Latest news with #conspiracyTheorists
The Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Conspiracy theorists spot baffling ‘proof' new Space Station clip is FAKE & say: ‘They are NOT in zero gravity'
CONSPIRACY theorists have claimed that a space station video is fake - because of a glass of water. Online sceptics blasted a video of China's Tiangong Space Station which showed a glass of water in zero gravity behaving in a so-called unnatural manner. 3 3 In the viral footage, three astronauts are seen standing on board the station, with a glass of water on a table to their left. The glass and the water inside it appear to be completely still - despite the microgravity environment. Tin foil hat-wearing social media users poured out online - slamming the "unbelievable" footage and calling the whole thing a stunt. Many speculated that water's behaviour on a space station should see the liquid rising into spheres and floating around the room. Rather than stay in its glass, the water should be able to fly around the room in bubbles just like in the movies, baffled theorists said. One confused user said on X: "Call me crazy but if I was orbiting the Earth at 17,500 mph in Zero Gravity surrounded by complex computers…I probably wouldn't risk an unconcealed glass of water resting on the table." Another suggested: "The water wouldn't stay in the glass. It would be floating." Although the online hysteria sent many conspiracy theorists into a debunking frenzy - there is actually a simple explanation for the water's seemingly unnatural behaviour. But this didn't stop others jumping on the bandwagon, with another user saying: "That water should be floating around like bubbles." Scores of curious viewers came to the conclusion that the video must have been filmed on Earth. Incredible video shows how US will mine the MOON to help humans establish new home in space One user said: "Apparently they are not in zero gravity as water stays in the glass." Another weighed in: "Yep, it's fake. They are not in zero gravity." A third user even asked: "So, they're not in space?" Theorists were then sent down an even deeper rabbit hole after Elon Musk's Grok AI system started misinforming users in response to their questions. In one response, Musk's AI chatbot claimed: "Yes, water would float out of a glass in a space station due to microgravity." Still puzzling viewers, the video confused even more users who then seemingly lost their temper. One raged: "This is ridiculous. The water wouldn't stay in the glass. Why do they insist in surrounding us in a sea of lies?" Another blasted: "They are not in zero G it's an act. They are walking on an uneven surface to create a slight floating effect by they are still grounded." While another fumed: "At this stage I think they are doing it on purpose, to wake people up. "You can't tell them, you have to show them." However, there is a rational explanation for the water's behaviour in the video. The most important thing to note is that according to science, this is exactly how an open glass of water in microgravity should act. Space historian Jordan Bimm told AP: "Water molecules like to stick to glass and also to other water molecules more than they like to disperse in the air. "So if there is no external force, water remains in 'clumps' in the weightless environment, and in this case inside the glass." How does zero gravity affect water? by Harvey Geh Water is composed of slightly positive hydrogen atoms and slightly negative oxygen atoms. These pull towards each other, much like opposite ends of a magnet. In zero gravity, water can form into floating blobs that drift freely. But this effect also gives water a strong surface tension, which helps it stick to surfaces and hold its shape. The liquid sticks to surfaces like glass because water molecules naturally cling to each other and whatever they touch. When the surface tension kicks in, it acts like an invisible skin that keeps the water in a neat, round shape. With no gravity to pull it down, tipping a glass won't make the water move. That's why astronauts use sealed pouches and straws to drink, instead of open containers. Water does not float out of glasses in space because of how its molecules behave in microgravity. The molecules in water are strongly attracted to each other and to the glass, which keeps the liquid clumped together and stuck to the inside of the cup. This effect, known as surface tension, means the water can sit still and appear as if it's behaving normally — even without gravity holding it down. In fact, astronauts often struggle to pour liquids in space. That is why they are usually seen drinking from squeezable pouches and using straws, not open containers. It can actually be very hard or even impossible to get water out of an open container in microgravity. The glass of water seen in the video was part of a lesson. The clip was taken from a broadcast called Tiangong Class, where Chinese astronauts perform science demos for schoolkids back on Earth. In this case, they were showing how buoyancy works differently in space, using water and a ping-pong ball to explain the science. Another video posted on Chinese site Weibo shows one astronaut carefully filling the same glass with a straw before carefully sticking it to the table with Velcro. One sharp-eyed viewer hit back at the theorists saying: 'It's not like you couldn't just spend five minutes researching this stuff.'
