Top 10 fake science news of 2017
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A list of top 10 fake science news of 2017, such as seaweed made of plastic, rabies vaccine being ineffective and aliens exiting on the far side of the Moon, was issued on Saturday.
Based on the data provided by China's largest search engine Baidu, the 10 most widespread rumors were chosen out of 94 by experts. The list was released jointly by py.qianlong.com and Beijing Science Journalists Association.
Let's take a look at the top 10 rumors and the truth behind them.
▌Left and right brain age can be tested by answering few questions?
The left and right brain age test went viral on WeChat. Test results were obtained based on the fact that left brain was responsible for abstract thinking such as language, while right brain was responsible for imaginal thinking.
Programmers studied the code of the test and found that the results were random. To test brain function, a comprehensive test is needed, such as brain structure, physiological and psychological functions. It is, therefore, impossible to get the results by simply answering few questions.
▌Stephen Hawking warned "aliens existed on the far side of the Moon"?
In June, a piece of "news" reported that Stephen Hawking warned people not to go to the Moon because there were aliens on the far side of the Moon.
This was actually fake news. Stephen Hawking did once air his opinion on the exploration of the Moon, but he never said "do not go to the Moon", or "on the far side of the Moon exist aliens".
▌Special clothes are needed to protect people from gravitational waves?
Since the first-ever direct detection of gravitational waves, many online sellers have started to sell the so-called "gravitational-wave-proofed clothes". Anything with a temperature higher than -271.15℃ will radiate energy.
However, only high-energy ionizing radiation will harm human body, such as alpha rays and x-rays. Gravitational waves have very little impact on human body, so no special protection is needed.
▌Seaweed is made of plastic?
From February to May, a series of videos widely circulated online showing that "semi-transparent" and "rubbery" seaweed with "a fishy smell" was made of plastic.
Actually, seaweed itself is semi-transparent. Seafood has a natural fishy smell. The last crop of seaweed tends to be rubbery. Real and plastic seaweed can be easily distinguished by soaking them in water. After absorbing water, real seaweed will expand, but plastic will not.
▌Rabies vaccines are ineffective?
A woman from Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi province, died 20 days after she was bitten by a dog on June 20, even though she did take the vaccine. Since then, it started to circulate online that "rabies vaccine was ineffective".
Rabies is an acute infectious disease caused by lyssa viruses. Over 50,000 people die from rabies every year, among which more than 95 percent deaths occur in Africa and Asia, according to World Health Organization. Rabies vaccine is a safe and effective method used to prevent rabies.
▌Cancer can be detected with one drop of blood?
An article titled "cancer can be detected with onedrop of blood" went viral online. In the article, it was mentioned that "Luo Yongzhang and his team in Tsinghua University's School of Life Sciences in Beijing have successfully invented a reagent test kit of Hsp90α, which can help doctors to monitor and evaluate the effect of treatment".
Early in 2013, Luo once said in an interview that this technology was designed to "monitor tumors", instead of "detecting tumors".
▌Cold will cause arthritis?
Rumor has it that long-term or severe cold stimulation can weaken the metabolism of joint, which will lead to arthritis.
Cold will not directly cause arthritis. Arthritis patients may have a joint pain after being exposed to cold, which leaves people mistaking it as the cause of arthritis.
▌No cold wind during postnatal period?
A new mom in Linzi, East China's Shandong province, died of heat stroke because she followed the tradition that "no cold wind during postnatal care".
Postnatal care is designed to help mothers to recover both physically and mentally, so good hygiene is good to their health.
▌Preservative makes a watermelon not rot for over 400 days?
After sitting there for more than 400 days, a watermelon was found to neither have red flesh nor rotten. There was a rumor that preservative was sprayed on the watermelon’s surface.
The truth is that the watermelon is dried out, which is quite common among fruit and vegetables such as oranges and bottle gourd.
▌"Quantum invisibility cloaks" have been developed by Zhejiang University?
A video titled "a man disappeared within one second" went viral showing that an old man became invisible via a "plastic cloth". When the video was forwarded, it was added that Zhejiang University had developed "quantum invisibility cloaks".
In fact, the video was Photoshopped. Zhejiang University had never developed "quantum invisibility cloaks", or made such a video, according to Ma Guiyun, professor from the university's College of Optical Science and Engineering. Invisibility is practicable in theory, but there is still a long way to go in terms of technology.
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