Daily Archives: May 18, 2021
Claims about Russia, Covid-19 and 5G are almost all false
An Instagram post makes a number of claims about Covid-19, Russia and 5G. We have covered near-identical claims in the past, but with a focus on Italy rather than Russia. Again, almost every claim—including assertions that Covid-19 is caused by bacteria being exposed to radiation and that Russia broke World Health Organisation (WHO) rules against… Read More »
These cars were not abandoned because their batteries failed
Photographs of a field filled with dozens of disused electric cars are being shared on Facebook, alongside the claim that they were scrapped because their batteries were too expensive to replace, and too difficult to dispose of. This is not true. The pictures appear genuine, but the cars were actually part of a fleet belonging… Read More »
Claims about teeth whitening inquiries don’t add up
The Mail on Sunday, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People newspapers have reported that Londoners are the “most likely” people in the country to search for teeth whitening treatments. The figures used do not adjust for population, which means that while London—by far the most populous city in the country—may have made the most search enquiries… Read More »
Fake missing child reports used to scam Facebook users
Posts reporting the disappearance of a girl called Ellie Morrad have been circulating on Facebook. One post says she went missing in St Neots, Cambridgeshire. But another says she went missing in Porthmadog in north west Wales. The photo accompanying both posts is not of Ellie Morrad but of a girl from Ohio who went… Read More »
Covid-19 vaccines haven’t caused 3,362 deaths in America
An Instagram post has claimed that the Covid-19 vaccines have killed 3,362 people in less than four months. This is roughly the number of deaths reported in the US following Covid-19 vaccination between December 2020 and April 2021, but there’s no evidence that these deaths were caused by the vaccine. The post doesn’t provide a… Read More »
Trade data doesn’t show we knew about Covid in 2018
An Instagram post shows a screenshot of data on Covid-19 test exports dating from 2018, suggesting the disease was known about before it was reported to have emerged in late 2019. This is not true and the confusion arises due to the fact that the website changed the name of a number of medical diagnostic… Read More »
No evidence Sir David Attenborough made viral comments about HS2
A viral Facebook post has attributed a comment about a tree being felled for HS2 construction to broadcaster Sir David Attenborough. Similar posts, which appear to quote Sir David comparing the age of a tree to historic events such as the first patented steam engine, have appeared elsewhere, including on Twitter where they have also… Read More »
How To Improve Listening Skills For Effective Workplace Communication
We have two ears and one mouth for a reason—effective communication is dependent on using them in proportion, and this involves having good listening skills. The workplace of the 21st century may not look the same as it did before COVID-19 spread throughout the world like wildfire, but that doesn’t mean you can relax your… Read More »
Police tweet about helicopter joy riders in Merseyside is fake
A number of Facebook posts have claimed that an air ambulance helicopter had been stolen in Bootle, Merseyside, sharing a tweet about the incident from Merseyside Police. However, the tweet was fake and this incident did not take place. The post included what appeared to be a tweet from Merseyside Police which said: “Merseyside police… Read More »
25 Interesting Historical Photos – Part 287
Here are this week’s interesting historical photos. For part 286, click here. 1. Civil rights activist James Meredith, who defied segregation to become the first African-American student enrolled at the University of Mississippi, pulls himself across Highway 51 after being shot in Hernando, Mississippi, 6 June 1966. 2. Jewish refugees arrive in Palestine with a…… Read More »