Smithsonian Magazine Online Edition (www.smithsonianmag.com)

A news site that covers various topics such as science, arts and culture. It has a bias towards presenting controversial or sensationalist stories without providing enough context or evidence to support them.

78%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermines the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
Analysis.OverallConflictOfInterestScore * 0.3F + Analysis.OverallBiasScore * 0.3F + Analysis.DeceptivenessScore * 0.3F + Analysis.ReadabilityScore * 0.1F

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

The Daily's Verdict

This news site has a mixed reputation for journalistic standards. It is advisable to fact-check, scrutinize for bias, and check for conflicts of interest before relying on its reporting.

Bias

100%

Examples:

  • The article presents the debate as a simple question of classification when in fact there are many other factors at play such as bone maturity and predator coexistence.
  • The article quotes experts who have different opinions on the matter without providing any context or explanation for their positions. This creates an impression that these opinions are equally valid when in reality one position is more supported by evidence than the other.

Conflicts of Interest

50%

Examples:

  • A previous fossil discovery was found to represent a juvenile Tyrannosaurus with distinctive features that ally it with T. rex but not seen in Nanotyrannus
  • This could indicate a conflict of interest or bias on the part of the researchers who made this claim, as they may have overlooked other possible explanations for these features.

Contradictions

100%

Examples:

  • A previous fossil discovery was found to represent a juvenile Tyrannosaurus with distinctive features that ally it with T. rex but not seen in Nanotyrannus
  • Modelling the growth of Nanotyrannus showed it would have reached a maximum size around 900-1500 kilograms and five metres - about 15 per cent of T. rex, which grew to 8,000 kilograms and nine meters or more
  • The first skull of Nanotyrannus was found in Montana in 1942, but for decades paleontologists have gone back and forth on whether it was a separate species or simply a juvenile T. rex

Deceptions

80%

Examples:

  • The article does not provide any evidence or sources for these claims, which could be seen as deceptive.
  • The article uses sensationalist language such as ‘Amazing Fossil Preserves Teenage Tyrannosaur’s Last Meal’ to attract readers and create a false impression of the scientific rigor of the research.

Recent Articles

  • New Study Reveals Chimpanzees Follow Human-Like Communication Patterns with Rapid Turn-Taking

    New Study Reveals Chimpanzees Follow Human-Like Communication Patterns with Rapid Turn-Taking

    Broke On: Thursday, 25 July 2024 A recent study published in Current Biology reveals that chimpanzees, our closest living relatives, communicate through turn-taking gestures and sounds similar to human conversations. Researchers found that 14% of chimp interactions involve a two-part exchange with an average response time of 120 milliseconds. This rapid communication pattern sheds light on the evolutionary mechanisms driving social interactions between humans and primates.
  • Spectacular Double Meteor Shower: Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids Peak Next Week

    Spectacular Double Meteor Shower: Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids Peak Next Week

    Broke On: Sunday, 30 July 2023 Experience a double meteor shower peak next week, featuring the Southern Delta Aquariids and Alpha Capricornids. The Southern Delta Aquariids, known for fast-moving meteors from comet 96P/Machholz, and Alpha Capricornids with brighter fireballs will light up the night sky. Best viewing conditions are in the Southern Hemisphere on July 31.
  • Mysterious Slowing Down of Earth's Inner Core: Implications for Magnetic Field and Day Length

    Mysterious Slowing Down of Earth's Inner Core: Implications for Magnetic Field and Day Length

    Broke On: Friday, 01 January 2010 Recent studies suggest Earth's inner core has been slowing down since around 2010, affecting the planet's magnetic field and potentially shortening days. Seismic data from various locations worldwide revealed S waves traveling faster than P waves, indicating a change within the core. Further analysis confirmed this decrease in rotation speed, but the cause remains unclear.
  • Bark Air's Inaugural Dog-Exclusive Flight: A Game Changer in Canine Travel

