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Real or Fake? Finding the best ways to detect digital deception

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Deepfake technology has people wondering — is what I’m seeing real or fake? University researchers are making deepfake detection tools that can help journalists, intelligence analysts, and all of our trusted decision makers.

ROCHESTER, N.Y., Nov. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — Seeing is believing. Well, it used to be, anyway.

How do deepfakes work? The process uses AI deep learning algorithms to analyze thousands of images and videos of the person being replicated. The neural network then recognizes patterns, like facial features, so it can continuously generate new ones.

Today, artificial intelligence (AI) is being used to manipulate media.

It can face-swap celebrities. It allowed a de-aged Luke Skywalker to guest star in The Mandalorian. It also falsely showed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky surrendering to the Russian invasion.

Deepfakes are videos, audio, or images that have been altered using AI. In a deepfake, people can be shown saying and doing things that they have never said or done.

This capability has profound implications for entertainment, politics, journalism, and national security. As deepfakes become more convincing, the challenge of distinguishing fact from fiction grows, threatening the credibility of news sources and the stability of democratic institutions.

At RIT, a team of student and faculty researchers is leading the charge to help journalists and intelligence analysts figure out what is real and what is fake. Their work, called the DeFake Project, has more than $2 million in funding from the National Science Foundation and Knight Foundation.

The RIT team aims to mobilize the best deepfake detectors around—observant humans armed with the right tools. “There is real danger in shiny new deepfake detectors that confidently offer often inaccurate results,” said Saniat (John) Sohrawardi, a computing and information sciences Ph.D. student leading the DeFake Project. “We need to provide journalists—and other experts who vet reality—with forensic tools that help them make decisions, not make the decisions for them.”

Journalists agree and they are working with RIT.

Scott Morgan, a reporter and producer with South Carolina Public Radio, said that it’s increasingly harder to spot a fake and a good detector tool would be invaluable. He said he’s often relying on a “would that person really have said that” kind of approach.

“And ultimately, that’s what DeFake is trying to be—a tool that supplements the journalist’s gut feeling and complements old-fashioned legwork, but doesn’t replace them,” said Morgan. “Because even an AI-driven program that analyzes videos for the teeny-tiniest of clues that it might have been doctored shouldn’t be left to make decisions about what to do with that information or disinformation.”

Spotting the Fake

Matthew Wright, endowed professor and chair of the Department of Cybersecurity, first saw a high-quality deepfake lip sync of President Obama in 2017. He called it a real “OMG moment.”

“It was really disconcerting,” said Wright. “The potential to use this to make misinformation and disinformation is tremendous.”

As an expert in adversarial machine learning, Wright was studying how AI can impact cybersecurity for good and bad. Deepfakes seemed like a valuable offshoot of this.

In 2019, Wright and the newly formed DeFake Project team answered a call from the Ethics and Governance of Artificial Intelligence Initiative to build a deepfake detector. After developing some specialized techniques, their detector worked perfectly on curated deepfake datasets—it had 100-percent accuracy. Then they pulled up some YouTube videos to run through their detector.

“It would make mistakes,” said Wright. “But this wasn’t just our design. There is a cottage industry around developing deepfake detectors and none of these are foolproof, despite the claims of the company.”

Detectors can become confused when video is even slightly altered, clipped out of context, or compressed. For example, in 2019, a Myanmar news outlet used a publicly available deepfake detector to analyze a video of a chief minister confessing to a bribe. The tool was 90-percent confident that the video was fake, yet expert analysis later determined it was in fact real.

“Users tend to trust the output of decision-making tools too much,” said Sohrawardi. “You shouldn’t make a judgment based on percentage alone.”

That’s why the DeFake Project is so important, said Andrea Hickerson, dean and professor of the School of Journalism and New Media at The University of Mississippi and a member of the project. The goal is to make a tool that journalists can actually use.

“If a trusted journalist accidentally shares a deepfake, it would reach a wide audience and undermine trust in the individual and the profession as a whole,” said Hickerson, the former director of RIT’s School of Communication.

