Curiosities

Claim: Photos show park rangers taking selfies with gorillas they were protecting. Rating: Two pictures of park rangers posing for selfies with gorillas went viral in November 2024 when the X account Nature Is Amazing posted them (archived). "Anti-Poachers in the DR...

<!--qv q:id=a0 q:key=vcaa:While some plants just drop their seeds and hope for the best, many have some evolutionarily beneficial means of spreading them and increasing their species’ proliferation. Some seeds can blow in the wind, like the feathery pappus...

Claim: Former first lady Michelle Obama said she regretted publicly backing U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 presidential election. Rating: A rumor that former first lady Michelle Obama said she regretted publicly backing U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris in the...

Ever fantasized about trading your current passport for one that’s more adventurous? Though it might seem tricky to pull off, some countries will actually let you buy citizenship—and you don’t even necessarily need to go through a naturalization test...

Claim: After Election Day, Planned Parenthood reported a 760% increase in IUD appointments and 1200% increase in vasectomies. Rating: ContextThe increase reported was specifically for Nov. 6, 2024, as compared with Nov. 5, 2024. Further, the "1200% increase in vasectomies" was for...

The caduceus is the “Born in the U.S.A.” of Greek iconography: Everyone seems to think it stands for something it doesn’t. This ancient symbol, also called the Staff of Hermes, depicts two snakes intertwining around a stick that is capped...

In November 2024, a rumor that Disney World is adding an animatronic version of U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris to its Hall of Presidents attraction circulated online.  According to a clip posted (archived) by the TikTok account Mouse Trap News...