Loretta Lynn Death Hoax (2018)
Contrary to a false report circulating in 2018, country singer Loretta Lynn did not die after checking into hospice care. In the age of digital information, celebrity death hoaxes have become a recurring phenomenon that…
Is McDonald’s the World’s Largest Purchaser of Cow Eyeballs?
Some versions of this rumor posit that the cow eyes are used as hamburger filler, or to make beef patties stick together better. Urban legends and sensational claims about fast food chains have become a…
Are Kids ‘Snorting’ Smarties and Putting Themselves at Risk of Nasal Maggots?
Citing a doctor, a 2009 warning to parents from a Rhode Island middle school claimed maggots could “feed on the sugary dust wedged inside the nose.” The world of social media is replete with trends…
Does Pic Show Blue Japanese Fruit Known as ‘Moon Melon’?
A widely shared meme claimed the fruit can switch flavors after you eat it. In the age of visual information sharing and viral content, captivating images can quickly capture the imagination of the public. One…
No, Obama Didn’t Float Plan To Change Thanksgiving Day to ‘Celebrate Immigrants Day’
Contrary to rumor, then-President Obama did not advocate issuing an executive order to rename the quintessential American holiday. In the era of rapid information sharing and social media, rumors and false claims can spread like…
Does This X-Ray Show a Snake Inside a Woman’s Body?
An x-ray image showing a slender creature inside a woman’s pelvic area has been shared with a variety of backstories attached to it. The realm of medical imaging has allowed us to peer inside the…
Is a Deceased Pope Tapped with a Silver Hammer to Verify He’s Dead?
Legend holds that part of the process of determining that a pope has died is to call for him to be tapped on the forehead with a silver hammer. The passing of a Pope, the…
Did Einstein Say He Feared Technology Would Create a ‘Generation of Idiots’?
More than one cautionary statement about the dangers technology may pose to humanity has been falsely attributed to renowned physicist Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein, a revered physicist and thinker, is often credited with profound insights…
Did a Twitter User Jeopardize Her NASA Internship by Insulting a Member of the National Space Council?
A screenshot captured a NASA intern’s injudicious Twitter exchange with a member of the National Space Council. The rapid evolution of technology and the proliferation of social media platforms have revolutionized the way we communicate…