The Verified Post — investigative long-form journalism on history, public health, human rights, and culture
FEATURED STORYNEW9 MIN READVerdict: Missing context
San Diego's Ant War Is Real. The Viral Picture of It Isn't.
Two Argentine ant supercolonies really did fight a deadly border war near San Diego. But the 30 million figure needs context, and the viral image is fake.
The Lead
VIRAL RESEARCH · INSIGHTS
“The viral before-and-after insulin photos are real. Case VI was a New York girl who weighed 44 pounds when doctors started her on insulin in November…”
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History·11 MIN READVerdict: Missing context
Ea-nasir and the Oldest Customer Complaint: What Really Happened
The world's oldest known customer complaint is a clay tablet from Ur, not an engraved rock, and Nanni was Ea-nasir's investor rather than a cheated shopper.
Human Interest·8 MIN READVerdict: True
Dylan Mills: Baby Burn Survivor Crowned Homecoming King
Dylan Mills was 17 months old when a 2009 Texas house fire burned 84% of his body. In 2025 he was crowned homecoming king beside his kindergarten best friend.
Science·12 MIN READVerdict: Partly true
Stoffel the Honey Badger: The True Story Behind the Viral Escapes
Stoffel the honey badger really did escape his pen again and again in South Africa. But the viral story about lions and his partner Hammie gets key facts wrong.
Human Interest·12 MIN READ
Save Dad First, Lose Weight Later: The Boy Who Gained 15 Kilos
At 10, Lu Zikuan ate five meals a day to reach the weight needed to donate bone marrow to his father. What it took, why weight mattered, and what came after.
History·13 MIN READVerdict: Partly true
Alessandro Moreschi: The Last Castrato and His 1902 Recordings
In 1902 Alessandro Moreschi made the only solo recordings of a castrato. The viral post is mostly right, but the tradition lasted about 360 years, not 500.
Technology·11 MIN READ
Disney Songs vs. Meta Glasses: Does the Copyright Trick Work?
A viral tip says to play Disney songs if Meta smart glasses are filming you. Copyright filters rarely stop the video, but the joke behind it lands hard.
History
Human Interest
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