Weighted blankets are everywhere online, with bold claims about better sleep and lower anxiety. In this episode of Viral vs. Verified, the science gets a closer look. Some studies show promising results, but the full picture is more complicated than the hype suggests.

High-protein coffee, cereal and snacks are flooding store shelves, but the viral proteinmaxxing trend may be overselling the benefits. Research shows muscle gains level off after a certain point, and loading up on extra protein will not keep boosting results. The bigger surprise may be what is hiding in many of those high-protein products.

Sleepmaxxing has turned bedtime into a high-stakes ritual of trackers, supplements and social media-fueled hacks. Experts say the obsession with perfect sleep may be missing the one thing that actually works: consistency. As flashy gadgets and viral routines take over, the real path to better rest may be far less complicated.

Weighted vests are everywhere online, promising fat burn, muscle gains and stronger bones. The science tells a more complicated story. While the added load can boost workout intensity, experts say the viral trend may not deliver the dramatic results many people expect.

A long-running viral claim about hot sauce and longevity has more scientific backing than many people realize. A major study found people who ate spicy food frequently had a lower risk of death, but researchers say the story is more complicated than a simple life-extension hack.

Ice water, humming and cold plunges are all over social media as instant fixes for stress, but the science tells a more complicated story. While slow breathing can help regulate the body’s stress response, experts say many so-called vagus nerve hacks are being oversold online.

For years, gym-goers feared creatine might cost them their hair. A new 2025 randomized trial is now challenging that belief after researchers tracked real signs of balding, not just hormone levels. The findings could reshape one of fitness culture’s most persistent rumors.

Police responded Friday to a shooting at Piada Italian Street Food on Mayfield Road, where a Cleveland 13 News reporter observed a large law enforcement presence, police tape, an ambulance leaving the scene and a crowd gathered outside the restaurant. The response centered on the Piada location at 6075 Mayfield Road in Mayfield Heights on Oct. 2. A Cleveland 13 News reporter was at the scene and recorded video as officers continued working around the restaurant. Multiple poli

Whole-body vibration machines are exploding across social media with promises of fat loss, detox benefits and gym-free results. A closer look at the science shows a far more limited reality, with some benefits for balance and mobility but serious warnings for certain users. Here is what the evidence actually says before you step on a plate.

The wellness trend drawing laughs online may have real medical benefits. Experts say a short walk after meals can help move gas through the digestive system and reduce post-meal blood sugar spikes. The science is straightforward, and even a light stroll could make a measurable difference.

A viral sleep trend promising better breathing and less snoring is drawing fresh scrutiny. Experts say mouth taping may help some people, but the science is thin and the risks can be serious for those with blocked nasal passages or underlying conditions. The bigger warning: a TikTok wellness fix may be masking a real health issue.

A viral trend claims puffiness, fatigue and weight gain mean your cortisol is out of control. Cleveland health experts say the reality is far more complicated and warn that influencers are turning hormone fears into a market for unregulated fixes. Here is what doctors say people should actually watch for before trusting the mirror or a TikTok diagnosis.

Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet is coming back to the big screen in Cleveland with a live music experience built around the film's unforgettable 1990s soundtrack. The 30th anniversary tour stops at Severance Music Center in January 2027, blending the full movie with live vocals, a DJ, and a hybrid rock-orchestral ensemble.

A graduation ceremony at Cleveland’s Crossroads Men’s Crisis Center will spotlight men who completed a demanding residential program aimed at breaking homelessness. After months of sobriety, job training and mental health support, each graduate is leaving with a plan for housing and employment, turning a moment of crisis into a shot at lasting stability.

Smartwatches track everything from steps to stress, but which numbers actually matter for a longer, healthier life? A Cleveland exercise physiologist says many users are focusing on the wrong metrics and missing the trends that truly signal future health and independence.

A Cleveland 13 investigation into Cuyahoga County Domestic Relations Court uncovers systemic questions of power, political influence, and unchecked discretion. Backed by insider whistleblowers, audio recordings, and court records, the findings reach far beyond one former judge. Join the Cuyahoga County Family Court Accountability Project rally outside the courthouse this October, followed by the premiere of our full investigative exposé. Read the evidence and decide for yours

About 500 motorcycles were registered in downtown Cleveland on Sunday, Sept. 13, for the 18th annual Cops Ride, bringing law enforcement officers, retirees, motorcycle groups and supporters together to honor four Ohio officers who died in the line of duty and to support the families they left behind. "It's a brotherhood. It's a camaraderie. We're here to support all those that gave the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty," Rick, a retired Solon police officer who served fo

Twenty-five years later, Jody Hagemann still remembers the name of the stranger who helped her get home from Cleveland: Bob Mengert. He had been sitting behind her on the plane, and the two still reach out to each other every September 11. Some people enter your life under circumstances so unusual that they never quite become strangers again. She remembers the hotel where they waited, the rental car, the frantic phone calls, the long drive west before they could finally turn

Longtime airshow fans remember the legendary Eagles Aerobatic Team led by aviation icons Charlie Hillard, Tom Poberezny, and Gene Soucy, who flew together for more than two decades before making their final Cleveland appearance in 1995. Thirty-one years later, the NextGen Eagles have stepped into those iconic cockpits, flying the unmistakable, feather-feathered rainbow liveries of the Christen Eagle II. Originally engineered by Frank Christensen in the late 1970s as a high-pe

With its razor-thin forward canard wing and rear-mounted pusher propeller, Fowler’s bright yellow 1986 Rutan Long-EZ resembles a futuristic spacecraft far more than a typical show plane. Even sitting motionless on the tarmac, the machine tells a story. Before he straps into the cockpit, Fowler has to physically lift the craft from its nose, manhandling the front end into position just to manually extend the forward landing gear. The reason is pure center-of-gravity physics: w