Fox News
28-05-2025
- General
- Fox News
Macron dismisses viral moment with wife as 'joking around' after disinformation claims backfire
French President Emmanuel Macron allegedly argued that video images showing his wife Brigitte pushing him away with both hands in the face on Monday were a pro-Russian disinformation campaign. "Brigitte's hands #Macron brought to the PR's face at #Hanoï : the Élysée initially denied the veracity of the images, suggesting a video generated by AI and relayed by pro-Russian accounts, before finally authenticating the sequence and evoking a moment of "complicity," a post from the French outlet, Brèves de presse, claimed. Although Macron's office initially denied the authenticity of the images, The Associated Press later confirmed them as genuine. His office has continued to downplay the incident following the initial attempt to suggest a pro-Russia disinformation campaign. "It was a moment where the president and his wife were decompressing one last time before the start of the trip by horsing around. It's a moment of complicity. It was all that was needed to give ammunition to the conspiracy theorists," his office said. Macron has also told reporters that the couple were just joking around. "We are squabbling and, rather, joking with my wife," he said, adding that the incident was being overblown into "a sort of geo-planetary catastrophe." Video of the incident showed a uniformed man opening the plane door as Macron was seen wearing a suit and standing in the doorway. Brigitte Macron's arms – in red sleeves – could be seen reaching out and pushing Macron away, with one hand covering his mouth and part of his nose while the other was on his jaw. The French president turned his head away but suddenly noticed news cameras capturing the moment. He quickly smiled and waved before exiting the door frame. Macron and his wife later disembarked the stairs of the aircraft together. The French president offered his arm, though the first lady – seen wearing a red blazer – did not take hold of it. The video quickly went viral and was mainly promoted by accounts that have been accused of being habitually hostile to the French leader. "For three weeks … there are people who have watched videos and think I shared a bag of cocaine, that I had a fight with the Turkish president, and that now I'm having a domestic dispute with my wife," said Macron. "None of these are true. Everyone needs to calm down."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Macron's office dismisses viral video showing apparent shove from wife Brigitte
French President Emmanuel Macron's office moved swiftly on Monday to defuse attention around a viral video showing his wife Brigitte pushing his face away as they deplaned in Vietnam for the first leg of a Southeast Asia tour. The short clip shows the aircraft door opening with Macron appearing in the doorway. Seconds later, both of Brigitte Macron's hands reach from the side and presses against the president's face in what looks like a sudden shove. Macron appears momentarily surprised but quickly regains his composure and waves to the press outside. As the couple descend the steps, Macron offers Brigitte his arm, which she does not take, opting instead to hold the railing. The Élysée initially denied the incident on the plane, before later moving to downplay its significance. It was a 'moment of togetherness,' according to an Élysée source. 'It was a moment when the president and his wife were unwinding one last time before the trip began, playfully teasing each other,' the source told CNN Monday. 'No more was needed to feed the mills of the conspiracy theorists,' the source added, saying pro-Russian trolls were quick to spin the moment into controversy. Macron has been at the forefront of efforts to agree a coordinated European response to defending Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The incident in Hanoi comes as Macron faces another swirl of online disinformation. Earlier this month the Élysée dismissed as 'fake news' a viral claim - amplified by Kremlin officials - that the French president was using cocaine aboard a train to Kyiv alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The rumor, traced back to pro-Russian accounts, falsely claimed a crumpled tissue Macron picked up was a cocaine bag. The Élysée posted a rebuttal online with the caption: 'This is a tissue. For blowing your nose… When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation makes a simple tissue look like drugs.' The Kremlin's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova fueled the claim, suggesting the scene was part of a wider European dysfunction. French officials condemned the campaign as part of ongoing efforts by Moscow to weaken Western unity on Ukraine and manipulate peace discussions through false narratives and social media manipulation.
