FACT CHECK

Do DIY Air Purifiers Really Work to Combat Wildfire Smoke, COVID, and Other Pollutants?

Can your MacGyver air scrubber do the work of a purifier costing hundreds of dollars? Science says yes.

The 'Titanic' has been the subject of a number of myths.

8 Twisted 'Titanic' Myths, Debunked

Take a look at some of the more enduring misconceptions surrounding history's most famous vessel.

Is “As I Lay Dying” Grammatically Incorrect?

Musician Sufjan Stevens recently jumped on the “open letter to Miley Cyrus” bandwagon with a tongue-in-cheek critique of her grammar in the song “Get It Right.”

Do Camels Really Store Water in Their Humps?

Where do camels store water? The humps may be the most obvious answer—but that doesn’t mean it’s correct.

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Can an Average Passenger Actually Be Talked Through Landing a Plane in an Emergency?

It happens in movies—but can an average person actually be talked through landing a plane in an emergency?

Could a Zombie Survive On a Diet of Human Brains?

Would a diet heavy on human brains provide a zombie with everything it needs to survive, nutrition-wise?

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is looking for its next snack.

What Would Happen to The Very Hungry Caterpillar If It Really Ate All That Stuff?

There are few children’s books more beloved than Eric Carle’s 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar,' even if it's real-life ending would be much more gruesome.

A monster from the deep and a massive brown beast: potentially the kind of dumps Godzilla and King Kong would produce.

Godzilla vs. King Kong: Whose Poops Would Be Bigger?

If 'Godzilla vs. Kong' were a pooping contest, who would produce the most waste: a radioactive amphibious lizard or a colossal ape?

Face masks are not hazardous to your health.

No, Your Coronavirus Face Mask Does Not Limit Your Oxygen Intake

Face coverings are everywhere, leading some people to speculate they might limit oxygen intake or cause carbon dioxide (CO2) poisoning. It won't happen. Here's why.

How Did Casper the Friendly Ghost Die?

The genial ghost has been trying to make friends with the living since 1945. But did he once walk among them as a real boy?

10 Facts About the Aberfan Disaster of 1966

Learn the history of the tragic, shocking story behind the Aberfan mining disaster—an event recreated in season 3 of 'The Crown.'

Samuel West portrays Anthony Blunt in The Crown.

Anthony Blunt: The Art Historian/Russian Spy Who Worked at Buckingham Palace

'The Crown' offers a glimpse of Anthony Blunt, the real-life art curator for Buckingham Palace found to be a Russian Spy in 1964. Incredibly, he stayed on for eight more years. Here's why.

Seward's Folly: The Conspiracy Theory That Has Plagued New York City's William Seward Statue for More Than a Century

For more than a century, a rumor has circulated that the William Seward statue in New York City's Madison Square Park is a composite—Seward's head plopped on Abraham Lincoln's body. Where did the rumor come from and ... is it true?

9 Myths About Theodore Roosevelt

Our 26th president was a man larger than life—and is forever much larger than life, thanks to the fact that he's on the side of a mountain. But as with any such figure, myths and legends arise. So we’re here to explain the truth behind some popular storie

Does the Full Moon Really Make People Act Crazy?

Along with Mercury in retrograde, the full moon is a pretty popular scapegoat for bad luck and bizarre behavior. Encounter someone acting strangely? Blame it on the lunar phases!

Kenneth Branagh as William Shakespeare in All Is True (2019).

Fact-Checking 13 Plot Points in All Is True, Kenneth Branagh’s Shakespeare Biopic

Despite what the title might imply, Kenneth Branagh took some creative liberties with 'All Is True,' the William Shakespeare biopic he directed and stars in.

Warner Bros. All Rights Reserved. Harry Potter Publishing Rights/J.K.R.

Fact-Checking Pottermore's Claim That Witches and Wizards Used Spells to 'Vanish' Their Waste Before Modern Plumbing

It's gross, but does it reflect the reality of the 18th century? We investigate.

Diagnosing the Home Alone Burglars' Injuries: A Professional Weighs In

Can a man really be hit square in the face with a steam iron and walk away unfazed?

That Sugar Rush Is All In Your Head

Plus, the science behind a sugar crash.

The Real Reason Costco Employees Check Receipts at Exits

If shoppers have one complaint about Costco, it’s that the employees posted at the exits to take a marker to customers' receipts seem vaguely insulting.

Is It Illegal to Die in Longyearbyen, Norway?

A lot of people say it's illegal to die in the world's most northerly town. Incidentally, a lot of people are wrong.

Facebook Is Now Fact-Checking Your Memes

Time to face the facts.

It's True: Men's Pockets Really Are Deeper Than Women's

An investigation confirms it.

What's the Correct Pronunciation of February?

In the United States, the most common pronunciation is feb-yoo-air-ee. Both Merriam-Webster and American Heritage dictionaries consider the common pronunciation correct, along with the less common, more traditional standard feb-roo-air-ee.