If you think you know it all, you are wrong. This article is about to shake up your world with 33 myths that many people believe but are actually false. From old wives’ tales to “facts” you learned in school, get ready to have your mind blown.
1. Sugar Makes Kids Hyper
Many parents swear that sugar makes their kids bounce off the walls, but science says otherwise. Multiple studies have shown that sugar doesn’t actually cause hyperactivity in children. The idea likely comes from the excitement of special occasions where sugary treats are often served. Kids might also get excited just from the treat itself, not the sugar content. So next time your child is running around after eating candy, it’s probably just normal kid energy, not a sugar rush!
2. You Only Use 10% Of Your Brain
You might have heard that humans only use a small part of their brains, but this is a big myth. In reality, you use pretty much all of your brain, just not all at once. Different parts of the brain are active at different times, depending on what you’re doing. Even when you’re sleeping, your brain is hard at work. So don’t worry – you’re already using your full brain power.
3. Lightning Never Strikes Twice
The saying “lightning never strikes twice” is just plain wrong. In fact, lightning can and does strike the same place multiple times. Tall buildings and other high structures are actually more likely to get hit repeatedly. The Empire State Building, for example, gets struck by lightning about 25 times a year! So if you’re caught in a storm, don’t rely on this myth to keep you safe.
4. Cracking Knuckles Causes Arthritis
If you like to crack your knuckles, you’ve probably been told it’ll give you arthritis. Good news – it won’t! Studies have shown no link between knuckle cracking and arthritis. The popping sound comes from bubbles bursting in the fluid around your joints. While it might annoy people around you, cracking your knuckles is generally harmless. Just don’t do it too hard, or you might cause some pain.
5. There Are Only Five Senses
Remember learning about the five senses in school? Well, it turns out you have way more than that! Besides sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell, humans have several other senses. These include balance, temperature, pain, and even the ability to sense where your body parts are without looking. Some scientists say you might have up to 21 different senses! So next time someone asks you to use your sixth sense, you can tell them you’re already using your 21st.
6. Goldfish Have Three-Second Memories
Contrary to popular belief, goldfish aren’t as forgetful as you might think. They can actually remember things for months, not just seconds! Goldfish can learn to associate certain sounds with feeding time and can even tell the difference between shapes. Some have even been trained to perform tricks. So if your goldfish seems to recognize you, it probably does – it’s not just forgetting you every three seconds!
7. Humans Can’t Grow New Brain Cells
For a long time, people thought that you couldn’t grow new brain cells once you became an adult. Turns out that’s not true at all! Our brains can actually make new cells throughout our lives, especially in the part of the brain involved in memory. This process is called neurogenesis. Exercise, learning new things, and even getting enough sleep can help your brain make new cells. So keep challenging your mind – it’s never too late to grow some brain power!
8. You Need To Wait 24 Hours To Report A Missing Person
Many TV shows and movies have spread the idea that you need to wait 24 hours before reporting someone missing. This is not true and could be dangerous! In reality, you should report a missing person as soon as you have reason to believe they’re missing. Every minute counts in these situations. Police prefer to start searching right away, especially if the missing person is a child or vulnerable adult. So don’t wait – if you’re worried, call for help immediately.
9. You Lose Most Heat Through Your Head
You might have been told to wear a hat in cold weather because you lose most of your body heat through your head. This myth probably came from an old military study, but it’s not accurate. In reality, you lose heat pretty evenly across all exposed parts of your body. Your head isn’t special in this regard. So while a hat can undoubtedly help keep you warm, it’s not more important than covering other parts of your body.
10. Alcohol Warms You Up
Many people think a shot of alcohol will warm them up on a cold day, but this is a dangerous myth. While alcohol might make you feel warmer, it actually lowers your body temperature. It does this by moving blood to the surface of your skin, which makes you feel warm but actually cools your core. This can be really dangerous in cold weather and can even lead to hypothermia. So next time you’re out in the cold, stick to hot chocolate instead!
11. Dogs See In Black And White
Contrary to popular belief, dogs don’t see the world in black and white. They can actually see colors, just not as many as humans can. Dogs see in a range of blues, yellows, and grays. This is because they have two types of color-detecting cells in their eyes, while humans have three. So while your dog might not appreciate a rainbow the same way you do, their world isn’t completely colorless!
