Was there a 1983 experiment in which a man was denied access to any of his senses in hopes of perceiving God? It’s not real, and is merely a short story.  The short story entitled “Gateway of the Mind” can be found published on CreepyPasta.com. This website is described as “a collection of various paranormal/scary short stories.” This work was posted on November 23, 2009. Synopsis The story tells of an unscrupulous batch of scientists who deprived a man of all of his senses in order to determine if this void would allow him to sense the presence of God. The man began reporting that he could hear voices and possessed knowledge of dead relatives of the scientists. He screamed, clawed at his eyes, and chewed of chunks of flesh from his arms. After begging to be killed, his last words were, “I have spoken with God and he has abandoned us” upon which his vital signs stopped for no apparent reason. Human experimentation is often a subject of fiction, such as in this scene from the 1962 film “La jetée.” Though it was clearly presented on the website as a work of fiction, over time the tale has made its rounds [...]

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A message circulating online claims there will be a rare planetary alignment on January 4, 2015, known as “zero gravity day” in which people will experience a moment of weightlessness. Is this true or false? It’s a hoax. Let’s first take a look at the story in circulation: It has been revealed by the British astronomer Patrick Moore that, on the morning of November 4th 2014, an extraordinary astronomical event will occur. At exactly 9:47 am, the planet Pluto will pass directly behind Jupiter, in relation to the Earth. This rare alignment will mean that the combined gravitational force of the two planets would exert a stronger tidal pull, temporarily counteracting the Earth’s own gravity and making people weigh less. Moore calls this the Jovian-Plutonian Gravitational Effect. Moore told scientists that they could experience the phenomenon by jumping in the air at the precise moment the alignment occurred. If they do so, he promised, they would experience a strange floating sensation. Astronomers have long been aware that there would be an alignment of the planets on that date, when Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto would be on the same side of the Sun, within an arc [...]

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A heavily-shared social media post in late 2014 claims that Pedigree UK has recalled Jumbone treats. The rumor, however, is not true. 2014 Jumbone Recall Hoax In late 2014, a Facebook post received heavy social media sharing. That user claimed that there was a recall by Pedigree UK of Jumbone treats. It stated: URGENT. Don’t give your dogs these. Pedigree Uk are re-calling them. You need to contact them if your dog has had one/been poorly. Please let all your doggy friends and family know. The popular December 2014 Facebook post appears to be a shortened variation of an earlier post from November 2014 in which it was claimed that a dog became ill after eating a Jumbone treat. Please don’t give these to your dogs!! Our Woody is really poorly, and has been violently sick about 12-15 times in the past 10 minutes with crippling stomach pains. UPDATE: We have just had to rush him to the vet, where he’s has 2 massive injections, one for his brain, and they’ve completely knocked him out! £113 later we are glad he is alive!! The vet couldn’t urge strongly enough how many dogs have become ill because of these bones! 22/11/14 – IVE HAD [...]

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“Pupula Duplex” is said to be a rare condition in which a person has two irises and two pupils in one eye. But is this condition real or simply a myth? About “Pupula Duplex” The phrase “pupula duplex” can be traced back to Ovid, and other ancient writers who referred to it as the “Evil Eye.” The meaning of “pupula duplex” – from Latin, translated as “double pupil” – was debated in writings around the turn of the 20th century in attempts to determine if this “evil eye” was an actual physical condition, or merely symbolism used by ancient writers. Walton Brooks McDaniel discussed the phrase in great detail in his essay, “The Pupula Duplex and Other Tokens of an “Evil Eye” in the Light of Ophthalmology.” McDaniel’s 1918 essay expands upon, and often refutes, an earlier essay by Kirby Flower Smith’s entitled “Pupula Duplex” from 1902. Smith concluded that “pupula duplex” could have meant double pupil but it could also have been interpreted to mean heterochromia, a rare condition in which a person has eyes of multiple colors. He also postulated that pupula duplex may have merely been symbolic, or that it could have been translated by authors “without knowing what [...]

