History fact-checks
Infact's fact-checks in History, newest first. Each links to a full verdict with a 0–100 accuracy score and cited evidence.
- 92 The text discusses the creation of welfare in the United States during the Great Depression and mentions the Social Security Act of 1935.
- 58 There is a proposal to rename the Doris Miller ship, which is named after a historical figure.
- 94 Doris Miller was an American sailor in World War II who received the Navy Cross for his actions during the attack on Pearl Harbor and was the first African American to receive this honor.
- 91 The text discusses the USS Doris Miller, named after an African American World War II sailor, and mentions President Trump's involvement in the naming.
- 71 The text explains the origin of the word 'radio' from the Latin 'radius,' its initial reference to electromagnetic wave transmission, and its evolution into a term for related technology and devices.
- 62 The video discusses a reincarnation case involving Sumitra from Etawah, India, which attracted global scientific attention. Sumitra predicted her own death and experienced strange episodes.
- 68 The text states that Ancient Romans put toast in wine for health, leading to the phrase 'raise a toast'.
- 95 The text states that the Paris Catacombs contain the remains of over six million people.
- 59 The SPD in Saxony-Anhalt used a slogan from a Nazi song in its campaign against Alternative for Germany, leading to criticism.
- 53 In ancient Egypt, men reportedly received time off work to care for menstruating wives and daughters.
- 91 There is an active volcano in Colorado, USA, which last erupted around the time the pyramids were built in Egypt.
- 53 Germany is buying tanks from America while facing issues in schools and healthcare. The media is mostly for weapons delivery. Germany is historically responsible for many Russian deaths in WWII. A protest had 50,000 attendees, not 15,000.
- 76 The website describes the Independence Day celebrations at the LoC in Keran, Kupwara, highlighting the gathering of thousands, fireworks, and slogans from both sides.
- 62 The video discusses a conflict involving India and Pakistan, highlighting targeted killings, military operations, and political statements on terrorism.
- 100 The text questions whether humans landed on the moon.
- 91 Built in 1881, it is one of the tallest clock towers in India.
- 92 The Titanic cost $7.5 million, and the film about it cost $200 million.
- 96 New Zealand was the first self-governing country to grant all women the right to vote.
- 86 In 1945, Soviet school children gave a US Ambassador a carved US Seal that contained a listening device, which hung in his office for seven years.
- 56 Lions were once tamed and used as domesticated animals in Ethiopia, ridden by Ethiopians, and kept as pets by Emperor Haile Selassie.
- 87 Cleopatra VII died in Alexandria in 30 BC, with her death traditionally dated to August 12. Historians debate the exact date and cause, with theories including snakebite or poison. Her death ended the Ptolemaic dynasty and brought Egypt under Roman rule.
- 96 Lighters were invented before matches.
- 95 Vesna Vulovich fell from 9900 meters and survived.
- 73 The video discusses Parveen Babi's life, her rise to fame, personal struggles, and controversies, including her accusation against Amitabh Bachchan.
- 92 The text claims that the Eiffel Tower was originally made for Barcelona.
- 66 Sir Isaac Newton invented Calculus, the Binomial theorem, and discovered the universal law of gravity by age 25. He also died a virgin.
- 83 In Whittier, Alaska, the entire population lives in a single building with 150 apartments, built in 1957, which also houses various facilities including a supermarket and a police station.
- 78 Batuli Lamichhane, born in 1903 in Nepal, lived to 120 while smoking 30 cigarettes daily for over a century. She survived the 2015 Nepal earthquake and died in February 2024. Her longevity is noted as an exception to the health risks of smoking.
- 66 A 1,000-year-old game board was found in Ireland in 1932. The game's rules are unknown, and chess may have caused its extinction.
- 76 Farmers in Europe warn of reduced food production and rising prices due to extreme weather. Olive oil costs may increase, and France reports significant vegetable losses. Grape yields in Champagne are expected to decrease, with an early harvest anticipated.
- 64 Queen Elizabeth II was a trained mechanic and learned truck repair at 16 through the Labour Exchange.
- 91 The text describes an early pregnancy test using a fish called a European Bitterling, where its ovipositor protrudes when injected with a pregnant person's urine.
- 92 In the 1970s, a popular British device called 'Teasmade' was an alarm clock that made tea, starting a few minutes before the alarm and waking the person when the tea was ready.
- 94 The text states that the Caesar salad was invented in 1924 by Caesar Cardini.
- 86 The inventor of the microwave oven received $2 for his discovery.