12. You Should Starve A Fever
The old saying “feed a cold, starve a fever” isn’t good advice. When you have a fever, your body is working hard to fight off an infection, which actually burns more calories. This means you need more energy, not less. Eating healthy foods and staying hydrated is important whether you have a cold or a fever. So next time you’re sick, don’t skip meals – your body needs the fuel to get better!
13. Humans Evolved From Chimpanzees
Humans and chimpanzees are related, but humans did not evolve from chimpanzees. Instead, humans and chimpanzees share a common ancestor that lived millions of years ago. In evolutionary terms, chimpanzees are more akin to distant cousins of humans rather than direct ancestors. Both species have been evolving independently for a significant period, which explains their shared characteristics. However, each is a distinct species with its own unique evolutionary trajectory.
14. Lightning Can’t Strike You In A Car
You might have heard that you’re safe from lightning in a car because of the rubber tires. But that’s not the real reason! Cars are safe during lightning storms because of their metal frame, which acts like a protective cage. The electricity from lightning flows around the outside of the car, leaving you safe inside. This works for metal-topped cars but not convertibles or motorcycles. So in a storm, a car can be a safe place – but it’s the metal, not the tires, doing the protecting!
15. Bats Are Blind
The phrase “blind as a bat” has led many people to believe that bats can’t see. But this is a myth! Most bats can actually see quite well. They use their eyes for lots of things, especially for seeing in low light. What makes bats special is that they also use echolocation – making high-pitched sounds and listening to the echoes – to navigate and hunt in the dark.
16. The Great Wall Of China Is Visible From Space
Many people believe you can see the Great Wall of China from space with the naked eye, but that’s not true. While you can see it in photos taken from low Earth orbit, it’s not visible to an astronaut looking out a spacecraft window. The wall is just too narrow and blends in too well with the surrounding landscape. Lots of other human-made structures, like roads and cities, are actually easier to spot from space!
17. You Swallow Eight Spiders A Year While Sleeping
You might have heard that humans swallow several spiders each year while sleeping. Don’t worry – this is completely false! Spiders have no interest in crawling into your mouth. They’re generally scared of humans and avoid you when they can. Plus, the vibrations from your breathing and heartbeat would probably scare them away. So you can sleep easy knowing you’re not accidentally snacking on spiders in your sleep!
18. Sugar Causes Diabetes
Many people think eating too much sugar directly causes diabetes, but it’s not that simple. While a diet high in sugar can lead to obesity, which is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes, sugar itself doesn’t cause diabetes. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are complex conditions involving genetics and lifestyle factors. Eating too much of any food that leads to weight gain can increase your diabetes risk. So while it’s good to limit sugar, it’s not the direct cause of diabetes that many think it is.
19. Humans Have Five Taste Buds
You might have learned that there are just five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (savory). But scientists have discovered that you can actually taste many more flavors! People have taste receptors for things like fat, calcium, and even water. Some can even taste certain chemicals that others can’t. So your sense of taste is much more complex than you once thought.
20. Caffeine Dehydrates You
Many people believe that drinking coffee or other caffeinated drinks will dehydrate you. However, studies have shown that this isn’t true for regular coffee drinkers. While caffeine is a mild diuretic (meaning it makes you pee more), the water in the drink more than makes up for it. So your morning coffee can actually count towards your daily fluid intake! Just remember, water is still the best choice for staying hydrated throughout the day.
21. You Need To Wait 30 Minutes After Eating To Swim
Remember being told to wait half an hour after eating before swimming? Well, this common pool rule isn’t based on facts. The idea was that digesting food would draw blood to your stomach, leaving less for your muscles and increasing the risk of drowning. But there’s no evidence to support this. While it might be uncomfortable to swim on a very full stomach, it’s not dangerous. So feel free to take that post-lunch dip – just don’t overdo it!
22. The Tongue Map
You might have seen a “tongue map” showing different taste areas for sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. But this is an oversimplification that’s not really true. In reality, all parts of your tongue can taste all flavors. The idea of a tongue map came from a mistranslation of a German paper from the early 1900s. While some areas might be slightly more sensitive to specific tastes, the differences are tiny. Your whole tongue works together to let you enjoy all the flavors in your food.
