Science fact-checks
Infact's fact-checks in Science, newest first. Each links to a full verdict with a 0–100 accuracy score and cited evidence.
- 91 Zoologists in Thailand attempted to encourage panda mating by showing them 'panda pornography.'
- 88 Giraffes are 30 times more likely to be struck by lightning than humans, with five documented fatal strikes between 1996 and 2010. The giraffe population was 140,000 during this period, resulting in a fatality rate of 0.003 per thousand, which is 30 times higher than for humans.
- 47 The text claims that cats get more attached to people than dogs.
- 61 Y sperm are faster, die quicker, and are less resilient than X sperm.
- 77 Frogs can't vomit and instead eject their entire stomach to empty it using their hands.
- 91 The text states that the longest-named dinosaur is the Micropachycephalosaurus.
- 94 The text states that the Great Wall isn't visible from the Moon with the naked eye, debunking a common myth.
- 35 The text states that the average duration of a thunderstorm is 7 to 12 minutes.
- 80 The text states that lunar seas on the Moon are frozen lava and their smoothness is due to low gravity.
- 86 The text states that a pig's neck is structured so it cannot lift its head upwards.
- 91 The text states that a beard consists of 7-15 thousand hairs and grows at a rate of 14 centimeters per year.
- 67 The text discusses the relationship between eye color and melanin, stating that blue eyes indicate a lack of melanin, brown eyes have more melanin, blue eyes may trace back to one person, and darker eyes reflect sunlight.
- 78 A Professional sleeper is paid to sleep, often for scientific research or product evaluation. As of Aug 2, 2022, their average annual salary in the United States is $59,998, which is about $28.85 per hour.
- 66 Dogs can distinguish between the scent of a stressed and relaxed person, indicating they can detect chemical cues related to emotional states. Research from Queen’s University Belfast supports this finding.
- 86 Dolphins have no sense of smell.
- 94 The text states that the flashes of colored light seen when rubbing eyes are called 'phosphenes.'
- 91 Crocodiles, birds, and dinosaurs share a common ancestor from 240 million years ago, and crocodiles are the closest living relatives to birds after dinosaurs went extinct.
- 66 Soap and water kills maggots within 20 minutes.
- 20 The text states that grasshoppers have hearing holes in their hind legs.
- 91 The text states that the offspring of a Polar Bear and a Grizzly Bear is called a 'Pizzy Bear.'
- 91 The text suggests that Venus is the planet by the moon.
- 96 Stars have different colors based on their temperature.
- 88 Sharks appeared over 400 million years ago, while trees became common around 350 million years ago, making sharks older than trees.
- 92 Penguins can drink salted seawater because special glands filter out the salt.
- 91 Solar energy could meet all of humanity's needs.
- 86 The text states that the only letters not appearing on the periodic table are 'J' and 'Q'.
- 91 The text states that the ears of antelope hares are large enough to regulate their entire body temperature.
- 72 The world's largest living organism is a fungus covering over 2,300 acres in Oregon.
- 59 Watermelon snow appears in spring and summer, is pink and smells like watermelon, caused by algae Chlamydomonas nivalis containing astaxanthin.
- 47 A baby giraffe is unsure of how to position its long neck while sleeping.
- 81 A beetle collects water from fog using its body, influencing architects' views on water systems.
- 70 Astronauts wear adult diapers with their spacesuit during liftoff, landings, spacewalks, and extra-vehicular activities.
- 94 Manta rays visit cleaning stations where smaller fish remove dead skin and parasites.
- 95 The scientific term for brain freeze is 'sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia.'
- 83 The text provides average penis sizes for gorillas, chimps, bonobos, and humans, and states that most primates have a penis bone and achieve erections through muscle contraction.
- 91 The Concorde flew fast enough that passengers on westbound flights from London or Paris to New York could see the sun rise again after takeoff, as it moved faster than Earth's rotation at that latitude.
- 59 The text states that to cook scrambled eggs on the pavement, it needs to heat up to 70°C.
- 56 A lungfish can survive out of water for up to four years, obtaining 90% of its oxygen from air, and typically survives in mud for months until waters return.
- 66 Sir Isaac Newton invented Calculus, the Binomial theorem, and discovered the universal law of gravity by age 25. He also died a virgin.
- 91 Lemons float in water, but limes sink.
- 20 The text states that the density of ice is about the same as that of concrete.
- 61 Possums eat poisonous snakes and thousands of ticks, and rarely get rabies due to their cold blood.
- 86 Venus is the only planet to spin clockwise.
- 32 The text states that human hair and nails continue to grow after death.
- 90 Between 50% and 80% of earth's living organisms are in the ocean.
- 96 The International Space Station orbits Earth approximately every 90 minutes.
- 47 Whale milk is said to have a consistency similar to toothpaste.
- 94 The text states that the sun is about 400 times larger than the moon.
- 92 Flatworms can regenerate a new head, retaining all old memories within it, while living in water.
- 60 The text describes the African giant snail as one of the largest land snails, native to West Africa, with a large spiral shell and a muscular foot. It is an adaptable herbivore consuming many plant species and is considered an invasive pest in some regions.
- 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.
- 56 A horse is born black but turns white as it ages. The Lipizzan horse is found in Austria, Croatia, Hungary, and Slovenia.
- 66 The text states that the hardest bone in the human body is the femur.
- 65 Carnivorous animals typically have eyes on the front of their head, while herbivores have them on the sides. Some carnivores do not follow this pattern.
