Claim reviews
Bone spurs occasionally form at the base of human skulls, but their growth has not been linked to the use of handheld devices
CLAIM
‘Horns’ are growing on young people’s skulls. Phone use is to blame, research suggests.
SOURCE: Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Washington Post
Published: 19 Nov 2019
VERDICT
Endocannabinoids in human breast milk are important for human development, but not present in cannabis
CLAIM
human breast milk naturally contains the same cannabinoids found in the Cannabis plant
SOURCE: Anonymous, CBDLife
Published: 15 Nov 2019
VERDICT
Vitamin D has not been shown to be more effective than the flu vaccine at preventing flu
CLAIM
Vitamin D is more effective than [the] flu vaccine
SOURCE: Joseph Mercola, Health Impact News
Published: 08 Nov 2019
VERDICT
Claim of a coming ice age misrepresents the study it relies on
CLAIM
Scientists studying Antarctica sea ice warn a rise in accumulation could spark the next ice age.
SOURCE: Stacy Liberatore, Chris Ciaccia, Daily Mail, Fox News
Published: 01 Nov 2019
VERDICT
Human activities release far more carbon dioxide than volcanoes do
CLAIM
That one little burp by Mt. Etna has already put more than 10,000 times the CO2 into the atmosphere than mankind has in our entire time on the Earth
SOURCE: Anonymous, Facebook post
Published: 31 Oct 2019
VERDICT
In spite of evidence to the contrary, Rizza Islam claims that the MMR vaccine is used for depopulation
CLAIM
The World Health Organization is still pushing this [vaccine] depopulation agenda throughout Africa
SOURCE: Rizza Islam, Sway’s Universe
Published: 31 Oct 2019
VERDICT
Vaccines do not cause autism, diabetes or cancer, contrary to Shiv Chopra’s claim
CLAIM
All these diseases [...] use [sic] to be rare. Autism use [sic] to be 1 in 10,000. Now it’s 1 in 50. Now, where is it all coming from? Vaccines are doing it.
SOURCE: Shiv Chopra, Natural Nana
Published: 30 Oct 2019
VERDICT
Letter to UN was not signed by 500 scientists or experts on climate science
CLAIM
500 Scientists Write U.N.: ‘There Is No Climate Emergency’.... More than 500 scientists and professionals in climate and related fields have sent a 'European Climate Declaration' to the Secretary-General of the United Nations
SOURCE: Thomas D. Williams, Breitbart
Published: 30 Oct 2019
VERDICT
Photo meme of Sydney Harbour incorrectly claims no sea level rise has occurred
CLAIM
Unprecedented climate change has caused sea level at Sydney Harbour to rise approximately 0.0 cm over the past 140 years.
SOURCE: Anonymous, Facebook post
Published: 28 Oct 2019
VERDICT
Human error in vaccine preparation led to the deaths of two children in Samoa after MMR shot – MMR vaccine itself is safe and effective
CLAIM
Samoa withdraws vaccine protecting against measles, mumps and rubella after two babies die within minutes of receiving the routine shot
SOURCE: Lauren Ferri, Daily Mail
Published: 24 Oct 2019
VERDICT
