February 10, 2020, saw the revival of the #broomstickchallenge, or #broomchallenge to others.
That date is important, because unlike other challenges, like the ice bucket challenge and the homegrown resurrection challenge, this one has a weird bit of fake news attached to it.
According to Highsnobiety, a viral tweet claimed that “NASA said [February, 10] was the only day a broom can stand up on its own because of the gravitational pull”.
NASA didn’t say that. NASA isn’t stupid.
The claim is so ludicrous that an actual NASA astronaut found it necessary to shut it down with the following video:
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Astronaut Alvin Drew and scientist Sarah Noble respond to the #BroomstickChallenge, showing that basic physics works every day of the year — not just February 10th. pic.twitter.com/4TTbI3mvzd
— NASA (@NASA) February 11, 2020
Yes, gravity and basic physics work every day of the year. Shocker.
It’s not the first time this fake news has circulated on the internet. Back in 2012, Wired addressed the claim that the success of the broom challenge had something to do with the alignment of the earth. It turns out it has a lot more to do with gravity and, of course, the kind of broom you own.
Of course the challenge is also just a bit of fun, so feel free to try it.
Here’s what it should look like:
McBroom or whatever
#broomchallenge pic.twitter.com/suEMlHvDI3
— Austin McBroom (@AustinMcbroom) February 11, 2020
So we tried the #broomchallenge and this is what happened… pic.twitter.com/SQ7vBimQoi
— Justus (@jayepusha) February 11, 2020
I win this #broomchallenge shit pic.twitter.com/z4Pl1TUKTa
— Gumbo Goon
(@_GodPunchPat) February 11, 2020
The only winner of this challenge
#broomchallenge pic.twitter.com/VRnpl7QWqo
— ɴᴇʟɪ ⁷ // (@yoongisoju) February 11, 2020
Cool.
If you want see more, search #broomstickchallenge and #broomchallenge on Twitter.
Have fun out there.
[source:highsnobiety]