- 42 The text states that only three animals have blue tongues: the chow chow dog, the blue-tongued lizard, and the black bear.
- 50 Plants may grow faster when exposed to soothing music, such as birdsong or jungle sounds, which can stimulate their growth.
- 69 In 1945, a chicken named Mike survived without a head for 18 months and was studied publicly.
- 73 The Philippine eagle is the largest eagle by length and wing surface, and killing it is punishable by up to 12 years in prison under Philippine law.
- 73 Lions swallow large chunks of meat instead of chewing their food.
- 73 Octopuses lay 50,000 eggs at a time.
- 55 The text states that a Bonsai tree planted in 1625 survived the Hiroshima bombing and is still growing.
- 50 The video explains the importance of proper pruning for lavender, highlighting that it does not regrow from old wood and should be pruned after flowering to ensure longevity and health.
- 50 Baby ducks swim behind their mother in a straight line to conserve energy and stay safe, using waves created by the mother to reduce water resistance and keeping the family together for protection.
- 55 A Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton named 'Gus' sold for $50.1 million at Sotheby's, setting a record for the most expensive fossil auctioned. The 67-million-year-old specimen from South Dakota is 38 feet long and 61% complete. Its private sale raises concerns about scientific and public accessibility.
- 91 The website discusses the impact of modern wildfires on giant sequoias, highlighting their need for fire to reproduce and the threat posed by climate change and intense wildfires.
- 91 Scientists have developed a mechanical computer using springs and steel bars that operates without electricity, aiming to create smart materials capable of computing and adapting to their environment.
- 94 The website reports on various events including Dollarama's recall of garlic powder due to contamination, India's successful launch of a private orbital rocket, and Connor Bedard's contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.
- 93 India successfully launched its first private-sector orbital rocket Vikram-1, marking a milestone in its space ambitions. The rocket was launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, deploying payloads into a 450km orbit. Skyroot Aerospace, the company behind Vikram-1, became the first Indian space-sector company to reach a $1bn valuation.
- 76 Jamevu is described as a mental phenomenon, the opposite of deja vu, where familiar situations or people feel unfamiliar.
- 64 Koala fingerprints are almost identical to human ones, sharing ridge patterns, pores, and fine details, making them hard to distinguish under a microscope.
- 91 A bird feeds its children about 800 times in 24 hours.
- 91 The text states that the Nile crocodile can hold its breath underwater for up to two hours while waiting for prey.
- 69 The text states that the Eiffel Tower grows about 15 centimeters taller in summer due to thermal expansion of its iron.
- 20 The text claims that consistent flatulence over 6 years and 9 months can produce enough gas to equal the energy of an atomic bomb.
- 50 Scientists have grown the first lab meat steak. Swiss startup Mirai Foods created it from muscle cells, resembling real pork, in five days. The startup believes no animals should die for meat.
- 50 Piranhas make a noise similar to the barking of a dog when hunting.
- 50 The text states there are 8 eye colors in the world and that violet eyes are considered the rarest.
- 48 The text claims that dolphins are the only mammals whose birth starts with the tail.
- 91 The text states that a bear's speed can reach 50 km/h.
- 81 The website reports that Connecticut has been selected for an NSF award to boost quantum technology innovation, with QuantumCT receiving initial funding of $15 million. Quantum technology industries are projected to grow significantly, and Connecticut companies are already supporting numerous jobs in this sector.
- 92 The website discusses how elephants communicate through ground vibrations and air-transmitted sounds, highlighting their unique ear anatomy and bone-conduction hearing capabilities.
- 73 Kim Un-young entered university at 4, was invited to work at NASA at 7, and spoke 5 languages by age 2.
- 94 Frogs absorb water through their skin instead of drinking it.
- 70 Living in a basement causes you to age a few nanoseconds longer than living in a second-story apartment due to stronger gravity slowing time more.
- 45 Pigeons can reach a speed of 100 km/h in two seconds.
- 90 The cyanometer is a 230-year-old tool invented in 1789 by Horace-Bénédict de Saussure and Alexander von Humboldt to measure the blueness of the sky.
- 71 Scientists created a Black Hole-like energy system in a lab, confirming a theory by Sir Roger Penrose, which could transform communication and quantum technology.
- 86 Cats can change their purring vibrations to influence their owners, such as asking for food.
- 88 Astronauts avoid sodas in space due to gravity issues causing 'wet burping.'
- 83 The text states that the water you drink is older than the solar system and that most drinking water went through dinosaurs.
- 76 The website discusses a study from Virginia Tech that examines how scientists' credibility is perceived by different audience classes based on their motivations and intentions.
- 94 Japan's space agency conducted its first test flight for an experimental reusable rocket.
- 63 The text describes the sea devil, known as an anglerfish, as swift, eternally hungry, and dangerous to deep-sea inhabitants.
- 37 The text claims that the female brain processes information five times faster than the male brain.
- 80 Scientists discovered Earth's constant low-frequency hum, but its origin is unknown.
- 76 Cats can drink seawater because their kidneys filter salt well and excrete it naturally.
- 82 Neutral colors are muted shades with underlying hues that change with lighting, are not on the color wheel, and complement primary and secondary colors.
- 92 The website discusses a study suggesting that the brain's memory center may be prewired rather than built from scratch, with early dense neural networks that prune over time.
- 86 The website discusses the potential of geoengineering to mitigate the effects of El Niño by using aerosols to brighten clouds and create a cooling effect, based on simulations and past events like the Australian wildfires.
- 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.
