Saturday 10 October 2026 · Edition of the day

Current editionPast editions →

The Skeptic's Daily

The day's biggest stories, taken apart. For each one: what is actually established, what is only asserted, the questions worth asking — and a plausibility score for the central claim, given everything currently known.

Stories
2
Average plausibility
82%
How to read the score
It rates how well the core claim is evidenced — not how important the story is, nor whether it is good or bad news.
RegionAllGlobalAfricaNorth AmericaSouth AmericaAsia-PacificEuropeMiddle East
TopicAllPoliticsConflict & SecurityBusinessScienceHealth
01ScienceSouth America

Earthquakes damage Panama as reports differ on magnitude and destruction

Several outlets report damaging tremors and tsunami alerts, but the supplied accounts do not establish the full extent of the damage.

Reports describe powerful earthquakes in Panama, with buildings damaged and tsunami alerts issued. Al Jazeera and DW report that the president declared a major disaster. BBC and the Guardian give a magnitude of 7.7, while France 24 gives 7.6; descriptions of the scale of destruction also differ.

What holds up

  • ✓Earthquakes and building damage are reported by BBC, the Guardian and DW, providing cross-outlet support for the core event.
  • ✓BBC, France 24 and DW report tsunami warnings or alerts; Al Jazeera and DW both report a presidential disaster declaration.

What doesn't yet

  • ?The magnitude differs: BBC and the Guardian report 7.7, while France 24 reports 7.6. The extracts do not explain whether this reflects a revision.
  • ?Al Jazeera describes southern Panama as devastated, whereas the Guardian says the country appeared to escape widespread destruction or deaths. No comprehensive damage assessment is supplied.

Ask before you share

  • →What is the latest official magnitude and assessment of the separate tremors?
  • →Are tsunami alerts still active, and what do verified local damage and casualty assessments show?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]BBC News · Published 9 Oct 2026 · bbc.co.uk
  2. [2]Al Jazeera · Published 10 Oct 2026 · aljazeera.com
  3. [3]The Guardian · Published 10 Oct 2026 · theguardian.com
  4. [4]France 24 · Published 9 Oct 2026 · france24.com
  5. [5]DW · Published 9 Oct 2026 · dw.com
02ScienceSouth America

New giant waterlily species reported in Colombia

The Guardian describes a discovery prompted by social media and says the plant is already considered critically endangered.

The Guardian reports the discovery of a new giant waterlily species in Colombia's jungle following a chance social media encounter. It describes leaves large enough to be seen from space and says the species is already considered critically endangered. Plans to protect it are mentioned, but not detailed in the supplied extract.

What holds up

  • ✓The Guardian places the reported discovery in Colombia and links it to a social media encounter.
  • ✓The same item reports both a critically endangered assessment and plans for protection; these have no independent corroboration in the supplied list.

What doesn't yet

  • ?The extract supplies no species name, scientific paper, taxonomic evidence or basis for the conservation assessment.
  • ?The claim that the leaves can be seen from space lacks imagery, measurements or viewing conditions in the supplied material.

Ask before you share

  • →Where is the scientific description establishing the plant as a distinct species?
  • →Who assessed its conservation status, and what protection measures are proposed?

Sources & original reporting

  1. [1]The Guardian · Published 9 Oct 2026 · theguardian.com