“Journalists have important contextual expertise that can be paired with a deepfake detection tool to make informed judgments on the authenticity of a video and its newsworthiness.”

To better understand the journalistic process, the DeFake researchers interviewed 24 reporters, ranging from national broadcast networks to local print media. Taking inspiration from a popular tabletop game, the team created a role-playing exercise called Dungeons & Deepfakes. The journalists were placed in a high-stakes newsroom scenario and asked to verify videos using traditional methods and deep-learning-based detection tools.

The team observed that journalists diligently verify information, but they too have the potential to over rely on detection tools, just like in the Myanmar incident.

Most of all, journalists saw the overall fakeness score and had a healthy skepticism. They needed insight into its calculation. Unfortunately, AI is not inherently good at explaining the rationale behind its decisions.

Unboxing the Black Box

When Pamposh Raina is asked to investigate a potential deepfake, she checks with multiple sources and often reaches out to RIT’s experts.

She is an experienced reporter who has worked with The New York Times, written for international publications, and currently heads the Deepfakes Analysis Unit at the Misinformation Combat Alliance, which is helping fight AI-generated misinformation in India.

One clip she questioned was being passed around social media in 2024. It was a video in Hindi that apparently featured Yogi Adityanath, chief minister of the most populated state in India, promoting a pilot gaming platform as a quick means to make a financial gain.

After running the video through detection tools from Hive AI, TrueMedia, and escalating to ElevenLabs for audio analysis, the investigators wanted an expert view on possible AI tampering around Adityanath’s mouth area in the video.

The DeFake team noted that the chief minister’s mouth animation looked disjointed and could be a result of the algorithm failing to extract proper facial landmarks. Ultimately, the Deepfakes Analysis Unit concluded that the video was fake and Adityanath did not utter the words attributed to him.

Creating meaningful tools like this is why Kelly Wu, a computing and information sciences Ph.D. student, came to RIT. After completing her undergraduate degrees in mathematics and economics at Georgetown University, Wu jumped at the chance to research deepfakes with the RIT team.

“Right now, there is a huge gap between the user and detection tools, and we need to collaborate to bring that together,” said Wu. “We care about how it will transition into people’s hands.”

Just like human brains, AI systems identify trends and make predictions. And just like in humans, it’s not always clear how a model comes to any particular conclusion.

Wu is figuring out how to unbox that AI black box. She aims to produce explanations that are both faithful to the AI model and interpretable by humans.

A lot of today’s detection tools use heatmaps to present explanations of results. A blob of dark red highlighting the eye region signifies that this area is more important for the model’s decision-making process.

“But, even to me, it just looks like a normal eye,” said Wu. “I need to know why the model thinks this is important.”

The DeFake tool will highlight areas and provide detailed text explanations. The detector displays information on the processed content, including metadata, overall fakeness, top fake faces, and an estimation of the deepfake manipulation method used. It also incorporates provenance technology, extracting Content Credentials—a new kind of tamper-evident metadata. Due to the resource-intensive nature of AI, the tool allows people to assess specific snippets of a video.

Most recently, the DeFake Project, which now has nine members from three universities, is expanding to meet the needs of intelligence analysts.

In 2023, RIT earned a grant to work with the Department of Defense on bolstering national security and improving intelligence analysis.

RIT’s team is interviewing analysts and using their insights to help create a Digital Media Forensic Ontology that makes the terminology of manipulated media detection methods clearer and more consistent. Analysts can use the DeFake all-in-one platform along with the ontology to narrow down why content needs to be analyzed, where in the media analysts should focus their attention, and what artifacts they should look for.

Candice Gerstner, an applied research mathematician with the Department of Defense, is collaborating on the project. She said that when analysts write a report that will be passed up the chain, they need to be sure that information has integrity.

“I’m not satisfied with a single detector that says 99 percent—I want more,” said Gerstner. “Having tools that are easily adaptable to new techniques and that continue to strive for explainability and low error rates is extremely important.”

In the future, the DeFake Project plans to expand to law enforcement, who are worried about fake evidence getting into the court system. RIT students are also researching reinforcement learning to limit bias and make sure AI models are fair.

