Joe Rogan misleads on 'climate cooling' in Bernie Sanders interview
"Essentially, they found that we're in a cooling period, that the Earth over the past X amount of years, and this was, like, a very inconvenient discovery, but they had to report the data, and kudos to them for doing that."
Rogan -- whose show has frequently amplified misinformation on health, politics and climate change -- was referencing a September 19, 2024 article in the Washington Post about a scientific effort to map the history of Earth's climate over the past 485 million years (archived here).
Multiple accounts shared the clip across platforms in late June, gathering millions of views.
"NEW: Joe Rogan fact checks Senator Bernie Sanders after he tried shaming people who think Climate Change is a hoax," says one such post shared June 24 on X.
Image
A screenshot of an X post taken on July 3, 2025
But Rogan's interpretation of the research discussed in the article is misleading, scientists including one of the study's co-authors told AFP.
The study's findings neither disprove nor question the reality that modern warming is happening at a record pace due to human activity.
The 2024 study from paleoclimate research scientist Emily Judd and other researchers, titled "A 485-million-year history of Earth's surface temperature", in fact "highlights the urgency of modern climate change," said Laura Larocca, an assistant professor at Arizona State University's School of Ocean Futures (archived here, here and here).
"While Earth was much hotter during ancient greenhouse periods, humans have only ever lived during relatively cooler climate phases. Today, the pace of human-driven warming is exceptionally rapid," she told AFP July 3, reiterating a point made clear in the Washington Post article.
The newspaper reported that the study "revealed a history of wild shifts and far hotter temperatures than scientists previously realized -- offering a reminder of how much change the planet has already endured and a warning about the unprecedented rate of warming caused by humans."
It also emphasized: "At no point in the nearly half-billion years that Judd and her colleagues analyzed did the Earth change as fast as it is changing now."
'Cooling period'?
Geological records over hundreds of millions of years show global temperatures have reached both lower and higher levels than those currently observed, but these changes happened extremely slowly in comparison to the modern pace of warming.
British scientist Dan Lunt, a co-author of the study, told AFP on July 1 that past phases of warming occurred "so slowly that they are essentially undetectable on the timescale of a human lifetime" (archived here).
By contrast, the environmental nonprofit Climate Central have estimated that for Millenials and Gen Z -- which the organization defined as people born between the 1981 and 2012 -- could experience up to two times more warming over the course of their lives than Baby Boomers -- those born between 1948 and 1962 -- under a scenario of medium to high emissions (archived here).
Kevin Anchukaitis, a paleoclimatologist at the University of Arizona and the spouse of one of the study co-authors, told AFP on July 2 that while humans built civilization during a "relatively cool geological period" in history, modern emissions are rapidly affecting Earth's systems (archived here).
Climate models predict warming to continue for decades under all emission scenarios, and the effects of human activities on Earth's climate to date have become irreversible (archived here).
Even the most striking examples of warming in ancient climate events do not compare to today's rapid progression, said Gordon Inglis, a postdoctoral research fellow who studies climate-biogeochemistry at the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom (archived here).
CO2 correlation
The study's timeline of the Earth's hot temperature history should in fact provide more reason to worry about climate change, scientists said.
Inglis noted that the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), which occurred 56 million years ago and is considered as a rapidly-warming phase in Earth's history, was directly tied to an increase in carbon dioxide in our atmosphere (archived here).
He said this phase gives scientists a glimpse of what could happen with the modern climate, as the PETM was associated with global warming, ocean acidification, and at least one major extinction event.
The study confirms ties between Earth's temperatures and levels of CO2, explained Anchukaitis.
The paper "actually reinforces the primary role that carbon dioxide plays in setting the temperature of the Earth," he told AFP.
A report from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change adds: "It is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land" (archived here).
