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.
LHC Conspiracy Theories and Fears
In 2009 the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), a giant particle accelerator near Geneva run by CERN, was preparing to restart after upgrades. Scientists said the machine would smash protons together at very high energies to study fundamental particles and forces, potentially revealing phenomena such as the Higgs boson or signs of new physics. However, some members of the public expressed fear that the machine could produce catastrophic effects, including miniature black holes or other unknown dangers.
West's Voters Divided by Identity
A recent YouGov–Cambridge Globalism Project survey finds that voters in Western democracies are more divided by identity and partisan loyalty than by specific policy positions. Researchers describe strong "affective polarization": people feel intense dislike for opposing groups even when those groups often share similar views on key debates such as sexism, racism, and economic policy. The findings challenge the idea that culture wars are mainly about conflicting opinions; instead, much conflict appears driven by who people see as "us" versus "them."
More work on domestic women's rights
A YouGov–Cambridge Globalism Project survey asked people in many Western countries whether more should be done to improve women’s rights at home. In several nations a clear majority or near-majority said yes. Italians topped the list at 62%, followed by Spaniards at 60%, Hungarians at 57% and Swedes at 56%. Other countries where roughly half of respondents expressed concern included Poland, France, Canada, Australia and Greece.
Global Views on American Cultural Influence
A YouGov survey carried out in nine countries across Europe, Australia and Singapore measured public views on American cultural influence. The study found that most people recognize U.S. impact in entertainment: 66% to 89% of respondents said American movies, television and music shape their local culture. Roughly half also reported significant American influence in news media, national political norms, everyday language and consumer brands, showing that perceptions extend beyond entertainment.