False documents

illustrated encyclopedia of an imaginary world

novel by Milorad Pavić

deliberately incorrect entry in a reference work

short story by Jorge Luis Borges

literary work which is either deliberately misattributed to a historical or invented author

Thiotimoline is a fictitious chemical compound conceived by American biochemist and science fiction author Isaac Asimov. It was first described in a spoof scientific paper titled "The Endochronic Properties of Resublimated Thiotimoline" in 1948. The major peculiarity of the chemical is its "endochronicity": it starts dissolving before it makes contact with water.

1970s misinformation about food additives

narrative trope

fictional NASA document