Fake news of baby booms 9 months after major sporting events distorts the public's understanding of early human development science

Abstract

Introduction: In France on 27/6/16, Iceland's men's national football team won 2-1, knocking England out of the UEFA European Championship.

Result: Nine months after this momentous Icelandic victory, Ásgeir Pétur Þorvaldsson a medical doctor in Iceland, posted a tweet in jest suggesting that a baby boom had occurred as a result of increased celebratory coital activity following the win. The media covered this widely but statistical analysis shows otherwise and this was confirmed by the original tweet source.

Discussion: Given the increase in fake scientific news, it is especially important for scientists to correct misinformation lest the public loses trust in science or gains a distorted understanding of known facts.