Akib Shahriyar, a computing and information sciences Ph.D. student, is taking it one step further. He’s attacking the underlying model that powers the DeFake tool to uncover its weaknesses.

“In the end, we’re not just creating a detector and throwing it out there, where it could be exploited by adversaries,” said Shahriyar. “We’re building trust with the users by taking a responsible approach to deepfake detection.”

How to Identify a Deepfake

Although RIT’s DeFake tool is not publicly available, here are some common ways to identify fake content.

Artifacts in the face: Look for inconsistencies in eye reflections and gaze patterns. Anomalies may occur in the face—unnatural smoothness, absence of outlines of individual teeth, and irregular facial hair.Body posture: Deepfakes prioritize altering facial features, so body movements could appear odd or jerky.Audio discrepancies: Does the audio sync seamlessly with the speaker’s mouth movements?Contextual analysis: Consider the broader context, including the source, timestamps, and post history.External verification: Do a reverse image search and try contacting the original sources.Check the news: Look for reports about the content in reputable news sites.

Media Contact

Scott Bureau, Rochester Institute of Technology, 585-475-2481, sbbcom@rit.edu, rit.edu

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SOURCE Rochester Institute of Technology

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STARMUS VIII — THE SEARCH FOR TRUTH

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October 30, 2026

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From Nobel Prize Laureates and NASA Astronauts to Music Legends: STARMUS VIII Unites the World’s Greatest Minds in a Historic Celebration of Science, Music and Humanity

Tenerife & La Palma, Canary Islands, Spain | 17–22 October 2026

CANARY ISLANDS, Spain, Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — From the iconic sound of Sir Brian May’s legendary Red Special guitar and the extraordinary voices of Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman to the groundbreaking discoveries of Nobel Prize-winning scientists, from NASA’s Artemis II astronauts preparing for humanity’s return to the Moon to historic tributes to Stephen Hawking and Jane Goodall, STARMUS VIII — The Search for Truth brought together an extraordinary constellation of scientific minds, legendary musicians, explorers and visionary thinkers for six unforgettable days in the Canary Islands.

Experience the full interactive Multichannel News Release here: https://www.multivu.com/starmus-foundation/9430551-en-starmus-viii-the-search-for-truth-festival-2026

Held across Tenerife and La Palma from 17 to 22 October 2026, the eighth edition of STARMUS transformed the islands into a global stage for scientific discovery, artistic excellence and some of the most important conversations shaping humanity’s future.

Founded by astrophysicist Dr. Garik Israelian and legendary Queen guitarist and astrophysicist Sir Brian May, STARMUS once again demonstrated its unique ability to bridge science, music and society, bringing complex scientific ideas to audiences through extraordinary encounters, performances and shared experiences.

This year’s festival marked two defining milestones: the 10th anniversary of the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication and the inauguration of the Jane Goodall Earth Medal, establishing a powerful connection between humanity’s ambition to explore the universe and its responsibility to protect the planet we call home.

Media Contacts:

US: Dan DuPont, dupont0708@gmail.com, +1 202 380 7558

UK/EU: Nicole Ettinger, nicole@ettingerpr.com, +44 7515 394107

Spain: Carlos Esteban, cesteban@llys.global, +34 699 55 2854

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/starmus-viii–the-search-for-truth-302924867.html

SOURCE Starmus Foundation

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Membrane Chromatography Market worth $0.63 billion by 2031 – Exclusive Report by MarketsandMarkets™

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October 30, 2026

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DELRAY BEACH, Fla., Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — According to MarketsandMarkets™, the Membrane Chromatography Market is projected to reach USD 0.63 billion by 2031 from USD 0.37 billion in 2026, at a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period.

