Science denialism, clickbait headlines, and absurd pseudoscience: Our favorite science debunkings from 2017.
Publication: News
Snopes→ Trump Fires All Remaining Members of Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS
The controversial move followed the highly publicized resignation of six members in August 2017 and has been described as unusual.
Snopes→ Media Group: 81 Reporters Died, Threats Against Journalists Soared in 2017
At least 81 reporters were killed doing their jobs this year, while violence and harassment against media staff has skyrocketed, the world's biggest journalists' organization says.
Snopes→ Teacher Fired for Showing Students Classical Painting Postcards Containing Nudity
A Utah art teacher was fired amid complaints that images of classical paintings containing nudity were passed out in a classroom and seen by sixth-graders, a newspaper reported.
Snopes→ Erica Garner, Voice of Police Accountability, Dies
The daughter of Eric Garner, who was killed by a police officer administering a chokehold in 2014, was 27.
Snopes→ ‘Swatting’ Gaming Prank Led to Police Shooting Unarmed Kansas Man
A 28-year-old man was fatally shot by a police officer in what was believed to be a "prank" in which a hoaxsters called police to falsely report a murder and kidnapping.
Snopes→ 2017’s Biggest Conspiracy Theories
A sampler of the most widespread rumors and hoaxes that characterized the year in which the fringe became the mainstream.
Snopes→ Bestselling Mystery Novelist Sue Grafton Dies
The prolific "alphabet series" author had been fighting cancer for two years.
Snopes→ 2017: The Year in Fauxtography
A look back at the year's biggest stories — and the hoax images that followed at their heels.
Snopes→ Kirk Humphreys Resigns from OU Board of Regents Over Controversial Homosexuality Comments
Humphreys's resignation follows a backlash over comments he made that appeared to equate homosexuality with pedophilia.
Snopes→ The Dyatlov Pass Incident
Despite decades of speculation about the strange deaths of nine skiers in Russia's Ural Mountains in 1959, the "Dyatlov Pass incident" remains an unsolved mystery.
Snopes→ That’s Not Trump: Images That Didn’t Actually Show the President (or His Family) in 2017
Altered images portray Donald Trump and his family in either grotesquely unflattering or inhumanly heroic ways.
Snopes→ Free Bird: Officer Rescues Snowy Owl from Prison Barbed Wire
The juvenile male owl is expected to make a full recovery and will be released once its feathers grow back.
Snopes→ Stylist Accused of Giving Man Unwanted ‘Stooges’ Hairdo
Police spokesman Joel DeSpain says officers arrested 46-year-old Khaled Shabani on suspicion of disorderly conduct.
Snopes→ Special Delivery: Family Welcomes 2nd Christmas Eve Baby
Stony Brook residents Jacki and Josh Grossman had their second son on 24 December 2017, four years after their first son arrived.
Snopes→ A Cougar in Your Luggage? Hunting Carcass Found at Airport
Police say a hunter's trip home hit a snag in Las Vegas after security screeners found a dead cougar in his luggage.
Snopes→ Bundle Up: Bitter Cold Weather Takes Hold of Northern US
Bitter cold weather has taken hold of much of the northern United States and is expected to stay put for days to come.
Snopes→ Trump, Obama and the War on Christmas
A look at how the phrases "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays" were used under President Donald Trump and President Barack Obama.
Snopes→ Lifelong Best Friends Discover They’re Actually Brothers
Alan Robinson and Walter Macfarlane grew up as best friends and recently learned that they're actually brothers.
Snopes→ Days of Bitter Cold Ahead for Midwest, Northeast
The National Weather Service warned that those whose skin was exposed in such conditions could get frostbite in as little as 15 minutes.
Snopes→ Woman Stunned to Find Electric Bill Listed as $284 Billion
A Pennsylvania woman says she went online to check her electric bill and was stunned at the amount — more than $284 billion.
Snopes→ Los Angeles Psychologist Claims Credit for Horse Manure Delivered to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin
Robert Strong, an employee of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health, took responsibility for the Christmas Eve stunt via social media.
