Infact
94 / 100
True global

The smell of rain is caused by gases from bacteria in soil and is called petrichor.

Infact verdict: True (94/100).

The evidence supports the claim that the smell of rain, known as petrichor, is caused by geosmin released by soil bacteria like actinomycetes. This information is corroborated by multiple high-quality sources, including Discover Magazine and BioPathogenix.

April 23, 2026 Language: en 2 claims analyzed
How is this score determined? →

Individual claims

88
True Science
The smell of rain is caused by gases released by bacteria living in the soil.
Multiple reputable sources confirm that the smell of rain, or petrichor, is caused by geosmin released by soil bacteria, such as actinomycetes. Discover Magazine and BioPathogenix provide detailed explanations of this process.
Fact Check Score None
Fact Check Weight 0
Web Consensus Score 95
Web Consensus Weight 50
Source Quality Score 90
Source Quality Weight 25
Llm Reasoning Score 95
Llm Reasoning Weight 25
Weighted Total 88
Evidence Summary 3 high-quality sources confirm (Discover Magazine, BioPathogenix)
100
True Science
The smell of rain has its own name - petrichor.
'Petrichor' is the widely accepted term for the earthy scent produced when rain falls on dry soil, popularized in scientific literature and common usage.
Fact Check Score None
Fact Check Weight 0
Web Consensus Score None
Web Consensus Weight 0
Source Quality Score None
Source Quality Weight 0
Llm Reasoning Score 100
Llm Reasoning Weight 100
Weighted Total 100
Evidence Summary None

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