merit
worth, value
variables
factors, elements, components, changeable conditions
legitimate
valid, genuine, authentic, lawful, real, justifiable
validity
legitimacy, soundness, truth
legitimacy
authenticity
to live up to
to meet the standard of, to come up to
to zero in
to focus on, to pinpoint, to concentrate on, to target
pseudoscientific
fake science, unscientific, non-scientific, speculative
at first glance
initially, superficially, seemingly, on the surface, at first look
initially
at first, originally
to recant
to take back, withdraw
endeavor
an attempt, an effort, an undertaking, a project
to punch gaping holes in
to discredit, to invalidate, to undermine, to destroy the argument of, to expose major flaws in
to fall apart under greater scrutiny
to collapse under close examination, to be proven false or flawed after careful review
worldwide
global, international, universal, all over the world, extensive
to point out
to indicate, to note, to highlight, to mention
ultimately
eventually, finally, in the end
a hoax
a trick, a fraud, a deception, a practical joke, a scam
to factor in
to include, to consider, to take into account
it has some basis in reality
it is somewhat grounded in fact, it has some foundation in truth, it's not completely made up
supposed
assumed, alleged, rumored
to debunk
to expose or prove as false, disprove, discredit, unmask