Snopes→ Movie Theater Chain Warns Patrons About ‘Extended Silence’ in New ‘Star Wars’ Film
Visitors to AMC theaters in two states posted pictures of the sign alerting them not to worry about a scene in "The Last Jedi."
Snopes→ Daughter of Man Who Died After Police Chokehold Hospitalized
Family members tell the Daily News that 27-year-old Erica Garner went into cardiac arrest on the night of 24 December 2017.
Snopes→ Seven Surprising Facts About Chinese Restaurants in the United States
We celebrate this unique U.S. tradition with seven things you probably didn't know about Chinese restaurants, which are more ubiquitous than McDonald's and predate the Civil War.
Snopes→ Box of Horse Manure Sent to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin
Authorities said a gift-wrapped box of horse manure addressed to Mnuchin was found near his home in Los Angeles.
Snopes→ For 62nd Year, NORAD Takes Calls from Kids Awaiting Santa
The U.S. military's Santa-tracking program began in 1955 after a newspaper ad invited children to call Santa but inadvertently ran the phone number of CONAD's hotline.
Snopes→ SpaceX Rocket Launch Baffles, Scares Southern California Residents
Many Angelenos didn’t know that a rocket launch was taking place nearby, leading many to think they were witnessing a missile attack or an extraterrestrial visit.
Snopes→ Wild Truffle Grows on Paris Rooftop, in Scientific Mystery
Truffles normally sprout only in limited areas of southern Europe, and are so rare that the most prized versions can sell for thousands of euros per kilogram.
Snopes→ Pope Francis Needs a Microscope to Eye Lithuanian Crib
Lithuania has given Pope Francis a Christmas present invisible to the naked eye: a Nativity scene where baby Jesus is smaller than a human cell.
Snopes→ Court: Charity Stuck with Fan Payouts After Holes-in-One
The charity took out an insurance policy on the payouts, but a federal appeals court says the policy only covered holes at least 170 yards long.
Snopes→ Politico: Obama’s Department of Justice Stalled Hezbollah Investigation to Secure Nuclear Deal with Iran
A covert DEA investigation into a Hezbollah drug smuggling operation was halted, allegedly, to aid Obama’s Iran Nuclear deal.
Snopes→ Cops Nab Escaped Inmate with Face Tattoo After Weeks on Run
Authorities say that Corey Hughes, who has a skull tattooed on his face and escaped last month from a work crew in central California, has been re-arrested.
Snopes→ Dutch Journalist Debunks U.S. Ambassador’s ‘Fake News’ Claim to His Face
Reporter Wouter Zwart confronted Pete Hoekstra with footage of him promoting the "no-go zone" conspiracy theory.
Snopes→ More Than 4 in 5 Enrolled in ‘Obamacare’ Are in Trump States
An Associated Press analysis finds that Americans in states President Donald Trump carried account for more than 4 in 5 of those signed up for coverage under the health care law he still wants to take down.
Snopes→ Girl Gets 25 Years in Mental Hospital in Slender Man Case
Anissa Weier was sentenced to 25 years in a mental hospital, the maximum punishment possible.
Snopes→ Sportscaster Dick Enberg Dead at Age 82
The longtime sportscaster got his big break with UCLA basketball and went on to call Super Bowls, Olympics, Final Fours and Angels and Padres baseball games.
Snopes→ End of Days Comes for Ohio Man’s ‘Zombie Nativity’ Scene
A ghoulish holiday tradition outside of Cincinnati will soon come to a close.
Snopes→ Do ‘Cook-In Bags’ Contain Fumes Toxic To Birds?
Posts claiming that using cooking bags had led to the deaths of pet birds have caused concern among bird owners.
Snopes→ Disney Heiress Says She Will Benefit from GOP Tax Plan but Is Against It
In a viral video, Abigail Disney said the 2017 tax plan is a windfall for rich people and large corporations while hurting ordinary working Americans.