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A graphic allegedly which allegedly shows the final scene of Monsters, Inc. depicts what appears to be a child’s drawing of two people engaged in an illicit act. Is this real or fake? It’s a hoax. Let’s take a look at what is being asserted, and the truth behind the photo in circulation. The Fake Photo The photo below allegedly shows the final moment of this popular 2001 Disney-Pixar film. In the scene, Sully opens the door to Boo’s bedroom and smiles at an off-camera scene. To the left, we see a child’s drawing on the girl’s wall of “Uncle Roger” and “Mommy” engaged in a sex act. The Real Photo The photo above has been altered from what actually appeared in the film. The real scene does include a child’s drawing on the wall, but the drawing is a benign scene which includes harmless images of a cat and a bug. Below is a screen capture of the same scene, in which the harmless child’s drawing can be seen. If the image above is not convincing, you can watch the final moment of the film in the video below. This scene clearly shows an innocent child’s drawing. History The Google Trends chart below shows the history [...]

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A popular graphic circulating compares photos and lifestyle information of Gillian McKeith and Nigella Lawson. Are the photos and captions accurate? Gillian McKeith & Nigella Lawson Graphic A popular graphic circulating around the web shows pictures of Gillian McKeith and Nigella Lawson side by side. The caption jokingly implies that Gillian’s “healthy” lifestyle has led to her rather unflattering look as depicted, as opposed to the lovely photo of Nigella, who supposedly leads a much less “healthy” lifestyle. Are the photos and the sentiment of the caption accurate? Admittedly, this graphic was first analyzed by a Briana Rognlin at Blisstree in November of 2011. Our analysis followed in May of 2012. Let’s look at the actual photo and caption first. The caption reads: Above: This woman is 51. She is TV health guru Gillian McKeith, advocating a holistic approach to nutrition and health, promoting exercise, a vegetarian diet high in organic fruits and vegetables. She recommends detox diets, colonic irrigation and supplements. Right: This woman is 51. She is Nigellea (sp) Lawson a TV cook, who eats meat, butter and desserts. I REST MY CASE Analysis of Statements Let’s first see if the statements regarding both women are accurate. Both [...]

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A video allegedly shows a real mermaid captured on tape by two men. Is this real or fake? It’s fake. Let’s first take a look at the video which has been circulating since mid-2013. The video (below) shows what appears to be a creature on a rock formation near the coast. The men in the video discuss what they are seeing, at first thinking it could be a seal. When the camera zooms in on the creature, it appears to be a mermaid which looks back and then enters the water. The men are dumbfounded by the amazing sight. The video, entitled “Mermaid Sighting in Kiryat Yam,” is a fictional presentation created for a special entitled Mermaids: The New Evidence which first aired on Animal Planet on May 26, 2013. It is a follow-up to the 2012 special entitled Mermaids: The Body Found. The 2013 “New Evidence” special aired as part of Monster Week. Both of these “mockumentary” presentations depict fictional encounters with strange creatures, as seen in this video. Take a look at the video which was released as a sneak peak by Animal Planet in advance of the mermaid special: 2012 Press Release In a press release relating to the original [...]

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Social media lit up early Monday with rumors that Playboy founder Hugh Hefner had died. The report is false. Death Hoax The report originated from the domain NBCToday.co (not the official NBC News website). The fake story reported that Hefner died of natural causes at the age of 88 at his home. NBCToday.co is a click-bait website, which generates false news stories in order to create traffic. By early Monday, the fake story had received over 100,000 shares on social media. Late Sunday, Hefner tweeted out a photo described as “Movie night with the family” and later retweeted a tweet about the death hoax. I Googled @hughhefner and it said he died but still made it to movie night. Lol. The internet is an odd place sometimes. — Domineek Ellington (@thatdudedneek) December 29, 2014 Crystal Hefner shared a meme on Twitter which addressed the sharing of hoaxes online: pic.twitter.com/Jd4WOjMPRO — Crystal Hefner (@crystalhefner) December 29, 2014 Bottom Line Hugh Hefner did not die of natural causes over the weekend. The fake story making this assertion was published by a click-bait news website.