Read more of AFP's reporting on climate misinformation and disinformation here.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
AFP
a day ago
- AFP
Health influencer falsely claims nicotine can cure neurological disorders
"Nicotine is not addictive. Parkinson's disease can be prevented and can be cured, and its symptoms reversed, with nicotine alone," health influencer Byran Ardis says in a video teasing an episode of the "Culture Apothecary" podcast from Alex Clark, a leading voice in the "Make America Healthy Again" movement. Ardis, whom AFP has previously fact-checked for spreading health misinformation, goes on to claim: "Nicotine is known by medical science to be a curative agent and a preventative agent for Alzheimer's. Did you know nicotine could also cure the symptoms of hypothyroidism?" He also asserts that "glioblastomas were proven in 2021 to be cured by nicotine alone." The clip has attracted tens of thousands of interactions on Instagram since May 19, 2025. Ardis's endorsement of nicotine patches continued to be shared across platforms in July, alongside other edits of the conversation, including one Clark posted on YouTube. Image Screenshot from Instagram taken July 18, 2025 But nicotine is an addictive chemical, and the only use for nicotine patches approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to quit smoking (archived here and here). "Don't use nicotine, other than trying to help quit smoking," Edward Levin, chief of the Neurobehavioral Research Lab at Duke University Medical Center, told AFP July 14 (archived here). He said the effect of nicotine on cognition, depression, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's "has not been proved, so it's still under investigation." Parkinson's disease In the podcast, Ardis claims nicotine by itself can prevent, cure or reverse symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Scientists are exploring nicotine's potential as a Parkinson's treatment due to the chemical's dopamine-increasing properties and the fact that smokers develop Parkinson's at a lower rate, but research has yielded mixed results (archived here). "Nicotine does potentially up the release of dopamine, and dopamine is what is impaired in Parkinson's disease. So the rationale for it is there, but the proof of it is not," Levin said. "To say flat out that it does prevent or cure Parkinson's just is not true." A 2015 study by the Parkinson's Institute concluded that nicotine could hold promise in terms of protecting against nerve degeneration, alleviating symptoms and reducing side effects of other drugs used to treat the disease (archived here). However, the study stops short of recommending nicotine as a proven treatment, saying instead that it "may represent a new disease modifying approach." A 2021 literature review published in Molecular Medicine Reports said nicotine may slow the progression of the disease by improving memory impairment and dyskinesia (archived here). Conversely, a trial supported by the Michael J. Fox Foundation showed nicotine patches did not slow the progression (archived here). "Despite some initially promising findings from animal models and correlational studies in humans, this has not translated well to clinical trials," Maggie Sweitzer, an associate professor in psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University, told AFP in a July 15 email (archived here). "I am not aware of any solid evidence to support nicotine as a treatment in Parkinson's disease." Alzheimer's disease Ardis's second claim is that nicotine is "known by medical science" to be a curative and preventative agent for Alzheimer's disease. Researchers in the United States are currently investigating the effects of nicotine on mild cognitive impairment, a precursor to Alzheimer's, as part of the "Memory Improvement Through Nicotine Dosing" (MIND) study (archived here). But nicotine has not been incorporated into human treatment beyond clinical trials. A 2012 trial focused on 67 subjects concluded that nicotine led to cognitive improvement in attention, memory and processing, but it said further study would be necessary to determine if the findings were clinically important (archived here). A much larger follow-up is currently in progress, with results expected later in 2025 (archived here). Levin, a researcher on the MIND study, said despite promising findings, nicotine patches have not yet been FDA approved to protect against cognitive decline. "I can't recommend it," Levin said. "It's not FDA approved for that purpose. It's under investigation." Levin said that if nicotine patches were implemented as a treatment for Alzheimer's or other cognitive diseases, they would likely be used alongside other drugs, rather than alone. He also pushed back on Ardis's claim that it is safe to place nicotine patches on children, saying the drug is toxic from early fetal development through adolescence and can adversely impact the nervous system (archived here). Glioblastoma Ardis then claims nicotine alone was proven in 2021 to cure glioblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer. AFP did not find a reference with such clear proof. Instead, a 2021 paper in Pharmacological Research showed nicotine can promote the proliferation of glioblastoma cells, with nicotinic receptors potentially contributing to the tumor's aggressive behavior (archived here). The paper also discovered that drugs that block nicotinic receptors can decrease glioblastoma cell growth. An earlier literature review said smoking and other uses of tobacco and nicotine during treatment can detrimentally affect a patient's prognosis (archived here). Keyword searches did reveal a 2022 in vivo study which found that nicotine, in conjunction with lithium carbonate, can suppress and kill glioblastoma cells, although the study also warns of health risks resulting from nicotine's cytotoxicity (archived here). But such findings have not been replicated outside of in vivo cell studies, and Sweitzer said it would be difficult to study the isolated effect of nicotine on glioblastoma in a clinical setting. "It would be unethical for researchers to assign patients with glioblastomas to a treatment condition where they received 'nicotine alone' in the absence