Fauxtography

Numerous photographs and videos circulate on the Internet. Some are real. Some are fake. Some are real, but have been given false backstories.

Were These Electric Cars Abandoned Because Their Batteries Failed? An anti-electric car post shows the results of a failed business model rather than a...

Miscaptioned

Does ‘Eye of the Moon in Utah’ Photo Depict a Real Phenomenon? Digital editing isn't the only method to create an interesting image.

False

Was This Hummer Fire Related to Gas Shortage? Advice from May 2021: Don't store gas in plastic bags and keep fuel away from...

Mostly True

Does a Snapple Lid Say ‘Trump Lost’? The underside of the cap reportedly read, “Trump lost and the election was not stolen.”

False

Was a Mermaid Discovered on the River John in 1918? It's difficult to discover something that does not exist.

False

Does a Photo Show Paris Hilton in a ‘Stop Being Poor’ Shirt? This meme has been circulating for years.

False

A video shows a man riding a drone-powered hoverboard through traffic.

Is This a Real Video of a Man Riding a Hoverboard in Traffic? The depicted technology is far from affordable at this time.

True

Is This a ‘Spanish Dancer Jellyfish’? "Spanish Dancer" is a type of sea slug and not a jellyfish.

False

A photograph shows a big wave hitting a lighthouse while a lighthouse keeper stands in the doorway and the picture is from 1989 at the La Jument Lighthouse in France.

Is the La Jument Lighthouse Photo Real? In the picture, a man stands in the doorway seemingly unaware of the massive wave...

True

Are These Frogs with Eyes Inside Their Mouths Real? How else should a frog watch what it eats?

Mostly True

Is This Patrick Stewart Auditioning for ‘Star Trek’ in a Hairpiece? Series creator Gene Roddenberry reportedly commented, "I want him to wear a wig, because I...

Miscaptioned

Does This Video Show Hummingbird Helping Another Bird? The bedazzled birds are notoriously territorial.

False