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It has been claimed that Pringles potato chips are loaded with a cancer-causing chemical called acrylamide. Today we take a closer look at this claim. Pringles and Acrylamide It’s true that Pringles – and most potato chips – contain acrylamide, but this chemical’s effect on cancer risk is still being researched and debated as of fall 2014. Pringles have been perhaps unfairly singled out in what is a much larger debate regarding the acrylamide. This substance is created when high carbohydrate foods are cooked at high temperatures. There is ongoing debate and research regarding an increased risk of cancer from dietary intake of acrylamide. The European Journal of Cancer sums up the debate quite well in the following quote, “Acrylamide is a probable human carcinogen that causes cancer at multiple sites in animal models. However, whether dietary acrylamide intake increases the risk of colorectal cancer in humans is unclear.” Some studies have shown no link at all between acrylamide and its effect on cancer, while one study showed that coffee was a more significant source of acrylamide than fried potatoes. Other products found to contain acrylamide include chocolate, prune juice, roasted almonds, and coffee. The FDA released a table which [...]

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A popular list of coincidences surrounding Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy has been circulating for decades, going all the way back to 1964. Surprisingly, the list has changed very little since then. Today we’ll take a look at the list and see how accurate it is. History There have been many attempts over the years to explain the coincidences below, almost to the point of contention by some writers. Those who go to such an extent are missing the point that most people do understand that these are just coincidences, but nevertheless still find them interesting. It is generally understood that they’re just coincidence, and often the circumstances surrounding them were completely different. When two people meet, for example, and find they share the same birthday, they certainly realize it is purely coincidence… but is there harm in marveling at such coincidence anyway? The list below does contain some true coincidences between Presidents Lincoln and Kennedy. Are they unnatural or beyond mere coincidence? Certainly not. But do people still find them interesting? The longevity of the list answers with a resounding yes. Lincoln/Kennedy Coincidences So without further delay, we present the list of Lincoln-Kennedy coincidences, and our score of the accuracy [...]

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A graphic circulating claims that sheep are castrated, have their tails cut off, and are killed in the manufacturing of Ugg boots. Is this true or a hoax? Online Claim First let’s take a look at the graphic that is circulating through social media. The graphic reads, “THE UGLY SIDE OF UGGS Sheep used for wool are routinely castrated, have their tails cut off (without painkillers) and throats slit for a pair of UGG Australia boots, a wool sweater, or jacket.” Accompanying the claim are two graphic pictures of confined sheep that have had their tails cut off. This is part of the “Ugly Side of Uggs” graphic which has circulated on social media.   History Uggs are a brand of sheepskin boots that have existed since the late 70s. In 1995, the brand was bought out by Deckers Outdoor Corp., and they currently remain the parent company of Ugg. In the early to mid 2000s, the boots became fashionable after being featured on the Oprah Winfrey Show, and the trendy footwear began to be witnessed on the feet of many celebrities. Baywatch actress Pamela Anderson, who initially helped to popularize Uggs, embarked on a publicized boycott of the boots [...]

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A photo circulating online shows a gun which appears to be sold by Tiffany & Co. Is this gun real or fake? The gun is real, but it is not sold by Tiffany’s. The photo shows a two-toned Kahr PM9 pistol, draped with a Tiffany’s necklace, in a matching Tiffany & Co. box. The image began circulating on social media sites in late 2013, with many readers asking where they could get one. The gun is real, but it is not a product of Tiffany’s. It originates from Kilo Guns, located in Phoenix, Arizona. The story was researched by this blogger who discovered that owner Wyatt Mahan customized the Kahr’s finish to match the Tiffany’s box. It was also reported that Tiffany’s asked Mahan to stop associating his guns with their brand and using their patented Tiffany blue color. You can see some more refinishing work by Kilo Guns here. According to a November 2014 CNN article, Tiffany & Co. did create a line of bejeweled guns beginning in the late 1880s. However, the project was cancelled in 1911 after Tiffany manufactured roughly 50 guns. This reminds us of the DEWALT nail gun rifle which occasionally circulates online. See the full [...]

