Skeptic lewosadebu • 1 year ago • 100%

time.com

Ralph Baric's work on gain-of-function research, which includes manipulating viruses in the lab to study their behavior, has faced controversy and blame due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite facing public scrutiny and disinformation campaigns, Baric's research played a crucial role in the development and testing of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine. Baric is now working on a pan-coronavirus vaccine using mRNA technology to address potential future outbreaks. His efforts are set amid a backdrop of growing public debate around gain-of-function research, with calls for transparency and regulatory oversight. Baric remains dedicated to his work, navigating the threats and public backlash with the support of his scientific community. Gain-of-function research refers to the study of biological entities, typically viruses, where the entities are genetically manipulated to endow or enhance certain properties or functions. This might involve, for example, increasing the transmissibility of a virus, its virulence, or its ability to infect different species. The primary objective of gain-of-function research is to better understand disease-causing agents, their potential effects, and how they evolve.

Skeptic lewosadebu • 1 year ago • 100%

www.politifact.com

The photos of children participating in satanic rituals at school were created by generative artificial intelligence. The After School Satan Club, organized by The Satanic Temple, hosted a meeting at a public elementary school in Virginia. But these AI-generated photos do not show the club or real children.

Skeptic lewosadebu • 1 year ago • 100%

www.politifact.com

The anti-abortion group Live Action recently reshared hidden-camera videos from 2011 that show hired actors posing at multiple Planned Parenthood locations as underage sex workers with their adult sex traffickers. Planned Parenthood said the videos are edited to show only parts of the conversations between Planned Parenthood employees and the undercover actors. Planned Parenthood fired the employee shown in one video for acting inappropriately; the employee in the other video followed the law and company protocol. This new post omits that soon after the incidents shown in the videos, Planned Parenthood workers reported the alleged sex trafficking to authorities and fired the non-compliant employee.

Skeptic lewosadebu • 1 year ago • 100%

www.scientificamerican.com

A concept to reduce city traffic called the "15-minute city" is being accused by far-right critics as a Communist-style attack on personal freedoms. This urban planning principle aims to locate resources such as grocery stores, schools, and hospitals within walking distance of homes to lower carbon emissions. Opponents, including former President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, have attacked each other's policies that mirror the 15-minute city concept, twisting it into a narrative of oppressive government control. Misinformation spread on far-right media platforms suggests that efforts to reduce city traffic equate to surveillance and restriction of movement, likening it to "climate lockdowns" and the "Great Reset." Despite the conspiracy theories, the plan is designed to reduce transit time and greenhouse gas emissions, improving urban life and combatting climate change.