Browse 417 market data Tables and 51 Figures spread through 343 Pages and in-depth TOC on ‘Membrane Chromatography Market – Global Forecast to 2031’

Membrane Chromatography Market Size & Forecast:

Market Size Available for Years: 2026–20312026 Market Size: USD 0.37 billion2031 Projected Market Size: USD 0.63 billionCAGR (2026–2031): 11.3%

Membrane Chromatography Market Trends & Insights:

By region, North America accounted for the largest share of ~37.4% of the market in 2025.By product, the capsules, cassettes, and cartridges segment is projected to register the highest CAGR of 12.0% in the membrane chromatography market during the forecast period.By technique, the ion exchange membrane chromatography segment accounted for the largest share of 58.1% of the membrane chromatography market in 2025.

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The membrane chromatography market is expected to grow steadily as pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies increase investments in biologics, biosimilars, vaccines, cell & gene therapies, and other advanced therapeutic modalities. Growing production of monoclonal antibodies, recombinant proteins, viral vectors, plasmid DNA, and mRNA is increasing demand for membrane chromatography products, including capsules, cassettes & cartridges, membrane discs & sheets, syringe filters, filter plates, spin columns, and other consumables & accessories. Rising adoption of single-use downstream processing, flow-through purification, affinity capture, and high-throughput polishing is improving process flexibility, throughput, and manufacturing efficiency. Advances in membrane materials, surface functionalization, and high-capacity affinity membranes are further enhancing selectivity, binding capacity, and purification performance. These factors are supporting adoption across pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies, CROs & CDMOs, and academic & research institutes.

The market is increasingly shifting toward high-throughput, single-use, and application-specific membrane chromatography solutions that can support complex biologics and advanced therapeutic modalities. Although conventional resin-based chromatography remains widely adopted, demand is increasing for advanced membrane formats, improved ligand chemistries, higher binding capacities, and intensified flow-through and bind-elute purification approaches that can reduce processing time and improve downstream productivity. Suppliers are expanding product portfolios and developing specialized membrane chemistries to support monoclonal antibodies, viral vectors, plasmid DNA, mRNA, and other biomolecules with challenging purification requirements. At the same time, manufacturers are addressing challenges related to membrane fouling, scalability, selectivity, pressure handling, and process consistency through advanced membrane materials and optimized purification workflows. The growing outsourcing of bioprocess development and manufacturing further supports specialized membrane chromatography providers that can deliver scalable, high-throughput purification solutions with shorter turnaround times and consistent performance.

The flow-through membrane chromatography segment is expected to register the highest growth rate in the membrane chromatography market during the forecast period.

The membrane chromatography market is segmented by operation mode into flow-through membrane chromatography and bind-elute membrane chromatography. During the forecast period, flow-through membrane chromatography is projected to grow faster, supported by rising demand for high-throughput impurity removal, polishing, and process intensification in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. Flow-through processing enables rapid processing, lower pressure drops, reduced buffer consumption, and easier integration with single-use and continuous downstream workflows. However, bind-elute membrane chromatography remains an important operating mode because it supports selective capture and purification of target biomolecules across biologics and advanced therapy manufacturing applications.

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North America accounted for the largest regional share of the global membrane chromatography market in 2025.

The membrane chromatography market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. In 2025, North America accounted for the largest share of the global market, driven by a well-established pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, strong biopharmaceutical R&D activity, significant biologics manufacturing capacity, and widespread adoption of advanced downstream purification technologies. The region also benefits from major membrane chromatography product providers, pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies, CROs & CDMOs, and research institutions. Continued development and commercialization of monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, viral vectors, and other advanced therapeutics, along with increasing adoption of single-use and high-throughput purification solutions, further support the region’s leading market position.

Key Players

Leading players in the Membrane Chromatography companies include Danaher Corporation (US), Sartorius AG (Germany), Merck KGaA (Germany), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (US), Donaldson Company, Inc. (US), GVS S.p.A. (Italy), i3 Membrane GmbH (Germany), Restek Corporation (US), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (US), MACHEREY-NAGEL GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), and MICROSOLV (US), among others.

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Investment & Funding Context

The membrane chromatography market is seeing increased investment as companies and research organizations focus on developing high-capacity membranes, scaling up manufacturing, advancing continuous downstream processing, and commercializing single-use purification technologies.