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A long-standing urban myth claims that NASA invested millions into developing a pen that would work in space while Russian cosmonauts simply used pencils. History During the peak of the Space Race in the mid 60s, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) did indeed desire to have a pen that would operate safely and efficiently in the conditions of space, as standard pens were not functional in zero gravity. American astronauts and Soviet cosmonauts initially used pencils on the first space missions, yet pencils were found to be costly and somewhat hazardous. According to a page found on the NASA website, the administration ordered 34 mechanical pencils from Tycam Engineering Manufacturing, Inc in 1965 for use on space missions. The cost in 1965 dollars was a staggering $4,382.50 ($128.89 per pencil) due to a preset contract. Public accusations of impractical expenditures resulted in a cancellation of the order and a search for more economical equipment. Pencils were also viewed as a potential risk for a number of reasons. Being made of wood, they were a possible fire hazard. In addition, pencil shavings, broken lead tips, and graphite dust were seen as imaginable sources of distraction or injury to the [...]

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A photo of President Obama is being circulated with claims that he is holding a pro-Muslim book. Are the photo and story true? The photo is real, but the description is not. It should be noted that this photo and story have circulated for several years now. First let’s take a look at one of the captions being included with the photo in 2012: THIS PHOTO SHOULD STUN AND SADDEN ALL AMERICANS! THE BOOK HE IS HOLDING IS CALLED THE POST- AMERICAN WORLD…WRITTEN BY A MUSLIM, FOR THOSE WHO DONT KNOW POST MEANS THE WORLD AFTER AMERICA AS WE NOW KNOW IT!!!!! PLEASE SHARE THE HELL OUT OF THIS!!!! The Photo Now let’s take a look at the elements of this photo and description: This photo was taken back in May of 2008 in Montana, months before Barack Obama beat John McCain for the Presidency. The book had just been published and was #2 on the New York Times best seller list at that time. The Author Fareed Zakaria is an Indian-American with a PhD in political science from Harvard University. He has contributed to the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Time, Newsweek, and CNN, among others. Zakaraia is [...]

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Today we’re taking a look at the claim that it is illegal to be overweight in Japan. Is this claim real or a hoax? There is a law in effect requiring some citizens to be measured every year, with certain steps mandated for those who exceed the recommended waist size. There is no direct punishment, however, for individuals who are deemed overweight in Japan. Metabo Law The law is officially known as the Standard Concerning Implementation Special Health Examinations and Special Public Health Guidance. It is more commonly known as “metabo law,” named after “metabolic syndrome” which is Japan’s official name for obesity. The law became effective in April 2008 and added a new waist measurement requirement to the existing annual checkups required of all 40-75 year olds by local governments and employers. Men with waists measuring more than 33.5 inches or women with waists measuring more than 35.5 inches are considered “at risk” and are referred to counseling, email and phone monitoring and correspondence, along with motivational support. There is no fine or penalty for those who exceed the recommended measurements. Some citizens complained of the embarrassment they felt when exposing their stomachs while being measured, so the government decided to allow patients to remain fully [...]

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A photo allegedly shows a giant swastika spotted in one of moon’s craters, with claims that NASA has confirmed the discovery. Is there any truth to this story? It’s a hoax. Let’s first take a look at a caption often included with the photo: Recently the Swastika found on the Moon. NASA ensured the news in a official announcement. NASA has picked the photograph. This photo first circulated in January 2010 in marketing materials for a movie entitled “Iron Sky.” The movie’s website contains a fictional newspaper The Truth Today, with articles set in the year 2018.  One of the articles is entitled “Claim: There are Nazis on the Moon” and contains the photo in question. Printed copies of The Truth Today were also handed out at film festivals where the film was shown. As you can read in this article, the creator of the image writes, “I barely had 15 minutes to Photoshop that picture so I’m really happy it stands up to scrutiny!” He further adds, “I never imagined it even could be mistaken for a real news…” Soon after The Truth Today appeared, the swastika moon image began appearing in conspiracy forums, and some online readers have attempted to [...]