23. Humans Lived With Dinosaurs
Movies and TV shows sometimes show humans and dinosaurs living together, but this is far from the truth. Dinosaurs went extinct about 65 million years ago, long before humans evolved. The first humans appeared only about 300,000 years ago. That’s a gap of more than 64 million years! The only dinosaurs humans have ever lived with are birds, which evolved from a group of dinosaurs. So unless you count your backyard birds, humans, and dinosaurs never crossed paths!
24. You Need 8 Glasses Of Water A Day
The idea that everyone needs exactly 8 glasses of water a day is a myth. Water needs vary from person to person based on factors like activity level, climate, and diet. Many foods, like fruits and vegetables, contain water too. Your body is good at telling you when you’re thirsty. The color of your urine is often a better indicator of hydration – pale yellow usually means you’re well-hydrated. So listen to your body rather than forcing down a set number of glasses.
25. Bulls Are Angered By The Color Red
Bulls don’t actually get angry at the color red. In fact, bulls are colorblind to red and green. In bullfighting, it’s the movement of the cape that provokes the bull, not its color. The red cape (called a muleta) is traditional, but bulls would charge at a cape of any color. So wearing red around bulls won’t make them more likely to charge at you.
26. Carrots Improve Your Night Vision
While carrots are healthy and contain vitamin A, which is important for eye health, eating them won’t give you super night vision. This myth started as British propaganda during World War II to explain their pilots’ increased success in shooting down enemy planes. In reality, they had developed new radar technology. Carrots are good for your eyes, but they won’t help you see in the dark.
27. Organic Food Is Pesticide-Free
Many people believe organic food is completely free of pesticides, but that’s not true. Organic farmers can use certain approved pesticides, usually derived from natural sources. While organic farming generally uses fewer synthetic pesticides, it doesn’t mean the food is pesticide-free. Organic pesticides aren’t necessarily safer or better for the environment than synthetic ones. The main difference is in how they’re produced, not their effect on the food or the planet.
28. Shaved Hair Grows Back Thicker
Many people believe that shaving causes hair to grow back thicker or darker, but this isn’t true. Shaving doesn’t change the thickness, color, or rate of hair growth. When hair first grows back, it might feel coarse or stubbly, which can make it seem thicker. But it’s not actually any different from before. The same is true for other hair removal methods like waxing or plucking.
29. Milk Makes Your Bones Stronger
While milk contains calcium, it’s not the magic bone-strengthener many think it is. Studies have shown that drinking more milk doesn’t necessarily lead to stronger bones or fewer fractures. In fact, some research suggests that too much milk might even be harmful. Bone health depends on many factors, including vitamin D, exercise, and overall diet. So while milk can be part of a healthy diet, it’s not the only way to keep your bones strong.
30. MSG Is Harmful To Your Health
Despite its bad reputation, there’s no scientific evidence that MSG (monosodium glutamate) is harmful to most people. The “Chinese Restaurant Syndrome” attributed to MSG has been largely debunked. MSG is a common flavor enhancer found naturally in many foods. While some individuals may have a sensitivity, for the majority, MSG is safe to consume in normal amounts.
31. Chameleons Change Color To Blend In
Chameleons don’t actually change color to match their surroundings. Their color changes are mostly related to temperature regulation, communication with other chameleons, and expressing emotions. The idea that they change color for camouflage is a popular misconception. Their natural coloration is usually enough to keep them hidden from predators.
32. Antibiotics Cure Colds And Flu
Many people ask for antibiotics when they have a cold or flu, but this is ineffective. Colds and flu are caused by viruses, and antibiotics only work against bacteria. Taking antibiotics for viral infections doesn’t help you get better and can contribute to antibiotic resistance. It’s best to rest, stay hydrated, and let your immune system fight off the virus.
33. Gum Takes Seven Years To Digest
The myth that swallowed gum stays in your stomach for seven years is just that – a myth. While it’s true that your body can’t digest gum, it doesn’t stay in your system for years. Like other indigestible items, gum passes through your digestive system and comes out in your stool, usually within a day or two. So while it’s not a good idea to swallow gum, you don’t need to worry if you accidentally do.
21 Things You Should Never Post On Social Media
21 Things You Should Never Post On Social Media
Could Your Mother Be Narcissistic? 22 Red Flags To Consider
Could Your Mother Be Narcissistic? 22 Red Flags To Consider
8 ‘Harmless’ Foods Banned Worldwide