    Bark Air's Inaugural Dog-Exclusive Flight: A Game Changer in Canine Travel

    Broke On: Saturday, 25 May 2024 Bark Air, the world's first airline exclusively for dogs and their companions, launched its inaugural flight on May 25, 2024. Founded by Bark, this innovative airline aims to revolutionize long-distance travel for dogs with Gulfstream G500 jets equipped with state-of-the-art features prioritizing their comfort. The first flight was a success, offering special amenities and pampering both dogs and human companions. Bark Air's entry marks a significant transformation in the dog travel industry, attracting more pet parents seeking convenient options for their beloved companions.
  • Bright Blue-Green Comet Fragment Dazzles Europe's Night Skies

    Bright Blue-Green Comet Fragment Dazzles Europe's Night Skies

    Broke On: Sunday, 19 May 2024 A comet fragment illuminated Europe's night skies with a blue-green hue on May 19, 2024, leaving witnesses in Spain, Portugal, and France in awe. The European Space Agency confirmed the object was a comet entering Earth's atmosphere at an altitude of approximately 60km. Reports suggest it burned up over the Atlantic Ocean or was a small piece of ice traveling at high speeds. Witnesses described seeing a bright light with blue-green trail, and the International Meteor Organization received over 80 reports. This unexpected cosmic event reminded us of the wonders in our universe.
  • Wild Orangutan Rakus Self-Medicates with Medicinal Plant Akar Kuning for Wound Healing: A First in Animal Behavior

    Wild Orangutan Rakus Self-Medicates with Medicinal Plant Akar Kuning for Wound Healing: A First in Animal Behavior

    Broke On: Friday, 03 May 2024 A wild Sumatran orangutan named Rakus made history in June 2022 by self-medicating with the medicinal plant Akar kuning (Fibraurea tinctoria) to heal a wound on his face. This marks the first documented case of a wild animal using a plant for wound healing, and Rakus' behavior could have implications for understanding the origins of human wound care.
  • Revolutionizing Prosthetics: MiniTouch Device Senses Temperature for Amputees

    Revolutionizing Prosthetics: MiniTouch Device Senses Temperature for Amputees

    Broke On: Saturday, 10 February 2024 Researchers have developed the MiniTouch device, a functional artificial limb that senses temperature and provides a realistic sense of hot and cold to amputees. The device integrates off-the-shelf electronics without surgery and enhances existing prosthetic limbs by delivering thermal information into nerve areas on the residual limb. The MiniTouch increases the ability to distinguish between real and prosthetic arms, improving both usefulness and acceptance of artificial limbs.
  • NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Completes Historic Mission with 72 Flights and Surpasses Expectations

    NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter Completes Historic Mission with 72 Flights and Surpasses Expectations

    Broke On: Sunday, 28 January 2024 NASA's Ingenuity Mars Helicopter, the first aircraft to fly on another world, has ended its mission at the Red Planet after surpassing expectations and making dozens more flights than planned. The helicopter sustained damage during landing and is no longer capable of flight.
  • Tiny T-Rex: The Case for Nanotyrannus as a Distinct Species

    Tiny T-Rex: The Case for Nanotyrannus as a Distinct Species

    Broke On: Wednesday, 03 January 2024
      Tyrannosaurus rex is a famous giant dinosaur that once roamed Earth millions of years ago New evidence suggests Nanotyrannus lancensis could be its own distinct species Nanotyrannus lived alongside T. rex and was smaller in size than the iconic creature

    • Fossil Reveals Young Tyrannosaurs' Feeding Behavior

      Broke On: Friday, 08 December 2023 A 75-million-year-old Gorgosaurus fossil was found with its last meal still preserved inside. The fossil contained the hind limbs of two small feathered dinosaurs, indicating that young tyrannosaurs fed on different animals than their adult counterparts. The discovery sheds light on the scarcity of small and midsize dinosaur fossils, attributed to the hunting activities of young tyrannosaurs.