In June 2026, MembraneWorks, Inc. received USD 350,000 through the North Carolina Biotechnology Center’s Small Business Research Loan program to develop high-capacity nonwoven membrane chromatography devices for biopharmaceutical purification. The funding supports further development and commercialization of membrane-based downstream purification technologies.

In June 2025, a North Carolina State University research team received funding under the Gates Foundation-supported Grand Challenges initiative to develop a low-cost, all-membrane chromatography process to purify the antimalarial monoclonal antibody MAM01. The project focuses on single-use membranes, membrane-coupled ligands, scalable device configurations, integration into single-use cassettes, and development of an affordable, scalable biomanufacturing platform. These developments indicate continued funding toward membrane chromatography commercialization, high-capacity membrane devices, single-use purification, process intensification, and scalable biologics manufacturing.

Revenue Shift Context

The membrane chromatography market is gradually shifting from conventional resin-based chromatography and standalone filtration toward a broader mix of single-use membrane adsorbers, high-capacity affinity membranes, flow-through purification solutions, and application-specific consumables. Traditional products such as capsules, cassettes & cartridges, syringe filters, filter plates, spin columns, and membrane discs & sheets remain important revenue pools; however, customers increasingly seek integrated downstream solutions supporting monoclonal antibodies, viral vectors, plasmid DNA, mRNA, and other advanced therapeutic modalities.

Rising demand for single-use and high-throughput purification is further increasing consumption of specialized membrane formats and functionalized chemistries. At the same time, growing outsourcing by pharmaceutical & biopharmaceutical companies to CROs & CDMOs is expanding revenue opportunities for scalable purification platforms and related consumables. Over the forecast period, revenue growth is therefore expected to increasingly favor recurring membrane consumables, affinity membrane chromatography, advanced membrane materials, and integrated flow-through downstream processing workflows.

Mergers & Acquisitions

Mergers & acquisitions in the membrane chromatography market are increasingly focused on expanding downstream purification capabilities, strengthening membrane and filtration portfolios, and improving access to biopharmaceutical manufacturing customers. Buyers are prioritizing technologies that complement single-use processing, membrane-based separations, and integrated upstream-to-downstream workflows.

MEMBRANE CHROMATOGRAPHY MARKET: MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS, JANUARY 2025–SEPTEMBER 2026

Month & Year

Deal Type

Company
1

Company
2

Description

September 2025

Acquisition

Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US)

Solventum Corporation – Purification & Filtration Business (US)

Thermo Fisher Scientific completed the acquisition of Solventum’s Purification & Filtration business for approximately USD 4.0 billion. The acquired business includes bioprocessing filtration and membrane technologies supporting upstream and downstream biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The portfolio includes Polisher ST Membrane Adsorber, a single-use anion exchange membrane chromatography solution for flow-through polishing and removal of host cell proteins, DNA, viruses, and other impurities. The acquisition strengthens Thermo Fisher’s membrane-based purification and broader downstream bioprocessing capabilities.

Company Revenue Share Details

The top four players collectively account for approximately 73–77% of the global membrane chromatography market, indicating a consolidated landscape. The market comprises a mix of diversified life science companies and specialized membrane chromatography product manufacturers. Leading players include Danaher Corporation (US), Sartorius AG (Germany), Merck KGaA (Germany), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US), i3 Membrane GmbH (Germany), Agilent Technologies, Inc. (US), Donaldson Company, Inc. (US), GVS S.p.A. (Italy), Restek Corporation (US), Shimadzu Corporation (Japan), W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. (US), MACHEREY-NAGEL GmbH & Co. KG (Germany), MICROSOLV (US), among others. Their portfolio spans membrane adsorbers, capsules, cassettes & cartridges, syringe filters, filter plates, spin columns, membrane discs & sheets, and other consumables, along with ion exchange, affinity, and hydrophobic interaction membrane chromatography solutions. The coexistence of large, diversified companies and specialized membrane technology providers creates significant scope for continued competition and consolidation, particularly as companies expand single-use purification portfolios, high-capacity affinity membrane technologies, advanced membrane materials, and geographic reach.

