The world's biggest conspiracies

The idea that 5G is spreading coronavirus is the latest theory to raise eyebrows, but why are people so keen to believe such suggestions?

- EMMA ROSSITER

When the World Health Organisation declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic, no one quite knew what to expect. Governments worldwide imposed social distancing – a term that until recently didn’t exist – and worked tirelessly with experts to navigate these unusual circumstances.

But while the media has tried to divulge relevant and trustworthy information without inciting fear, it hasn’t stopped alternative theories. One of the most popular is that the virus is caused and spread by 5G – the latest wireless tech – and though there has been a considerable effort to debunk the rumours, they continue to thrive and have even resulted in phone masts and engineers being attacked.

So what are the most famous conspiracy theories? And is there really anything behind them?

The moon landings were faked

‘That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.’ It’s been more than 50 years since Neil Armstrong uttered those immortal words – and yet some people still doubt he was actually on the moon when he said them.

Conspiracy theorists claim it was part of a US government ploy to trick the Russians into thinking they’d beaten them in the space race and that, in actuality, the whole thing was filmed on a secret set.

For some, it’s the lack of stars in the sky in the background that raises suspicion, whereas for others it’s the wrong placement of the shadows and the flag’s movements that are questionable.

And though, in the years that followed, NASA has tried to debunk the rumours – both by showing photos of footprints on the moon, equipment left behind and by studying rocks brought back – it seems, with 10% of Americans convinced it was fake, it’s still not enough to convince some people.