of usual standard of care, because this would deprive the patients of treatment that they would receive if they were not in the study," Sweitzer said. "In general, people should be highly skeptical about claims that something has been 'proven' in health and medicine." Lead Stories and Medical Dialogues previously debunked claims by Ardis that nicotine can cure brain tumors in as little as 72 hours. Hypothyroidism Finally, Ardis poses that nicotine could cure symptoms of hypothyroidism, a thyroid gland condition that can lead to high cholesterol and heart problems. The 2021 Molecular Medicine Reports literature review said nicotine may "activate thyroid receptor signaling pathways" to improve hypothyroidism-induced memory impairment (archived here). But Sweitzer said Ardis's claim misleads. "There are interactions between nicotine and thyroid hormones that have been clearly demonstrated in animal models," Sweitzer said (archived here and here). "But I am not aware of any evidence that would suggest nicotine can be used as a treatment in itself." Rexford Ahima, director of the division of endocrinology, diabetes and metabolism at Johns Hopkins University, agreed (archived here). "Nicotine does not cure hypothyroidism," Ahima told AFP in a July 15 email. "Nicotine use, especially through smoking, is linked to worsening of autoimmune hyperthyroidism." AFP has debunked other health misinformation here.
AFP
a day ago
- AFP
Fireflies will still light up summers, despite a decline in diversity
"We are the last generation to see fireflies," says text over a July 14, 2025 post on TikTok, which gathered more than 30 million views and includes images -- some of which appear to be computer-generated -- of the little lantern bug. Image Screenshot of a TikTok post taken July 17, 2025 Similar posts expressing concern about extinction gained traction across platforms in July 2025, coinciding with the height of the insect's season in North America, where they are mainly observed between the months of May and September. While climate stressors on certain firefly varieties exist, others have adapted well to urban habitat changes, making it unlikely that they will disappear by the end of the century, scientists say. "In short, no, we will not be the last generation to see fireflies," Clyde Sorenson, a professor in the department of entomology and plant pathology at North Carolina State University, told AFP July 16, 2025 (archived here). There are over 2,000 species of fireflies, found on every continent except Antarctica (archived here). Crepuscular fireflies, such as the Common Eastern firefly, continue to proliferate in big eastern US cities, as they adapt to ambient light and may thus be more resilient to light pollution (archived here). These are what we call habitat generalists, Sorenson explained. By nature, they are highly adaptable species (archived here). Varying adaptability What is at risk over the next generation, however, is firefly diversity, scientists say. Many species that are habitat specialists -- rather than generalists -- live in ecosystems that have been significant human caused changes. They can face threats to their ecosystems due to human development, pesticide use, light pollution, climate change and natural disasters. "Species which use coastal marshes or mangroves could be displaced as sea level rise eliminates their habitats," Sorenson said. This is the case for the rare Bethany Beach firefly, endemic to Delaware wetlands (archived here and here). The Bethany Beach firefly is the first of its type to be proposed for listing as threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, a federal law enacted in 1973 to protect species of fish, wildlife, and plants, as well as their habitats, from extinction. Rising sea levels, in addition to more frequent and severe storms, threaten to degrade and eventually destroy their habitats, with the majority of the Bethany Beach firefly population likely to be lost to high-tide flooding by 2100, according to climate models (archived here and here). "The greatest threats to the Bethany Beach firefly are the compounding impacts from climate change on habitat availability," the US Fish and Wildlife Service said in a September 30, 2024 statement (archived here.) Three main threats other species of fireflies have also been petitioned to be listed on the Endangered Species Act: the Florida intertidal firefly, the southwest spring firefly, the mysterious lantern firefly, and the loopy five firefly. Some are currently under review for acceptance, but none is currently listed as of July 2025. Candace Fallon, a senior endangered species conservation biologist at the nonprofit Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, told AFP that at least 18 species of fireflies in the United States are at risk of extinction (archived here and here). "Up to a third of firefly species may be at risk once we compile enough information to conduct a thorough assessment of data deficient species," she said Sarah Lower, a biologist at Bucknell University, told AFP that it is essential to consider "the greater likelihood of losing" local firefly populations due to human developments and changes in ecosystems (archived here). "If the field next door becomes a paved parking lot with streetlights on all night long," and if that area "represents the last remaining population of a particular species, then that species could go extinct," she explained July 16. Lynn Faust, an advisory consultant on firefly studies with US state and national parks, agreed (archived here). "Fireflies have many, many challenges in today's world. Habitat destruction from development is one of the biggest," Faust, who has studied fireflies for 35 years, said July 17. She added, however: "My personal experience is the fireflies are doing very well as long as the three things I mentioned above are not happening to their habitat." Individuals can contribute to firefly conservation by maintaining native vegetation on their properties, limiting the use of insecticides and reducing night-time lighting as much as possible (archived here). AFP has previously written about other claims misconstruing the impact of changes in climate and human pollution on species and ecosystems.