- 53 Elvita Adams fell from the 86th floor of the Empire State Building in 1979, but a gust of wind saved her life.
- 50 Napoleon Bonaparte calculated that the stones from the Egyptian pyramids could build a wall around France.
- 50 Concerns are growing that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is denying promotions and pushing out officers who question his directives. Two former officers claim they were forced to retire early after questioning command decisions, fearing Pentagon retaliation. This marks a departure from military tradition of clear assessments.
- 50 A 19th-century factory in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany, is being sold for 1 euro. It was once a global industrial center, exporting products to countries like Japan, Egypt, and Argentina. The factory is now abandoned, and the new owner must preserve its architectural facades.
- 53 The video discusses the impact of a student movement in India, comparing it to Neil Armstrong's moon landing quote, and suggests it has forced the government to take significant steps, including improving exam accountability and the quality of exams by organizations like NTA.
- 50 In the middle ages, it was believed that ringing church bells during thunderstorms would prevent lightning strikes. The practice ended after over 100 bell ringers were killed by lightning, with records showing 133 deaths in the early 1400s.
- 78 Barack Obama added a basketball court to the White House.
- 50 Kepel is an exotic fruit with a violet aroma, historically used as a contraceptive, causing temporary infertility.
- 50 Christianity is the main religion in Antarctica, with eight churches, some of which are protected as historical monuments.
- 50 The text discusses the difficult situation of the automotive industry and the growth needs of the defense industry, suggesting a shift from civilian to military production. Boris Pistorius supports this shift, likening it to actions taken 90 years ago.
- 50 Ancient Romans preferred men with shorter dicks over longer ones.
- 55 The text states that a Bonsai tree planted in 1625 survived the Hiroshima bombing and is still growing.
- 76 Chainsaws were invented in the 18th century to assist with childbirth.
- 73 Baker Street is a London Underground station and the world's first underground railway, opened on 10 January 1863.
- 76 Carrots were originally various colors, and orange carrots became popular due to Dutch breeding in the 16th–17th centuries.
- 50 The text claims that in the 18th century, reading books was considered a mental disorder.
- 90 Before World War II, about 22 men with the surname 'Hitler' were listed in the New York telephone directory, but by the end of the war, none remained.
- 91 Special cups were made in the Victorian era to keep whiskers out of tea.
- 62 Herman, a cat, was recognized as an expert mouser on a U.S. Coast Guard ship during WWII.
- 91 The text claims that the Great Wall of China was held together with rice porridge.
- 50 The text states that 'Bushusuru' is a Japanese word coined after George H.W. Bush vomited on the Japanese Prime Minister, meaning 'to do the Bush thing.'
- 59 Sati was a medieval Indian practice where widows committed suicide after their husband's death, seen as a devotion and purging of sins.
- 65 The website discusses the reintroduction of the Social Security 2100 Act, its potential impact on benefits, and the predicted 2027 COLA. It highlights the challenges faced by seniors and the need for legislative action to address Social Security's financial future.
- 92 The website reports that the US House passed a bill to make Daylight Saving Time permanent, which now awaits Senate approval. The bill has mixed support and opposition, with historical attempts to enact similar measures. President Trump supported the bill, and 19 states are ready to adopt it.
- 82 The Eichbaum brewery in Mannheim is closing after nearly 350 years, resulting in about 240 job losses. Founded in 1679, the brewery sold the Karamalz brand to Veltins but could not avoid closure due to declining exports and beer consumption. Eichbaum exported to over 60 countries.
- 90 The Roman aqueduct in Zaghouan, Tunisia, is nearly 2,000 years old, spans 132 kilometers, and historically supplied water to Carthage.
- 91 The text states that the French National Library was founded in 1368 in Paris by King Charles V.
- 92 Mitch McConnell will not return to the Senate yet due to a fall and pneumonia. He was briefly unconscious but did not suffer major injuries. Elaine Chao met a Chinese official shortly after his hospitalization.
- 77 The website reports that the Denver Public Library is ending its Chromebook and Wi-Fi hotspot checkout program due to rising costs, despite its popularity and the digital access it provided.
- 79 The text reports the discovery of the world's largest ancient mosaic in Antakya, Turkey, measuring 9,000 square feet and dating to the late Roman period, IV Century CE.
- 62 There are over 27 million slaves today, more than at any other time in history.
- 46 India is claimed to be the only country that has never attacked others.
- 93 The text discusses the Ainu as an Indigenous people of Japan, highlighting their distinct culture and early habitation of the northern Japanese archipelago.