CNN
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Macron's office dismisses viral video showing apparent shove from wife Brigitte
French President Emmanuel Macron's office moved swiftly on Monday to defuse attention around a viral video showing his wife Brigitte pushing his face away as they deplaned in Vietnam for the first leg of a Southeast Asia tour. The short clip shows the aircraft door opening with Macron appearing in the doorway. Seconds later, both of Brigitte Macron's hands reach from the side and presses against the president's face in what looks like a sudden shove. Macron appears momentarily surprised but quickly regains his composure and waves to the press outside. As the couple descend the steps, Macron offers Brigitte his arm, which she does not take, opting instead to hold the railing. The Élysée initially denied the incident on the plane, before later moving to downplay its significance. It was a 'moment of togetherness,' according to an Élysée source. 'It was a moment when the president and his wife were unwinding one last time before the trip began, playfully teasing each other,' the source told CNN Monday. 'No more was needed to feed the mills of the conspiracy theorists,' the source added, saying pro-Russian trolls were quick to spin the moment into controversy. Macron has been at the forefront of efforts to agree a coordinated European response to defending Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The incident in Hanoi comes as Macron faces another swirl of online disinformation. Earlier this month the Élysée dismissed as 'fake news' a viral claim - amplified by Kremlin officials - that the French president was using cocaine aboard a train to Kyiv alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The rumor, traced back to pro-Russian accounts, falsely claimed a crumpled tissue Macron picked up was a cocaine bag. The Élysée posted a rebuttal online with the caption: 'This is a tissue. For blowing your nose… When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation makes a simple tissue look like drugs.' The Kremlin's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova fueled the claim, suggesting the scene was part of a wider European dysfunction. French officials condemned the campaign as part of ongoing efforts by Moscow to weaken Western unity on Ukraine and manipulate peace discussions through false narratives and social media manipulation.
CNN
26-05-2025
- Politics
- CNN
Macron's office dismisses viral video showing apparent shove from wife Brigitte
French President Emmanuel Macron's office moved swiftly on Monday to defuse attention around a viral video showing his wife Brigitte pushing his face away as they deplaned in Vietnam for the first leg of a Southeast Asia tour. The short clip shows the aircraft door opening with Macron appearing in the doorway. Seconds later, both of Brigitte Macron's hands reach from the side and presses against the president's face in what looks like a sudden shove. Macron appears momentarily surprised but quickly regains his composure and waves to the press outside. As the couple descend the steps, Macron offers Brigitte his arm, which she does not take, opting instead to hold the railing. The Élysée initially denied the incident on the plane, before later moving to downplay its significance. It was a 'moment of togetherness,' according to an Élysée source. 'It was a moment when the president and his wife were unwinding one last time before the trip began, playfully teasing each other,' the source told CNN Monday. 'No more was needed to feed the mills of the conspiracy theorists,' the source added, saying pro-Russian trolls were quick to spin the moment into controversy. Macron has been at the forefront of efforts to agree a coordinated European response to defending Ukraine following Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. The incident in Hanoi comes as Macron faces another swirl of online disinformation. Earlier this month the Élysée dismissed as 'fake news' a viral claim - amplified by Kremlin officials - that the French president was using cocaine aboard a train to Kyiv alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The rumor, traced back to pro-Russian accounts, falsely claimed a crumpled tissue Macron picked up was a cocaine bag. The Élysée posted a rebuttal online with the caption: 'This is a tissue. For blowing your nose… When European unity becomes inconvenient, disinformation makes a simple tissue look like drugs.' The Kremlin's foreign ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova fueled the claim, suggesting the scene was part of a wider European dysfunction. French officials condemned the campaign as part of ongoing efforts by Moscow to weaken Western unity on Ukraine and manipulate peace discussions through false narratives and social media manipulation.
