Despite scientific agreement on what caused a recent, lethal earthquake in Japan, conspiracy theories about how it happened spread.
According to AFP Fact Check, the magnitude 7.1 quake that struck the Kumamoto region on July 28 was the result of natural tectonic activity.
At least 38 people died, homes and bridges were badly damaged, and many households lost water and power. Tremors were also felt in Busan, South Korea.
Both Japanese and U.S. authorities said the quake involved strike-slip movement, where masses of rock slide sideways past each other. The Japan Meteorological Agency described it that way, and the United States Geological Survey published the same assessment.
On July 28, Korean- and Japanese-language social media posts pointed to HAARP as the cause. The High-frequency Active Auroral Research Program is an Alaska-based research facility. Once operated by the United States Air Force, the University of Alaska Fairbanks now runs it.
One Threads post claimed, "After HAARP attacked Busan and Japan two days ago, earthquakes struck both places today."
Scientists who spoke with AFP said there is no evidence that HAARP's radio transmissions can set off earthquakes.
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