Conspiracy theories around COVID-19 continue to spread. Experts weigh in on why people believe them.

When Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert, a Republican who has publicly shunned face masks, tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday, the news sparked a chain reaction. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced new ... Read More

Why people embrace conspiracy theories: It's about community, not gullibility

Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest sci-tech news ... us to build relationships with people, who shared insights into what motivates their involvement. In particular, we spoke to people about ... Read More

Why do COVID conspiracy theories persist?

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Daniel Roberts hadn’t had a vaccination since he was 6. No boosters, no tetanus shots. His parents taught him inoculations were dangerous, and when the coronavirus arrived, ... Read More

Conspiracy theories run rampant when people feel helpless. Like now.

As the coronavirus pandemic has unfolded, conspiracy theories about the origins, threat and basic nature of the virus have become an increasingly visible and consequential element of the timeline. Read More

Sorry, conspiracy theorists. Study concludes COVID-19 'is not a laboratory construct'

Some have suggested the virus is actually an engineered biological attack. Conspiracy theories claiming COVID-19 was engineered in a lab as part of a biological attack on the United States have been ... Read More

A look at the Americans who believe there is some truth to the conspiracy theory that COVID-19 was planned

Most Americans (71%) have heard of a conspiracy theory circulating widely online that alleges that powerful people intentionally planned the coronavirus outbreak. And a quarter of U.S. adults see at ... Read More

The Coronavirus Conspiracy Boom

COVID-19 has created a perfect storm for conspiracy theorists. Here we have a global pandemic, a crashing economy, social isolation, and restrictive government policies: All of these can cause ... Read More

Why do COVID-19 conspiracy theories persist?

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Daniel Roberts hadn’t had a vaccination since he was 6. No boosters, no tetanus shots. His parents taught him inoculations were dangerous, and when the coronavirus arrived, ... Read More