Moon did block sun during total solar eclipse
A false claim that it was not the moon that blocked the sun during the 2024 full solar eclipse has been widely shared online. Read
Fact checks
Environment
Fact checks, commentary and analysis about the environment, climate change, renewable energy and animal welfare
Beach in Iran is naturally red due to iron oxide soil
A video is being shared online with claims it shows a beach on Hormuz Island that “turned” red due to severe weather, but in fact it’s usually that colour. Read
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Bat boxes on ULEZ cameras can be legally removed by TfL
Transport for London is not legally prevented from removing bat boxes installed on cameras which enforce London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone, contrary to claims on social media. Read
Fact checks
Environment
Canadian government has not admitted blocking the sun
A Canadian government science strategy mentions research into technology to reflect the sun’s rays, but there is no evidence this is currently being used. Read
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Oil does not regenerate faster ‘than it could ever be depleted’
A widely shared Facebook post claiming oil can be regenerated as fast as it’s being used is untrue. Read
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It is not illegal to fly over the continent of Antarctica
Multiple claims about Antarctica, including that it was a ‘flourishing land’ in the 1500s, are untrue. Read
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Viral clip does not show discovery of crude oil in Burkina Faso
The video was originally shared by a contractor in Minnesota, and shows repairs to a sewer. Read
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The sun and the moon are not the same size
Contrary to a claim on Facebook, the sun is not equal in size to the moon. It is more than 400 times larger in diameter than the moon, and about 400 times further away from the Earth. Read
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Long trails in the sky left by planes aren’t ‘chemtrails’
A long line in the sky behind an aeroplane is a normal type of contrail—the water vapour that sometimes trails aircraft. Read
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Diesel generator not powering electric vehicle chargers at Welsh service station
Moto, the company which runs the service station, says the EV chargers will be powered by renewable energy once open to the public. Read
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