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Editor's note
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As an academic recently told me, there’s something “compellingly bizarre and fun but also poignant about the idea that supposedly humankind’s greatest triumph was a hoax.” He was talking about the fact that, half a century after humans first walked on the moon, a large number of people don’t believe it actually happened. In the UK, about 12% believe the moon landings were faked. One recent poll, however, suggested that a staggering 73% of young people think they never took place (clearly we should take this with a pinch of salt).
We felt compelled to investigate the topic, shedding light on the flaws in the conspiracy theories claiming that the moon landings were staged in a film studio. As part of our global series of articles about the Apollo 11 moon landings, we have got experts writing about how moon landing conspiracy theories began and spread and why the actual footage would have been impossible to fake with the technology at the time.
Conspiracy theories about the moon landings are also at the heart of the second episode of our podcast To the moon and beyond, which looks at how people reacted to the historic event. Not only do we discover that belief in conspiracy theories varies widely around the world, we also find out what can be done to reduce belief in such ideas.
Perhaps US president Donald Trump, who loves a conspiracy theory, should have a listen. Though he is probably preoccupied, as the fallout continues following yesterday’s resignation of Kim Darroch as the UK’s ambassador to the US in the wake of leaked diplomatic cables. Trump’s reaction to Darroch’s leaked criticism, however, reeks of double standards.
And while there’s no shortage of conspiracy theories about climate change, they aren’t the biggest problem when it comes to meeting climate change targets. The UK’s targets are in fact world-leading. The issue is that no one seems to be in charge of implementing them.
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Miriam Frankel
Science Editor
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Top stories
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Buzz Aldrin on the moon.
NASA / Neil A. Armstrong
Howard Berry, University of Hertfordshire
Conspiracy theorists claim NASA used the Apollo special camera to stage the moon landings in a studio and then slowed down the footage to make it look like there was less gravity.
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NASA
Peter Knight, University of Manchester
They reflect wider concerns about the US – and its leaders.
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Kim Darroch: not in Trump’s good books.
Niall Carson/PA Wire
Dan Lomas, University of Salford
The leak of US dipomatic cables by Wikileaks revealed some equally frank assessments of British politicians.
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Steve Allen / Shutterstock
Rebecca Willis, Lancaster University
The Committee on Climate Change criticises slow progress, but has little to say about how to reconfigure government to make climate action a priority.
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Science + Technology
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Miriam Frankel, The Conversation ; Martin Archer, Queen Mary University of London
In episode 2 of The Conversation's new podcast series, we look at how people reacted to the moon landing – and why some still believe it was a hoax.
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Anthony Sinclair, University of Liverpool
New research suggests humans spread to Europe at least 50,000 years earlier than previously thought.
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Health + Medicine
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Andrew Watterson, University of Stirling
All asbestos should be removed from all schools.
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Glen Jankowski, Leeds Beckett University
Men are feeling more and more pressure to get rid of their love handles and beer bellies – and heavy promotion of unrealistic appearance standards are to blame.
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Environment + Energy
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Tom Ovenden, University of Stirling
The species which surround a tree in a forest make up the character of its neighbourhood. Good neighbours can make forests resilient to climate change.
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Tracie McKinney, University of South Wales
Seeing wild animals can be the highlight of a holiday, and help pay for conservation efforts too, but we have to respect the animals.
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Cities
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Billy Tusker Haworth, University of Manchester; Catherine Arthur, University of Manchester; Eric Lepp, University of Manchester
Take a fresh look at graffiti: even seemingly simple scribbles can hold political and social significance.
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Arts + Culture
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Samantha Warren, University of Portsmouth
Why 50/50 festival line-ups are not an easy solution to gender inequality.
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Featured events
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Bowland Auditorium, Berrick Saul Building, Campus West, York, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of York
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Berrill Lecture Theatre, Walton Hall, The Open University, MK6 7AA, Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK6 7AA, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — The Open University
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King's Manor, York, York, YO1 7EP, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of York
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The Forum, Streatham Campus, Exeter, Devon, EX4 4QJ, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland — University of Exeter
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