Scienceblogtwo

Consider the JFK assassination or the lengthy history of UFO sightings to see that conspiracy theories are hardly a new ailment. However, the internet is sometimes credited for ushering in a "post-truth" era, with social media in particular facilitating the spread of rumors that become viral. Whether or if something is genuinely true is a different issue, one that is important and warrants thought. Despite what many journalists, academics, and politicians claim, there isn't much concrete proof to date that conspiracy theories are becoming more and more common. A recent set of polls that were done in the United States and six European nations came to that result. Contrary to popular belief, the new study contends that conspiracy theories are a "more durable and universal element of human civilization." It's not all terrible news, either. The good news is that it doesn't appear that online news sources or social media are directly responsible. It seems con...