18 False ‘Facts’ You Need to Stop Believing

We all think we are super smart, but sometimes what we believe isn’t actually true. These false “facts” can come from old sayings, things we heard as kids, or even stuff we see online. It’s easy to believe them because we’ve heard them so many times. In this article, I’ll look at 18 things that many people think are true but aren’t.

“We only use 10% of our brains”

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This is a popular myth, but it’s not true. We actually use all parts of our brain, just not all at once. Different areas of the brain have different jobs. Scientists have scanned brains and found activity all over, not just in 10%.

“You should drink 8 glasses of water a day”

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There’s no scientific proof for this exact amount. How much water you need depends on your size, activity level, and the weather. Many foods also contain water. It’s good to drink water, but you don’t need to count glasses.

“Humans evolved from monkeys”

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This is a misunderstanding of evolution. Humans and monkeys evolved from a common ancestor, but humans didn’t come from today’s monkeys. We’re more like cousins to monkeys, not their descendants. Evolution is about branching trees, not straight lines.

“Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis”

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Many people worry about this, but studies show it’s not true. The sound comes from bubbles in joint fluid popping, not bones rubbing. While cracking your knuckles a lot might cause some swelling, it doesn’t lead to arthritis.

“Lightning never strikes the same place twice”

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Lightning can and does strike the same place more than once. Tall buildings and structures often get hit multiple times. The Empire State Building gets struck about 25 times a year! It’s all about where the electrical charge builds up.

“Sugar makes kids hyperactive”

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Parents often think sugar makes kids crazy, but science doesn’t back this up. Studies show that sugar doesn’t change kids’ behavior. The excitement of parties or special events where sweets are served might be what makes kids seem hyper.

“You need to wait 24 hours to report a missing person”

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This is a dangerous myth often seen in TV shows. In real life, you should report a missing person right away. The first 24 hours can be crucial in finding someone. Police want to know as soon as possible if someone is missing.

“Humans have five senses”

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We actually have more than five senses. Besides sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch, we can sense things like balance, temperature, and where our body parts are without looking. Some scientists say we might have up to 21 senses!

“Goldfish only have a three-second memory”

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Goldfish actually have pretty good memories. They can remember things for months and can even be trained. This myth might come from their small size and the way they swim around their tanks, but they’re smarter than we think.

“You lose most of your body heat through your head”

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This old saying isn’t true. You lose heat evenly through all exposed parts of your body. The idea might come from military experiments where people wore warm clothes but no hats. Of course, their heads got cold first!

“The Great Wall of China is visible from space”

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Astronauts say they can’t see the Great Wall from space with their naked eyes. It’s too thin and blends in with the landscape. You can see other things made by humans, like cities at night, but not the Wall.

“Different parts of your tongue taste different flavors”

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You might have seen a tongue map in school, but it’s wrong. All parts of your tongue can taste all flavors. The idea of a tongue map came from a mistranslation of a German paper in the early 1900s.

“Bats are blind”

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Bats can actually see quite well. The saying “blind as a bat” isn’t accurate. While many bats use echolocation to navigate in the dark, they also have eyes that work. Some fruit bats even have excellent vision.

“Eating before swimming causes cramps”

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Parents often tell kids to wait after eating before swimming. But there’s no evidence that swimming on a full stomach causes cramps. It’s fine to swim after eating, though you might feel a bit uncomfortable if you’ve had a big meal.

“Vikings wore horned helmets”

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Despite what we see in movies, real Vikings didn’t wear horned helmets. This idea came from 19th-century artists and operas. Real Viking helmets were simple and practical, without horns that could get in the way during a fight.

“Napoleon was short”

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Napoleon Bonaparte wasn’t actually that short. He was about 5’7″ (170 cm), which was average for men at that time. The myth came from a mix-up between French and English inches and from British propaganda during the wars with France.

“Lightning never strikes water”

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Lightning does strike water, and it can be very dangerous. It’s not safe to swim or be in a boat during a thunderstorm. When lightning hits water, the electrical charge can spread out, which is why it’s important to get out of the water during storms.

“Chameleons change color to blend in with their surroundings”

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While chameleons do change color, it’s not mainly for camouflage. They change colors to regulate their body temperature, communicate with other chameleons, and show their mood. Their color changes are more about expression than hiding.

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Mary Apurong

Mary Apurong is an experienced writer and editor who enjoys researching topics related to lifestyle and creating content on gardening, food, travel, crafts, and DIY. She spends her free time doing digital art and watching documentaries. Check out some of her works on Mastermind Quotes.