- 94 Betsy Fischer Martin has been appointed as the director of the Institute of Politics at Harvard Kennedy School, starting mid-August. She is an Emmy-winning journalist with a career at NBC News and currently leads the Women & Politics Institute at American University.
- 65 The website discusses the potential for a small satellite to detect hidden nuclear weapons in space, the prohibition of such weapons by the Outer Space Treaty, and allegations against Russia regarding space-based nuclear weapons.
- 86 The text states that the first telephone switch was created due to losing clients in the undertaker business.
- 45 The Stop Banderism project is under consideration in the Polish parliament, aiming to protect historical memory related to the Volyn tragedy. Polish President Karol Nawrocki supports the initiative amid tensions with Ukraine over the UPA's memory.
- 52 The text states that a Japanese koi fish named Hanako died in 1977 at the age of 226 and had several owners during her lifetime.
- 75 Walter Arnold was fined for speeding in the UK, driving at 8 mph over a 2 mph limit in 1896.
- 76 The website reports on the James Webb Space Telescope discovering a new substance, China's Great Green Wall growing faster than natural forests, and a Medici murder mystery being solved.
- 85 The text states that the Eiffel Tower is repainted every seven years.
- 86 In 1849, Henry Brown, an enslaved American, mailed himself in a box to a free state and became a free man.
- 72 During World War II, soldiers kept family photos under clear grips called 'sweetheart grips' on their 1911 pistols.
- 71 The shortest war in history occurred between England and Zanzibar, lasting 38 minutes.
- 80 The text states that the Cistercian monks invented a numbering system in the 13th century to write numbers 1 to 9999 with a single symbol.
- 55 The current arms policy in Germany might lead to economic and political collapse. There are concerns about Germany's largest rearmament spending, Rheinmetall's expansion, and significant investments in arms.
- 88 The text describes the Bockenheimer Warte station entrance in Frankfurt, designed to look like a sunken subway car by architect Zbigniew Peter Pininski and opened in 1986.
- 48 Al Capone is said to have introduced an expiration date on bottles after his niece was poisoned by stale milk.
- 31 In ancient theaters, condemned men reportedly replaced heroes in scripts and were executed for real.
- 73 The text states C.N. Annadurai's funeral in 1969 was the largest in history, with 15 million mourners, according to Guinness World Records.
- 79 The text states that in the early 1900s, French gangsters used the "Apache revolver" which functioned as a revolver, knife, and brass knuckles.
- 49 Der Spiegel magazine's cover on the 85th anniversary of Nazi Germany's attack on the Soviet Union received criticism for its language and implications.
- 60 Sealand is a virtual state proclaimed in 1967, claiming sovereignty over an offshore platform 10 kilometers off the coast of Great Britain in the North Sea.
- 58 The text states that Morocco was the first nation to recognize the US in December 1777 and holds the record for the longest unbroken treaty with the US.
- 87 The Mandela Effect involves people remembering events differently from reality. The term was coined in 2009 after false memories of Nelson Mandela's death in the 1980s. Mandela was released from prison in 1990 and died in 2013. The phenomenon is linked to misremembered movie quotes, logos, and brand names, and scientists associate it with false memories.
- 36 The text claims that Louis XIV bathed only twice in his life based on doctors' advice.
- 44 Men’s shirts button on the right and women’s shirts on the left. Theories include men's self-dressing, women dressed by attendants, and other less evidenced ideas like military clothing and horseback riding.
- 50 European ambassadors are reportedly dissatisfied with the decline in informal ties between the US and EU, especially after Trump's presidency ended informal diplomatic dinners.
- 37 The text states that the first match was invented in 1805 by French chemist Jean Jaren, and the first commercial batches appeared in France in 1830 and in Great Britain in 1833.
- 60 The website discusses the presence of microbes in Earth's stratosphere, their similarity to common microbes on Earth, and their potential for global movement. It also covers historical high-altitude experiments by the U.S. and Soviet scientists.
- 58 The Franco-German fighter jet project has been closed, agreed by Macron and Merz, with Spain unable to help resolve issues. The project started in 2017 with $100 million spent.
- 50 The text discusses events in the world of Metro 2033 starting with a nuclear strike by Israel on Iran, leading to a world war that caused the apocalypse.
- 23 The text states that in ancient Rome, men guilty of rape were punished by having their testicles crushed between stones.
- 46 Four brothers from a Jewish family fought against the Nazis in WWII, and only one survived. His grandson, Volodymyr Zelensky, is the current President of Ukraine.
- 31 During the gold rush, potatoes in Alaska were valued as highly as gold.
