The role of bots in spreading conspiracies: Case study of discourse about earthquakes on Twitter

In this paper, we identified seven most widely spread conspiracy discourses about earthquakes. These conspiracy discourses link earthquakes to military activities like secret nuclear bomb testing, God's Providence like the punishment of humans for their sins, space activities like aliens visiting our planet, the US secret weather control program HAARP, tests of the Large Hadron Collider, fracking projects, and freemasonic plots. Following the major earthquake in Indonesia at the end of November 2022, we extracted data from Twitter by keywords using the Hoaxy tool for tracking the spread of information on Twitter. Applying the Bot Sentinel tool, we also got data on the sentiment of the users. The divine and military discourses dominated the conspiracy discussion, followed by the discussions about extraction and HAARP. Though there were more human-like accounts than bot-like accounts, we found a positive correlation between the frequency of tweets on the conspiracy discourses and the bot scores of the accounts, which suggests that bot-like accounts were tweeting more than human-like accounts. It was also found that normal accounts tweeted more than toxic accounts, and there was a positive relationship between the bot score and the toxicity level of an account. It suggests that bot-like accounts were involved more in disruptive activities than human-like accounts

Planar and 3D fibrous polyaniline-based materials for memristive elements

We discuss the effect of structure formation of Langmuir polyaniline layers on the performance of memristive thin-film elements as well as the morphology and conductivity of electrospinned PANI–PEO nonwovens

GMO discussion on Twitter

This paper focuses on analyzing discussions related to Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) on Twitter, with a specific focus on the spread of misinformation and conspiracy theories. The authors collected and analyzed 1,048,274 English tweets related to GMOs between January 2020 and December 2022 using the Twitter API. The tweets were subjected to topical and sentiment analysis to identify the prevalent themes and attitudes toward GMOs. 30.92% of the tweets in the observed period were negative, 21.65% were neutral, and 47.43% were positive. The authors identified four clusters of tweets associated with misinformation or conspiracy theories: GMOs and vaccines, GMOs and COVID-19, GMOs and Monsanto, and GMOs and Bill Gates. The findings of this analysis can inform strategies for combating the spread of false information and conspiracies on social media and improve public understanding and trust in GMO technology

Earthquake conspiracy discussion on Twitter

Natural disasters like earthquakes, and global crises like pandemics have historically captured the public’s imagination and prompted people to seek explanations. However, in times of limited information, these explanations can take the form of conspiracy theories, particularly regarding the origins or causes of such events. With the advent of social media conspiracy theories can spread quickly and easily, leaving little room for critical thinking. The focus of this study is the analysis of the so-called High-Frequency Active Auroral Research Program (HAARP) conspiracy, which explains earthquakes through the employment of secret weather control weapons. This study aims to answer the research question of how the discourse on the HAARP conspiracy theory changes over time, and what are the potential catalysts for heightened attention to this conspiracy theory. This study uses the Twitter API to collect tweet frequencies about this conspiracy from January 2022 through March 2023. The empirical data include over one million tweets on HAARP. The sentiment analysis of the HAARP conspiracy theory is applied to the tweets before, during, and after the 6th of February 2023 earthquake in Syria and Turkey. In addition, this study investigates possible triggers of the development of the HAARP tweet frequency. This study finds that the frequency of HAARP discussion increases following a high-impact earthquake. There is also a positive correlation between average tweet sentiment and the number of tweets, which could indicate that the discussion of HAARP reinforces people’s beliefs. This study makes a significant contribution to the field of social psychology and communication by providing insights into the dynamics of belief reinforcement within online communities amidst heightened attention to conspiracy theories triggered by significant events. This knowledge has broader implications for understanding the impact of social media on public perception during crises

Application of science, technology and innovation solutions to increase participation in climate change adaptation

The application of science, technology, and innovation (STI) solutions is crucial for increasing participation in climate change adaptation. This case study analyses Germany's best practices in utilizing STI to address climate change adaptation, including climate-resilient infrastructure development, climate information services, advanced modelling, public information campaigns, technology transfer, integration of climate change adaptation in regulations, research and development, urban climate modelling, and cross-cutting instruments. The internal validity of these best practices is assessed based on their effectiveness, reliability, and consistency, while the external validity considers their relevance and applicability in diverse contexts. By continuously evaluating their validity and sharing knowledge, countries and stakeholders can advance their climate change adaptation efforts for a more resilient and sustainable future

Participation in climate change adaptation

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of participatory elements in climate change adaptation policies at both the EU level and within national contexts, focusing on Germany and Spain. The study delves into the crucial role of co-production and citizen engagement in shaping effective climate adaptation strategies. The research methodology involves policy identification and selection, analysis of participatory elements, and the application of Arnstein's ladder of citizen participation to evaluate the level of citizen engagement in the identified policies. The analysis reveals the diverse mechanisms and approaches employed to foster inclusive and participatory processes in climate adaptation policies. The study highlights the significance of stakeholder involvement, consultation mechanisms, transparency, capacity building, and feedback mechanisms in shaping robust climate adaptation strategies. Furthermore, it underscores the importance of citizen participation in driving transformative climate adaptation initiatives, emphasizing the need for broad geographical representation, inclusive approaches, and the integration of diverse knowledge systems. The study identifies gaps and areas for improvement in the participatory elements of the analyzed policies, emphasizing the need for more comprehensive mechanisms to engage the general public and vulnerable communities in the adaptation planning process. It also underscores the importance of systematic studies of gaps and barriers to stakeholder participation and the representation of marginalized communities in adaptation planning and decision-making processes. The paper offers valuable insights into the participatory elements of climate change adaptation policies, providing a nuanced understanding of the approaches employed at both the EU and national levels. The findings contribute to the ongoing discourse on inclusive and effective climate adaptation strategies, emphasizing the need for continuous improvement and the meaningful involvement of diverse stakeholders in shaping resilient climate futures