most European countries do use scientific methods to determine the ages of asylum seekers. But the UK and at least two others—Ireland and Serbia—do not.
Logically→ No scientific evidence that castor oil-cayenne pepper poultice can cure hypothyroidism
Logically→ No scientific evidence that toothpaste can cure foot or toenail fungus
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: There IS Scientific Consensus That Climate Change Is Happening And Caused Primarily By Human Activities
Is there no scientific consensus that climate change is happening? No, that's not true: A scientific survey of more than 88,000 climate-related studies found that more than 99 percent of research agrees that climate change is real and pri
Health Feedback→ No scientific evidence indicates that parasites are the key cause of autoimmunity
REVIEW A TikTok video posted on 23 June 2023 claimed that “the number 1 indicator of parasites is actually an autoimmune condition”. This claim was made by Austin Lake, who introduced himself as a “functional medicine practitioner” in the v
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: CO₂ Contribution To Climate Change Does NOT Lack ‘Definitive Scientific Proof’ — It’s Supported By Overwhelming Body Of Evidence
Does the impact of carbon dioxide on global warming have "no definitive scientific proof through real-world observation"? No, that's not true: Relying on numerous credible observational studies coupled with an understanding of physics, ch
Health Feedback→ Scientific evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccines don’t increase the risk of heart attacks, contrary to Russell Brand video
REVIEW On 27 February 2023, comedian Russell Brand published a YouTube video about a new study reporting a rise in heart attacks in young people. In the video, Brand took aim at a CBS News interview discussing the study. In the fashion of “just as
AllSides→ NPR Issues Correction After Claiming There’s ‘Limited Scientific Evidence’ Men Have Physical Advantages In Sports
https://dailycaller.com/2023/03/27/npr-correction-men-advantages-sports/ National Public Radio (NPR) is
Health Feedback→ No scientific evidence for the claim that nattokinase can treat long COVID or “detox” COVID-19 vaccines
REVIEW On 21 February 2023, cardiologist Peter McCullough, who has become known for spreading COVID-19 misinformation during the pandemic, published a Substack post claiming that nattokinase is the “Holy Grail of COVID-19 vaccine detoxification”
Health Feedback→ Scientific evidence shows that COVID-19 mRNA vaccines are effective; their benefits outweigh their risks, contrary to claim by Retsef Levi
REVIEW In early February 2023, claims that an MIT professor and “top expert” found evidence of serious harm from the COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and called for a halt to their use went viral on social media. These claims are based on a tweet by Retse
Poynter→ There is no scientific evidence that garlic can be used to treat respiratory illnesses
As the United States is in the midst of a winter “tripledemic” with rising cases of COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, also called RSV, an Instagram post claims a […] The post There is no scientific evidence that g
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Gold Standard’ Scientific Trial Does NOT Prove N95, Surgical Masks Ineffective In Preventing COVID-19 Transmission
Does a "gold standard" scientific trial prove that N95 respirators and surgical masks are ineffective at preventing the spread of COVID-19? No, that's not true: This claim misrepresents the intent and findings of the trial, the study auth
Health Feedback→ Scientific evidence shows that unvaccinated people are more likely to develop severe COVID-19 and die, contrary to claim in viral social media posts about Germany data
REVIEW Despite scientific evidence demonstrating that COVID-19 vaccination effectively reduces the risk of severe disease[1-5], claims that COVID-19 vaccines don’t work or even make things worse persist in online spaces and social media. Such clai
Health Feedback→ Scientific studies show that the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine reduces transmission; claim by Rob Roos is misleading
REVIEW Many social media posts and articles began circulating in October 2022, claiming that Pfizer admitted to not testing whether its COVID-19 vaccine prevented transmission before the vaccine hit the market. The claim originated from Rob Roos, a
Health Feedback→ Scientific evidence shows COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of pregnancy complications and isn’t associated with any safety issues; Pfizer’s clinical trial doesn’t show otherwise
REVIEW On 12 August 2022, the website Daily Clout published an article claiming that “44 percent of pregnant women participating in Pfizer’s mRNA COVID vaccine trial suffered miscarriages.” The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologis
