SciCheck Digest Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be serious and even fatal. Fortunately, it can safely be prevented by vaccination. But in the wake of outbreaks in the U.S. and elsewhere — likely in large part due to low vaccin
Search Results (335) for: stroke
FactCheck.org→ Viral Posts Misuse Rat Study to Make Unfounded Claims About COVID-19 Vaccines and Autism
SciCheck Digest COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy benefits both mother and baby. Side effects are generally mild, and studies don’t show negative effects on the baby. A criticized study that gave COVID-19 vaccines to pregnant rats doesn’
Health Feedback→ Russell Brand’s YouTube videos use flawed analyses and simplistic correlations to link COVID-19 vaccines to heart issues, cancer, excess deaths
REVIEW Public figures easily have millions of people following them on social media and their messaging on such platforms can significantly influence their audience’s beliefs and behaviors on various issues. This influence can sometimes be valuabl
Health Feedback→ Scam ads use a fake endorsement by Ben Carson to promote unproven hypertension treatment
REVIEW Scams selling clinically unsupported natural cures for diseases such as cancer or diabetes are rife on social media, as Health Feedback already documented in earlier reviews. Some hallmarks of those scams include fabricated celebrity endorsem
Truth or Fiction?→ Fact-Checking: Alaska’s Thanksgiving Muktuk Tradition
Alaska, renowned for its stunning landscapes and diverse wildlife, is also the cradle of rich cultural heritage, shared by indigenous communities who have lived in symbiosis with nature for tens of centuries. Among them, the Inupiat, Yupik, and Chukc
Truth or Fiction?→ Christmas Eve Special Meals Across Cultures
Throughout the world, the celebration of Christmas Eve is marked by a rich tapestry of cultural customs and familial traditions. Many cultures indeed celebrate with a special meal on Christmas Eve, ranging from the sumptuous Feast of Seven Fishes in
Truth or Fiction?→ Unveiling Honeybees’ Communication: The Waggle Dance
In the vast and fascinating realm of nature, few manifestations of animal behavior are as intriguing as the way honeybees communicate. These tiny creatures display a remarkable method of conveying critical information through a unique “dance
Health Feedback→ Social media posts wrongly claim that herbs can cure every disease including cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s
REVIEW Chronic diseases comprise a wide range of conditions, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease, which are among the leading causes of death and disability worldwide. About 60% of adults in the U.S. and 35%
Truth or Fiction?→ Unmasking the Inventor of the Typewriter: A Fact Check
The invention of the typewriter, one of the most fundamental devices in the history of written communication, incited a revolution that transformed business, industry, and society at large. Rooted in the era of Industrial Revolution and contemporary
Truth or Fiction?→ Unveiling the History of the Steam Engine
The journey of the steam engine is one that mirrors humanity’s relentless pursuit of innovation and progress. From its rudimentary beginnings to its essential role in the Industrial Revolution, the steam engine has spurred periods of significan
Truth or Fiction?→ Venison vs Turkey: The Main Course at the First Thanksgiving
As fall turns to winter and leaves drop from the trees, Americans come together to celebrate the long-standing tradition of Thanksgiving, an event deeply embedded in the nation’s history. The picture of a golden-brown turkey at the center of a
Truth or Fiction?→ Revealing the Truth: Who Invented the Camera?
From the primitive daubs of prehistoric cave dwellers, to the technicolor spectacle of modern day photography, mankind’s drive to record, document, and express has been a compelling saga. This continuous quest to immortalize fleeting moments sp
Truth or Fiction?→ Unveiling the Origins: Who Invented the Car?
The progressive journey of automotive innovation is a captivating narrative interwoven with the trajectories of insightful inventors, innovative designs, and transformative industrial revolutions. Groundbreaking conceptions first launched by steam en
Truth or Fiction?→ English Language: Most Spoken in the World or Not?
