The Obtain: Down the Mandela impact rabbit gap, and the promise of a vaccine for colds

Fast query: Does the Fruit of the Loom emblem function a cornucopia?

Many people have been carrying the corporate’s T-shirts for many years, and but the query of whether or not there’s a woven brown horn of lots on the brand is surprisingly contentious.

In keeping with a 2022 ballot, 55% of Individuals consider the brand does embrace a cornucopia, 25% are not sure, and solely 21% are assured that it doesn’t, although this final group is appropriate.

There’s a reputation for what’s occurring right here: the “Mandela impact,” or collective false reminiscence, so known as as a result of quite a lot of folks misremember that Nelson Mandela died in jail. But whereas many discover it simple to let their unconfirmable beliefs go, some spend years looking for solutions—and vindication. Learn the total story.

—Amelia Tait

This story is a part of MIT Know-how Evaluation’s sequence “The New Conspiracy Age,” on how the current increase in conspiracy theories is reshaping science and know-how.

Right here’s why we don’t have a chilly vaccine. But.

For these of us within the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the season of the sniffles. Because the climate turns, we’re all spending extra time indoors. The children have been again at college for a few months. And chilly germs are in every single place.

So why can’t we get a vaccine to guard us towards the widespread chilly? Scientists have been engaged on this for many years, nevertheless it seems that creating a chilly vaccine is difficult. Actually onerous. However not unimaginable. There’s nonetheless hope. Learn the total story.

—Jessica Hamzelou