On October 4, 2023, FEMA and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) conducted a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) and Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) to ensure that the systems continue to be effective means of warning the public about emergencies, particularly those on the national level. The test messages were sent to all TVs, radios, and cell phones, and the WEA portion of the test was initiated using FEMAs Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS), a centralized internet-based system administered by FEMA that enables authorities to send authenticated emergency messages to the public through multiple communications networks. The test message was similar to the regular monthly EAS test messages with which the public is familiar, and it stated: “This is a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System, issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, covering the United States from 14:20 to 14:50 hours ET. This is only a test. No action is required by the public” . There were some conspiracy theories circulating online about the test, claiming that it would send a signal to cell phones nationwide in order to activate nanoparticles such as graphene oxide that have been introduced into people’s bodies, but these claims were false.