The global linguistic landscape is a dynamic tableau, teeming with a melange of languages, each carrying its unique cultural resonance and communicative texture. A prominent feature in this variegated linguistic tapestry is the English language, whic
FactCheck.org→ Posts Falsely Claim FDA ‘Required’ to Take mRNA COVID-19 Vaccines Off Market Due to Adulteration
SciCheck Digest As with many medical products, the mRNA COVID-19 vaccines may contain trace amounts of residual DNA from the manufacturing process. It is not considered adulteration, and the Food and Drug Administration is not “required” to pul
Health Feedback→ Published studies show no association between COVID-19 vaccines and heart attacks, contrary to British cardiologist’s claim
REVIEW A Facebook reel posted on 10 October 2023 showed British cardiologist Aseem Malhotra on the podcast The Joe Rogan Experience, claiming that “whistleblower from a prestigious university in the UK” told him people who had been vaccinated ag
Health Feedback→ Peter McCullough makes inaccurate and misleading claims about COVID-19 vaccines at event hosted by European political party
REVIEW A video circulating in late September 2023 allegedly showed cardiologist Peter McCullough addressing the European Parliament and calling for COVID-19 vaccines to be removed from the market. The video circulated on Facebook, YouTube, X (former
FactCheck.org→ No Proven Health Risks from Aspartame, But Also No Proven Benefits
Q: Does consumption of aspartame harm human health? A: Some research indicates possible negative effects from aspartame, but there’s no definitive evidence linking it to health problems in the general population. Aspartame is safe when consumed w
FactCheck.org→ Video Falsely Claims 850 People Died of Myocarditis in Mexico
SciCheck Digest Cases of myocarditis have been reported following mRNA COVID-19 vaccination, but they are rare and usually mild. Yet, a viral video distorts news reports to falsely claim 850 people died in Monterrey, Mexico, in June due to myocardi
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Myocarditis Did NOT Cause 850 Deaths In Two Weeks In Monterrey — Increased Deaths Happened During Heat Wave
Did 850 deaths occur in two weeks in Monterrey, a city in the Mexican state of Nuevo León, that were caused by myocarditis? No, that's not true: The increased number of deaths in Mexico during June 2023 occurred during a heat wave, and i
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Riley Gaines Did NOT ‘Beat’ Lia Thomas For The ‘Last Spot On The Pro Tour’ — Story Is From A Satire Site
Did former competitive swimmer Riley Gaines "beat" competitive swimmer Lia Thomas for the "last spot on the pro tour"? No, that's not true: This claim appeared in an article on a satirical website known for publishing fabricated content.
Health Feedback→ Conspiracy theory about the deaths of alternative medicine practitioners ignores evidence, misrepresents certain doctors
REVIEW A TikTok video published in early July 2023 implied that doctors practicing alternative medicine were killed to prevent “Big Pharma” from losing money. In the reel, herbalist Katryna Benson, who has more than 14,000 followers on TikTok, p
FactCheck.org→ Viral Video Repeats Bogus Claim About Vaccines and Visible Ailments
SciCheck Digest A video repeating the claim that COVID-19 vaccines are responsible for the sudden onset of various visible ailments — such as fainting and facial paralysis — is making the rounds, again. But, just like the other, similar
FactCheck.org→ FactChecking Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is no stranger to FactCheck.org. He is a prominent anti-vaccine advocate who has been on our radar for years, primarily as the founder of Children’s Health Defense, a nonprofit that spreads anti-vaccine misinformation.
