For Real, a Natural History of Misinformation
AI Summary
A new study published in the journal Interface by Cornell researchers, led by Andrew Hein, suggests that misinformation is not unique to humans. The study, released in December 2025, examines how misinformation cascades occur in natural systems, such as schools of fish. Researchers observed fish fleeing for no apparent reason, triggering a chain reaction of other fish also fleeing. This phenomenon mirrors how misinformation spreads online, prompting the researchers to suggest that studying these natural systems could provide insights into understanding and addressing misinformation in human societies. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine issued a warning earlier this year about the dangers of misinformation, and this study offers a new perspective by exploring its origins beyond human behavior.
Key Entities & Roles
Keywords
Sentiment Analysis
Source Transparency
This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).
Topic Connections
Explore how the topics in this article connect to other news stories