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Surveillance video appears to show a supernatural appearance by what some claim is a real angel caught on tape. Today we’ll take a closer look at this video. It’s not real. This video was released in late 2010 as part of a campaign known as “Fallen Angels” or “Even Angels will Fall” for the men’s cologne Lynx Excite. Lynx is the international brand name for Axe. The campaign has sometimes referred to as the “Axe Fallen Angels.” The campaign involved sexy angels descending from the heavens, attracted to the scent of the cologne. Several television ads were created, along with an “augmented reality” device placed in London’s Victoria subway station to simulate angels falling around those who stood on a company logo. Let’s take a look at the “surveillance video” which has been circulated and sometimes passed off as real for several years. The narrator describes the video as “amazing” and asserts that it “took place in Indonesia at the end of 2011.” The video shows what appears to be an angel briefly appearing, followed by security guards who rush to investigate. The video, however, was not filmed in Indonesia, and was not real. It was produced as part of the Lynx campaign and released on social [...]

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A video shows an F35 fighter aircraft engaging in a vertical takeoff, then flipping 360 degrees before taking off. Is this video real or fake? It’s not real. Let’s first take a look at the video and the claims surrounding it. In a video posted in 2009 entitled “F35 Vertical Takeoff and Flip” we read a description that states, “F35 takes off vertically and does a controlled 360 degree flip and then takes off into the distance.” Another posting of the same video includes a longer description: This is of unknown provenance, and whether it’s true or fabricated, it’s a hell of a ride. From the email I was sent: If the pilot could have ejected at 100′ upside down and lived, he would have. Looks like the afterburner kicked in while the plane is still prepared for vertical takeoff. Lockheed would call this a “software malfunction”. Great demo of power-to-weight ratio of this aircraft! and very good stability control. If he didn’t come out of the loop with the wings-level, probably would have been bad news, maybe taking some of the carrier with him! …unpowered and zero airspeed this airplane has aerodynamics of a grand piano. This is the [...]

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A look back at the classic urban legend which states cockroach eggs incubated in a woman’s mouth after she licked an envelope. History “A woman walks into a hospital emergency room with a lump on her tongue, the result of a paper cut from licking an envelope. The doctor lances the pustule to drain the the infection and out walks a live cockroach….” It’s an urban legend as old as the internet itself, and it has been making the rounds again as the myth’s vile nature preys on basic human revulsion. There is, however, no truth to this story whatsoever, as it does not hold up to scientific scrutiny. The origin of this story is unclear, but it is one of many urban legends in relation to the licking of envelopes. Some variations of urban mythologies in regards to envelope licking date back several decades. In 1996, an episode of Seinfeld featured a variation of the urban legend, when the character Susan (George’s fiancee) dies after licking cheap wedding invitations that were covered in a toxic substance. In 1999, a rumor spread claiming that several people fell dead after licking the seals of automated teller machine (ATM) envelopes laced with cyanide. These [...]

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A Facebook post claims that you must publicly post a statement disallowing public use of your photos and information on Facebook. It’s false. Users of Facebook agree to their Terms of Service, and posting a “public statement” cannot override this fact. Further, the codes listed in the rumor are commercial codes, which don’t apply to personal posts on a social network. The verbiage of these codes don’t even relate to what is being stated in the rumor. There is also no mention of any such need to do this in Facebook’s terms & conditions or in their privacy policy. We first spotted this rumor in June 2012 after Facebook became a publicly-traded company. It has resurfaced again in June 2013, October 2013, August 2014, November 2014, and January 2015. History Let’s take a look at the original version of the rumor. Safe than sorry is right. Channel 13 News was just talking about this change in Facebook’s privacy policy. Better safe than sorry. As of October 15, 2013 at 10:30 pm Eastern standard time, I do not give Facebook or any entities associated with Facebook permission to use my pictures, information, or posts, both past and future. By this statement, I give [...]

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