Health Feedback→ Scientific evidence shows that mask-wearing is effective at limiting community transmission; claims that face masks increase mortality are based on flawed correlation studies
REVIEW Mask mandates in public spaces have been a common feature in most countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, as countries sought to limit the spread of the virus. But the proliferation of mask mandates was equally met with growing resistance pro
Health Feedback→ No scientific evidence supports claims that plant-based food supplements reduce blood sugar to normal levels and cure type 2 diabetes
REVIEW One in ten Americans suffer from type 2 diabetes. If left unchecked, diabetes can have dire consequences, such as damage to organs, nerves and arteries, or amputation. Diabetes is also among the top ten causes of mortality in the U.S. in 2020
Health Feedback→ No scientific data support the existence of orgone and its ability to cure cancer
REVIEW Cancer is a leading cause of mortality worldwide, with 20 million new cases and 10 million new deaths in 2020 across the globe. As such, cancer draws significant research efforts and spending to improve diagnostics and therapies. Owing to the
Health Feedback→ No reliable scientific evidence supports the use of dietary supplements marketed as weight loss and blood pressure aids in viral Facebook posts
REVIEW Numerous videos posted to Facebook in May 2022 publicized various health-promoting supplements (see examples here and here), claiming that these could aid in weight loss and reduce high blood pressure (hypertension). It’s unclear who or wha
Health Feedback→ Scientific evidence doesn’t support the claim that induced abortion increases the risk of breast cancer and mental illness
REVIEW On 18 May 2022, Newsmax posted to its Facebook page
Health Feedback→ No scientific evidence supports the claim that consuming apple cider vinegar and thermogenic supplements produces significant and rapid weight loss
REVIEW Posts promoting a weight loss beverage went viral on Facebook in May 2022. Multiple Facebook pages shared similar video clips of a cup containing a dark tea in which someone poured a spoon of apple cider vinegar and a spoon of an unidentified
AllSides→ When the Science Is Messy: How SciCheck Handles Scientific Disputes
https://www.factcheck.org/2022/04/when-the-science-is-messy-how-scicheck-handles-scientific-disputes/ W
FactCheck.org→ When the Science Is Messy: How SciCheck Handles Scientific Disputes
What does a fact-checking organization do when the facts aren’t clear? And what happens when reputable scientists disagree about a public health policy? Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been numerous examples of when scientific opinio
PolitiFact→ One America News – Scientific evidence does not support ivermectin as a treatment for COVID-19
Suggests ivermectin is an effective treatment for COVID-19
Health Feedback→ Lack of oxygen isn’t the root cause of cancer; no scientific evidence for claims that oxygen or ozone therapy cures cancer
REVIEW Cancer is a common subject of health misinformation, particularly exploited by those peddling scientifically unproven cures to cancer patients, which can place these patients at risk for poorer medical outcomes. One such example is a TikTok v
Health Feedback→ Health benefits of CBD gummies are unsupported by scientific evidence; Shark Tank and other TV personalities didn’t endorse them
REVIEW The legal market for cannabis is soaring in the U.S. since the 2018 Farm Bill classified hemp, a variety of the plant Cannabis sativa, as a crop and not as a drug. This market is expected to grow by 37% to reach 19.5 billion by 2025. The main
Poynter→ There’s no scientific evidence that vaccines are responsible for strange blood clots observed by embalmers
Embalmers and funeral home workers say they are noticing an increase in unusual blood clots among the deceased. Some of them, without evidence, are attributing it to the COVID-19 vaccines. […] The post There’s no scientific evidence that va
PolitiFact→ Scott Fitzgerald – Lawmaker's claim that mask mandates harm early childhood development falls short of scientific proof
"Mask mandates on children lead to learning loss that harms early childhood development."
Health Feedback→ The scientific evidence shows that COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of infection and mortality; analysis of cases and deaths from 145 countries is methodologically flawed
REVIEW A Substack article claimed that a “New big data study of 145 countries show COVID vaccines makes things worse (cases and deaths)”. The article, written by tech entrepreneur Steve Kirsch, received more than 4,700 engagements on Facebook, i