Browse Adjacent Market: Biotechnology Market Research Reports &Consulting

See More Latest Biotechnology Reports:

Life Science Instrumentation Market by Technology (Spectroscopy, Chromatography, NGS, PCR, Microscopy, Centrifuge, Liquid Handling), Application (Diagnostic, Research), End User (Pharma-Biopharma, Food, Hospital, Academia, CRO) – Global Forecast to 2031

Chromatography Columns Market by Column Type (Ion Exchange, Size Exclusion, Reverse and Normal Phases, HPLC, Affinity, Chiral), Capacity (1-100 ml, 100-1000 ml, >1 liter), End User (Pharma & Biotech, CRO, CDMO) – Global Forecast to 2031

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In HelloNation, Assisted Living Experts Rusty and Kelly Ackerman Explain Why Amenities Matter More Than Families Expect

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46 minutes ago

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October 30, 2026

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The article examines how amenities shape daily routines, independence, and social connection in senior living communities.

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich., Oct. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Why do senior living amenities have a greater impact on daily life than many families initially expect? HelloNation has released an article that explains how these features influence comfort, independence, and social connection in meaningful ways.

The article features insights from Assisted Living Experts Rusty and Kelly Ackerman of French Manor Assisted Living in Traverse City, Michigan, and highlights how senior living amenities play a central role in shaping everyday experiences within a community.

The HelloNation article explains that while families often focus on apartments and care services, senior living amenities are deeply connected to how residents spend their time. These amenities are not simply added features but part of the daily routine that supports both independence and engagement.

Dining options are one of the most impactful elements discussed. The article notes that meals are a daily experience that influence routine, health, and social connection. Asking about variety and flexibility helps families understand how dining options support both independence and comfort over time.

The article also explains that flexible dining options allow residents to make choices about when and what they eat. This ability to choose supports independence and reinforces a sense of control, which is especially important during transitions into a new living environment.

Activity spaces are another essential component of senior living amenities. The article describes how these spaces support hobbies, group events, and informal gatherings. Well-used activity spaces encourage residents to remain engaged and provide natural opportunities for social connection throughout the day.

In addition, activity spaces help foster spontaneous interaction. Residents may gather for conversation or shared interests, which strengthens community bonds. The article emphasizes that accessible and active spaces contribute directly to both engagement and independence.

Outdoor areas also play a significant role in daily life. The article explains that access to outdoor areas allows residents to enjoy fresh air, walk safely, and experience a change of environment. These outdoor areas help create a balanced routine and support emotional well-being.

The article further notes that time spent outdoors can improve mood and reduce stress. When outdoor areas are designed with safety and accessibility in mind, they support both independence and overall comfort.

Wellness programs are another key aspect of senior living amenities. The article describes how these programs provide structure through fitness and health-focused activities. Consistent wellness programs help residents maintain strength, confidence, and long-term well-being.

Wellness programs also encourage social connection by bringing residents together in shared activities. Participation in these programs helps build relationships while supporting physical health, reinforcing a sense of purpose within the community.

The article highlights that social connection is often shaped by how effectively senior living amenities are used. Dining options, activity spaces, outdoor areas, and wellness programs all create opportunities for interaction that help residents feel connected rather than isolated.

Senior living amenities also support independence in practical ways. Easy access to these features allows residents to make choices throughout the day, reinforcing confidence and autonomy over time.

Overall, the HelloNation article emphasizes that senior living amenities play a direct role in shaping comfort, independence, and social connection. Families are encouraged to look beyond appearance and ask how these amenities function on a daily basis to better understand the full living experience.

For families evaluating options, the article provides a clear perspective on how senior living amenities contribute to quality of life in ways that may not be immediately visible during a tour.

Why Amenities Matter More Than Families Expect features insights from Rusty and Kelly Ackerman, Assisted Living Experts of Traverse City, Michigan, in HelloNation.

About HelloNation
HelloNation is America’s Good News Network, a premier media platform built on the idea that good news travels faster when real people tell real stories. Through its community-focused publications and innovative “edvertising” approach, HelloNation delivers content that informs, inspires, and spotlights the leaders making a meaningful impact in their communities.

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