Skip to main content

PeakMetrics / Fact Checks

Science & space fact checks

Explore claims publishers have checked about science & space. Read their original ratings and follow the evidence.

1,577 published reviews in this topic

PestWorldScience & space

Earwigs are ¼ to 1 inch long, with elongated, flattened bodies that vary in color from pale brown to black. They have six legs, threadlike antennae, and distinctive pincers on their abdomen. Some species have wings, though not all can fly, and those that do only fly in short bursts.

Publisher’s rating: The claim that earwigs are ¼ to 1 inch long, with elongated, flattened bodies varying in color from pale brown to black, six legs, threadlike antennae, and distinctive pincers is true. While some species have wings, not all can fly, and those that do only fly in short bursts.

PestWorldScience & space

Female red velvet ants, known for their potent stings, have earned the nickname 'cow killer ant' due to the myth that their sting could kill a cow. While painful, their venom is not highly toxic. Red velvet ants rarely sting unless provoked, and only females sting; males do not.

Publisher’s rating: The claim that female red velvet ants are known for their potent stings, earning the nickname 'cow killer ant' due to the myth that their sting could kill a cow, is true. Although the sting is painful, the venom is not highly toxic. Red velvet ants rarely sting unless provoked, and only females sting; males do not.

PestWorldScience & space

Mud dauber is a common name for a wasp that constructs its nest of mud. Typical mud dauber nest locations include sheltered sites under eaves, porch ceilings, open garages or sheds, barns, protected building walls and attics.

Publisher’s rating: The claim that 'Mud dauber is a common name for a wasp that constructs its nest of mud' is accurate. These wasps are known for their distinctive habit of building nests out of mud. The nests are typically found in sheltered locations such as under eaves, porch ceilings, garages, sheds, barns, and attics. These locations provide protection from the elements and predators. The behavior of mud daubers is well-documented in entomological studies, confirming the accuracy of this claim.

PestWorldScience & space

Boxelder bugs are black with reddish or orange markings on their back in the form of a pattern. Adult boxelder bugs have a body shape that is a somewhat-flattened and elongated oval and is about half an inch long.

Publisher’s rating: The claim regarding the appearance and size of boxelder bugs is accurate. Boxelder bugs are commonly identified by their black color with distinctive reddish or orange markings on their backs. These markings form a recognizable pattern. The body shape of adult boxelder bugs is somewhat flattened and elongated, resembling an oval. They typically measure about half an inch in length. These characteristics are well-documented in entomology, supporting the accuracy of this description.

Factcrescendo ThailandScience & space

มื่ออยู่ในลิฟต์ ประจุไฟฟ้าจากแบตเตอรี่ของจักรยานจะเปลี่ยนเป็นสนามแม่เหล็ก และทำให้แบตเตอรี่ระเบิด

Publisher’s rating: False

The review says an elevator does not cause an e-bike battery to create a magnetic field or explode. It attributes battery fires and explosions to conditions such as improper assembly, overcharging, heat, damage, or a short circuit.

Fact CrescendoScience & space

சதுரகிரி மலையில் 400 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு ஒரு முறை பூக்கும் மஹாமேரு மலர் என்று ஒரு புகைப்படம் சமூக ஊடகங்களில் பகிரப்பட்டு வருகிறது.

Publisher’s rating: ஃபேக்ட் கிரஸண்டோ ரேட்டிங்: FALSE

The review says the pictured flower is not a Mahameru that blooms once every 400 years; it identifies the image as a flower that blooms annually. It also cites a biology professor’s statement that no plant in the world blooms once every 400 years.

Factcrescendo Sri LankaScience & space

Large Fish Allegedly Found in Wennappuwa !!(PHOTO)

Publisher’s rating: False

The review says the image was likely artificially generated, citing AI-detection results and visual inconsistencies. It also reports that the same image had been attributed to locations in the Philippines and Nigeria, and concludes that the claim about the biggest fish ever found in Sri Lanka being discovered in Wennappuwa is false.

La Diaria VerificaScience & space

Aparecieron tiburones en playas de Maldonado y Rocha

Publisher’s rating: Falso

The review says a viral video purporting to be a television report about sharks arriving on Uruguay’s coast was false. Canal 7 de Punta del Este said it was not a real production, and local communicator Marcelo Umpiérrez also posted a debunking.

FACTLYScience & space

NASA backed the idea of Imam of Ahle Sunnat Ala Hazrat who wrote a book called Zameen Sakin Hai 100 years ago, based on the Quran, in which he stated that “the Earth is static, and the Sun is revolving.”

Publisher’s rating: FALSE

The review says Ala Hazrat’s cited view was that Earth is stationary while the Sun and other planets revolve around it. It explains that NASA’s barycenter account says the Sun, Earth and planets orbit a common center of mass; this does not mean Earth is static or that the Sun revolves around Earth.