Misleading Graphics and the Fukushima Panic
Isn’t this graphic alarming? It’s been circulating dozens of times across social media, often used in YouTube videos as “proof” for bold claims and conspiracy theories. At first glance, it does look terrifying—the blue trail stretches across the Pacific toward Japan, supposedly originating from Fukushima. What makes the graphic appear credible is the NOAA logo (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), suggesting that it comes from an authoritative U.S. government source. But let’s pause for a moment. The first red flag is the scale on the right-hand side, which is labeled in centimeters (cm). What do centimeters have to do with radiation? The…