Evidence-based fact-checking: we investigate viral claims, health myths, and tech rumors — and show our work. Every claim is traced to its source, weighed against the evidence, and stamped with a clear verdict.
Every investigation ends with one of five verdicts — no hedging, no jargon.
Accurate as stated.
Accurate overall, with minor caveats.
Contains truth but misleads.
Not supported by the evidence.
Not enough evidence either way.
Jump into the claims people are sharing most right now.
Can you charge a phone with a potato? The viral videos say yes, but the battery math tells a very different story — a single potato cell makes less than one volt and a fraction of a milliamp, while a phone needs a steady five volts and whole watts.
Do ear candles work to pull wax and toxins out of your ears? No — clinical tests found no suction and no wax removed, while regulators warn of burns, blockages, and perforated eardrums.
Does cheese cause nightmares? For most people, the answer is no — but a 2025 study of more than 1,000 students found a real link for people with lactose intolerance, and the reason has little to do with the cheese itself.
Does putting your phone in rice work? The famous rescue trick absorbs some moisture but is slower than open air, can shed dust into ports, and is explicitly discouraged by Apple — so the evidence calls it misleading, not a fix.
Is it bad to leave your laptop plugged in all the time? No, a modern laptop will not overcharge — but sitting at 100% for months does age the battery faster, and heat makes it worse.
Can you swallow your tongue during a seizure? No — and the well-meaning attempt to prevent it, by forcing an object into a seizing person's mouth, is one of the most dangerous first-aid mistakes a bystander can make.
Spotted a viral post, a health tip, or a tech rumor that smells off? Send it our way — we'll trace it to the source and publish the verdict.
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