Build a conspiracy theory from scratch.
The best way to learn to spot a conspiracy theory is to make one yourself.
Pick a real news story. On the next step you'll choose who's behind it and why. Then walk through the four moves real conspiracists use, with a debunk on every step.
- Hunt anomalies — turn coincidence into evidence of a secret plot.
- Fabricate connections — draw lines between unrelated dots until they look meaningful.
- Dismiss counter-evidence — if a fact disagrees, make the fact part of the cover-up.
- Discredit the critics — dismiss people who point out flaws in your theory.
Pick the event.
Choose whichever real-feeling headline your imagination will run wildest with. Don't overthink it.
Cat bite leads to new bacterial infection
A 48-year-old man in the UK was bitten by a stray cat and developed a serious soft tissue infection. Doctors and microbiologists investigated the wound and identified a previously undescribed species of the bacterium Globicatella as the cause. The finding is reported in the journal Emerging Infectious Diseases, which describes how the organism was isolated and linked to the bite after routine laboratory testing and genetic analyses.
Promote longevity through lifestyle choices
Scientists and doctors point out that many health problems run in families, and the diseases now affecting older baby boomers can offer a warning about what people might face later in life. Advances in DNA sequencing make it possible to find gene variants that raise the chances of heart disease, diabetes and some cancers. Identifying those risks early gives doctors and patients options for monitoring, preventive treatment and tailored medical care.
Jagger: Rock legend turned "Instagram Normie
Mick Jagger, the longtime frontman of the Rolling Stones, has been sharing unexpectedly ordinary moments from his tour life on Instagram. Instead of the usual glamorous or staged celebrity photos, his feed shows mundane outings—visits to local attractions, bars, strip malls and well‑known landmarks. He told The Washington Post that these images are less about spectacle and more about getting a feel for places, and he treats the account like a simple visual diary.
CPAC Europe embraces right-wing authoritarians
CPAC Hungary, the Budapest edition of the Conservative Political Action Conference, gathered American and European conservative activists, politicians, and commentators to discuss what organizers called the decline of Western civilization. Sessions focused on immigration, resistance to progressive social policies, and critiques of liberal democracy. Hungary’s prime minister Viktor Orbán was a prominent speaker, and some remarks echoed the “great replacement” language while emphasizing national sovereignty and cultural preservation.