Can people be persuaded not to believe disinformation?

A nyone following American politics in recent months will have been treated to their fair share of bogus claims. USAID, the country’s main development agency, sent $50m worth of condoms to the Gaza Strip; that tens of millions of deceased centenarians are continuing to receive social-security payments; or that disaster-relief funding was spent on housing migrants in luxury hotels in New York City. That so many believe them nonetheless highlights how an age of social media and political polarisation has blurred the lines between truth and conspiracy theory. Debunkology, or how to unpick beliefs once they take root in people’s brains, is struggling to catch up.

They are powerful triggers of an inverse placebo effect

A growing group of scientists think so, and are asking whether antivirals could treat the disease

Tooth-brushing reigns supreme. But fluoride in tap water is a good safety net

Two new reports highlight strengths as well as weaknesses

But toppling ASML will not be easy

High-speed electrons can etch nano-scale designs

https://www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/03/19/can-people-be-persuaded-not-to-believe-disinformation

A source: www.economist.com/science-and-technology/2025/03/19/can-people-be-persuaded-not-to-believe-disinformation