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Video, Swiss Study Do NOT Prove 1 In 35 Given COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Develop Heart Injury
Did one in every 35 people who received a Moderna COVID-19 mRNA-1273 booster vaccination suffer myocardial injury? No, that's not true: There is no reliable evidence or data to support this claim. Such a high rate of adverse reactions wou
Truth or Fiction?→ Antidepressants and Hot Weather Warning
In late July 2023, a year-old warning about “antidepressants and hot weather” recirculated on Facebook (and other platforms like Reddit and TikTok): As its getting warmer in the Northern Hemisphere at least. Be careful with dehy
Health Feedback→ Claim that a mouse study shows COVID-19 vaccine causes “turbo cancer” distorts study findings
REVIEW On 13 July 2023, the website The Florida Standard published an article carrying the headline “New Study Links Pfizer’s COVID Vaccine to ‘Turbo Cancer’”. Screenshots of the article’s headline circulated on social media in July 2023
Health Feedback→ Analysis of adverse event variation between Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine batches doesn’t indicate safety problems, contrary to claim by John Campbell
REVIEW On 5 July 2023, YouTuber and retired nurse instructor John Campbell published a YouTube video regarding findings published in a research letter by Schmeling et al. in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation[1]. In the video, which rece
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: NO Definitive Proof That ‘Margarine Causes Macular Degeneration’
Does margarine cause macular degeneration? No, that's not true: While there is some evidence to suggest the consumption of certain foods and fats may play a role in and are associated with the development of macular degeneration and other
Truth or Fiction?→ ‘Comer Admits Nobody Has Heard From Biden Informant in Three Years’
On June 16 2023, a Reddit user shared a post (“Comer admits nobody has heard from alleged Biden informant for three years”) to r/politics: Comer admits nobody has heard from alleged Biden informant for three years by u/Deroc
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: Celine Dion Did NOT Die In Early May 2023 — She Canceled Her Performances
Did Canadian singer Celine Dion pass away on or before May 7, 2023? No, that's not true: She only canceled her tour due to her health condition that, while significantly affecting the singer, according to her own words, did not appear to
Truth or Fiction?→ Rashid Buttar of the ‘Disinformation Dozen’ Reportedly Dies
On May 20 2023 social media rumors began circulating, claiming that health disinformation purveyor Rashid Buttar had died: Rashid Buttar, one of the Disinformation Dozen, Dies Suddenly – Nuts Blame the Covid Jab Even Though he was Unva
Health Feedback→ Neurological adverse events are very rare after COVID-19 vaccination and less frequent than after SARS-CoV-2 infection
REVIEW On 10 May 2023, a tweet from an account called Leading Report claimed that “COVID vaccines could be causing ‘long-term brain damage’”. The claim was based on a review published by Hosseini and Askari in the European Journal of Medical
The Dispatch→ Fact Check: Chelsea Clinton Has Not Advocated “Force-Jabbing” Unvaccinated Children
Chelsea Clinton at the Lyric Theatre in Belfast on June 29, 2022. (Photo by Niall Carson/PA Images via Getty Images) Claims are circulating online among social media users that Chelsea Clinton, the daughter of former President Bill Clinton and former S
Health Feedback→ Peter McCullough makes multiple false, misleading, and unsupported claims about COVID-19 vaccine safety and efficacy in viral podcast
REVIEW On 22 April 2023, the website X22 Report published a 27-minute podcast interview with cardiologist Peter McCullough. During the interview, McCullough referred to the COVID-19 vaccination campaign as a “worldwide debacle” and repeated prev
Health Feedback→ Hydrogen peroxide given intravenously can be dangerous, has no known medical benefit
REVIEW A video uploaded to Facebook by astrologer and former radio talk show host Farley Malorrus, who has more than 16,000 followers, claimed that intravenous hydrogen peroxide “enables the body to cure itself of practically any disease, with
Lead Stories→ Fact Check: ‘Root Canal-Treated Tooth’ NOT No. 1 Cause Of Heart Attack
Is a root-canal-treated tooth the No. 1 cause of a heart attack? No, that's not true: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronary artery disease is the main cause of heart attacks. The three key risk factor
The Dispatch→ Fact Check: No Evidence Sen. John Fetterman Has a Body Double
John Fetterman in Washington shortly after winning his U.S. Senate election, November, 2022. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Two photos of Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, each dated years apart from the other, have been taken out of context by s
FactCheck.org→ Posts on Social Media Use Different Photos of Fetterman to Boost Bogus Claim
Quick Take Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman has been hospitalized since Feb. 15 for treatment of depression, an aftereffect of a stroke. Social media posts use two photos of Fetterman — taken years apart — to falsely claim the Democrats