Fact Checks

Was Betsy Ross the Only Real Person Depicted On a PEZ Dispenser?

Written by: David Mikkelson

Jan. 10, 2002 (Updated: Aug. 24, 2022)

In American history, Ross is something of a legend — a craftswoman who made flags.

Was a Car Fire Caused by Overheated GPS Battery?

Written by: David Mikkelson

Nov. 20, 2014 (Updated: Aug. 23, 2022)

Photographs purportedly show the aftermath of a car fire caused by a GPS device.

Was Song on Final Byrds Album Sung by a Roadie?

Written by: David Mikkelson

Oct. 8, 2006 (Updated: Aug. 23, 2022)

"B.B. Class Road" is a song by The Byrds from the 1971 album Farther Along.

Did Woman Win $1,000 in Carnation Slogan Contest By Submitting a Bawdy Verse?

Written by: David Mikkelson

Sept. 10, 2003 (Updated: Aug. 23, 2022)

Evaporated milk is created by reducing the volume of whole milk by removing about 60% of its wat ...

Does Photo Show a Satellite View of Hurricane Katrina?

Written by: David Mikkelson

Dec. 9, 2012 (Updated: Aug. 23, 2022)

On Aug. 23, 2005, meteorologists identified the storm that would become Hurricane Katrina about ...

Did Thomas Jefferson Advise Carrying a Gun While Exercising to Ensure Mental and Physical Wellness?

Written by: David Mikkelson

July 25, 2012 (Updated: Aug. 22, 2022)

"A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun," the form ...

Does Using a Recharging Cell Phone Pose a Serious Threat of Electrocution?

Written by: Jessica Lee Barbara Mikkelson

Oct. 7, 2014 (Updated: Aug. 18, 2022)

A viral TikTok video claimed "electric waves" from the outlet "will come through your body." Tha ...

Did the British Drop a Wooden Bomb on a Decoy German Airfield?

Written by: David Mikkelson

Sept. 30, 2005 (Updated: Aug. 17, 2022)

During WWII the Germans built wooden airplanes and sometimes complete airfields to keep the Alli ...

Why Do Golf Courses Have 18 Holes?

Written by: Barbara Mikkelson David Mikkelson

Nov. 20, 2002 (Updated: Aug. 17, 2022)

As one rumor goes, golfers established the number because a standard bottle of Scotch contains 1 ...

Do You Need Eight Glasses of Water Per Day?

Written by: David Mikkelson

Feb. 6, 2001 (Updated: Aug. 16, 2022)

In general, we need to take in enough water to replace the amount we lose daily.

Did Robin Williams Say 'Politicians Should Wear Sponsor Jackets Like NASCAR Drivers'?

Written by: Dan Evon

April 26, 2021 (Updated: Aug. 16, 2022)

The comedian would not have been the first to make such a suggestion.

Will Drinking Water in the Mornings Prevent Heart Attacks and Cure Diseases?

Written by: Snopes Staff

Oct. 17, 2010 (Updated: Aug. 16, 2022)

Claims that certain healthful benefits can be gained by eating or drinking particular items at s ...

Are These Accurate Claims About Untapped Oil Reserves in the Bakken Formation?

Written by: David Mikkelson

Sept. 17, 2008 (Updated: Aug. 15, 2022)

The Bakken Formation lies within portions of North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana.

Is Freya the Walrus Sinking Boats in Norway?

Written by: Nur Ibrahim

July 22, 2022 (Updated: Aug. 15, 2022)

She just needs a place to relax.

'Furman University Christian Knights': Did the SC School Change Its Mascot To Avoid a Vulgar Acronym?

Written by: David Mikkelson

Nov. 18, 2008 (Updated: Aug. 15, 2022)

As this rumor goes, an abbreviation for "Furman University's Christian Knights" would be F-U-C…

Did Trump Say 'Anyone Being Investigated by the FBI Is Not Qualified To Be President'?

Written by: Jordan Liles

Aug. 9, 2022 (Updated: Aug. 12, 2022)

Occupy Democrats shared a meme with this purported Trump quote after news broke that his Mar-a-L ...

Did WHO Study Conclude That Natural Blondes Are Likely To Be Extinct Within 200 Years?

Written by: David Mikkelson

March 8, 2006 (Updated: Aug. 12, 2022)

The “blondes are going extinct” rumor sprang from a spate of news stories that were aired by maj ...

Did Eisenhower Say, 'Don't Join the Book Burners'?

Written by: David Emery

April 29, 2022 (Updated: Aug. 12, 2022)

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower spoke out against censorship during a commencement address a ...

Does Chocolate Milk Contain Cow's Blood?

Written by: Barbara Mikkelson

March 5, 2001 (Updated: Aug. 11, 2022)

Chocolate milk is not made from "regular" milk that was rejected for containing too much cow's b ...

The Etymology of 'Two Cents'

Written by: Barbara Mikkelson David Mikkelson

June 1, 2013 (Updated: Aug. 11, 2022)

Here's our two cents on why people use the phrase, and what some people believe are its origins.