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
Healthy babies born in UK using DNA from three people
In a groundbreaking advance, eight healthy babies have been born in the UK using a revolutionary technique that combines DNA from three different people to prevent the inheritance of rare and often fatal genetic diseases. It's an innovation made possible by a 2016 change in British law. Though banned in the United States and many other countries, the technique is also permitted in Australia. The news 'marks an important milestone,' said Dr. Zev Williams, who directs the Columbia University Fertility Centre but was not involved in the work. 'Expanding the range of reproductive options will empower more couples to pursue safe and healthy pregnancies'. Why mitochondrial diseases are so dangerous Most of our DNA comes from the nucleus of a cell, inherited from both mother and father. But there's also some DNA outside of the cell's nucleus, in structures called mitochondria - tiny energy-producing structures that come only from the mother. When mitochondrial DNA carries dangerous mutations, it can lead to severe and often untreatable conditions in children, from seizures and muscle weakness to organ failure and early death. Screening embryos during IVF can sometimes detect these mutations - but not always. As a result of these rare and uncertain cases, scientists have been developing a pioneering workaround: replacing the mutated mitochondria with healthy ones from a donor egg. The mother's genetic material is extracted and inserted into a donor egg that has had its own nucleus removed, keeping the donor's mitochondria intact but none of her traits. The resulting embryo contains DNA from three people: the mother, the father, and a third-party mitochondrial donor. Outcomes and early results from the UK study Researchers from Newcastle University in the UK and Monash University in Australia, writing in the New England Journal of Medicine, reported that they applied the technique to embryos from 22 women. Eight healthy babies have been born so far, and one woman remains pregnant. One of the babies showed slightly elevated levels of abnormal mitochondria - but not high enough to cause disease, experts say. Still, doctors will continue to monitor development. Dr. Andy Greenfield, a reproductive health expert at the University of Oxford, called the work 'a triumph of scientific innovation,' and said the method of exchanging mitochondria would only be used for a small number of women for whom other ways of avoiding passing on genetic diseases, like testing embryos at an early stage, was not effective. While the term 'three-parent baby' makes headlines, the amount of donor DNA involved is tiny - less than 1 per cent of the child's genome. "If you had a bone marrow transplant from a donor... you will have much more DNA from another person,' noted stem cell expert Robin Lovell-Badge. So far, 35 families in the UK have been approved to use the technique, which is closely regulated. Critics have voiced concerns over the long-term effects of heritable genetic changes, which is partly why the US currently prohibits clinical research into such methods. Federal restrictions have blocked the FDA from even considering applications involving embryos altered in this way But for families like Liz Curtis', the technique offers something they never had before: hope. Her daughter Lily died of a mitochondrial disease in 2006 at just eight months old. She said the diagnosis 'turned our world upside down, and yet nobody could tell us very much about it, what it was or how it was going to affect Lily.' Curtis later founded the Lily Foundation in her daughter's name to raise awareness and support research into the disease, including the latest work done at Newcastle University. 'It's super exciting for families that don't have much hope in their lives,' Curtis said.
