How many times have you heard the story about Albert Einstein struggling in school and failing at math? Or been warned never to charge your phone overnight for fear of an explosion? And what about the tale of Vincent Van Gogh cutting off his own ear? In today's world of fake news and viral misinformation, it's easy to get swept up in countless stories, some amusing urban legends, others claiming to be backed by science. Yet, distinguishing fact from fiction can be a challenge. That's why we've taken on the task of scrutinizing 40 of the most prevalent myths, and the results might just surprise you. Are you ready to uncover the truth? Read on and prepare to be surprised.
Myth: Animals Hibernate in Winter Because of the Cold
Many animals take a prolonged "sleep" during certain times of the year. Those that sleep during the winter are said to hibernate, and those that sleep during the dry seasons (especially in tropical regions) are said to be in aestivation.
Contrary to popular belief, bears and other animals don't hibernate during winter because of the cold but because food is scarce, and they need to conserve energy. A bear's hibernation period lasts several months and he does not eat, drink, poo, or urinate during this time.
Myth: Polar Bears Have White Fur
The beautiful white fur of polar bears is among their most distinguishing features, right? Wrong! It turns out that not only do polar bears not have white fur, but their skin is actually black! So, why do they appear brilliantly white to us?
In contrast to human hair, polar bear hair is hollow. Meaning a strand of their hair is tube-like. The tube holes are too small to be seen by the eye, but large enough to let light through. This effect makes the bear appear white.
Myth: Never Charge Your Smartphone Overnight
The fear that a smartphone may explode due to overcharging only increased when a particular phone brand (hello, Samsung Galaxy Note 7) started to blow up. The problem was technically caused by a bad battery design, but many assumed overcharging was to blame.
Smartphones are not called "smart" for nothing. When your phone reaches 100% charge, the chips inside it disconnect the circuits. The battery can wear out during the night, because at 99% trickle charging kicks in. Yet, it makes a minimal difference in the long run.
Myth: Piranhas Can Eat a Human in Seconds
The piranha is one of the most infamous man-eaters of the sea, thanks to Hollywood flicks like Piranha. While it's recommended not to take a swim with a school of hungry and aggressive piranhas, the truth is that most piranhas are herbivores.
The truth is that it's highly unlikely that a group of piranhas will kill a fully grown man in a few minutes. It takes almost an hour for 200 fish to devour a dog, and even carnivorous piranha are usually scavengers and not active predators.
Myth: You Can Pull Out a Grenade Pin With Your Teeth
Unlike in the movies, people cannot pull out a grenade pin with their teeth. Even though Rambo did it, this stunt is not realistic or even possible. The movies are the only place where such stunts are possible.
Grenades are fitted with sturdy pins, and for good reason: to prevent accidental explosions. Therefore, pulling the hook of a grenade requires effort and is usually done using both hands. Replicating this movie stunt will result in pulling out a couple of teeth.
Myth: The Body Removes Toxins Through Sweat
Sweat is 99% water, with minute traces of urea, salt, carbohydrates, and proteins. From its composition, we know that sweat does not remove toxins such as heavy metals, drugs, and alcohol.
The liver, kidney, and intestines are responsible for the breaking down and elimination of these metallic toxins and wastes. While sweat is essential for maintaining body temperature, the belief that it removes toxins is a myth.
Myth: Silencers Make Every Gun Quiet
Silencers (or, more accurately, suppressors) are great at reducing the noise that results from a gunshot. The deafening sound from the gun results from superheated gases that expand very quickly, producing shockwaves as they escape the gun's chamber.
What silencers do is cool and dissipate those gases before they escape from the gun's barrel. While silencers work incredibly well, especially for handhelds, there's still some noise, and bigger guns like rifles will still make a considerable sound even with suppressors.
Myth: The King Cobra Is the Most Venomous Creature on Earth
The king cobra is rightly feared for its venom. The amount of neurotoxin the deadly snake can deliver in one bite is enough to kill twenty people or even a fully-grown elephant. But despite these mind-boggling statistics, another animal holds the title of most venomous.
The box jellyfish is a predatory sea creature that, unlike other jellyfish, actively hunts prey. This nightmarish creature grows up to ten feet long with fifteen tentacles. Each tentacle has almost half a million venom injectors and about 30,000,000 stingers. For those wondering, the sting kills within minutes.
Myth: Walt Disney Was the First to Draw Mickey Mouse
Walt Disney gets all the credit for creating Mickey Mouse, the beloved and iconic Mouse. But the truth is that another person is the brain behind the character, and it just so happens that he is one of Walt's closest friends.
It was 1928. Walt Disney lost the rights to the very popular character Oswald the Rabbit. He also lost all his animators except Ub Iwerks, who became Diensy Studio's chief animator. He designed Mickey Mouse during those turbulent times and remained a close friend of Walt.
Myth: Cleopatra Was an Egyptian
Cleopatra is not only one of the biggest beauty icons of all time, but also a first-league Egyptian icon, right? There is no doubt that she is an icon, but facts reveal that she is not Egyptian at all and her origins lie elsewhere.
In fact, Cleopatra was Greek, and a descendant of the Ptolemaic dynasty of Macedon. After the death of Alexander the Great, the Ptolemaic Dynasty took over Egypt. After several successive rulers, Cleopatra ruled as Queen of Egypt from 51 to 30 BC.
Myth: The Heart Skips a Beat When We Sneeze
Sneezing is the body's way of expelling foreign objects, like pollen or dust, from the respiratory tract. Many physiological events occur during a sneeze, but heart-stopping isn't one of them. If that were the case, imagine what would happen if someone sneezed endlessly.
While the heart may be derailed from its usual rhythm for a second or two during a sneeze, it never truly stops, and once the sneeze is done, the heart catches up to its usual rhythm. So, there's no need to worry when sneezing.
Myth: Using An Alarm Clock Is The Most Efficient Way to Wake Up
No one likes alarms. Nothing is more annoying than the sounds of an early morning alarm when you just want to stay in bed. Many people even set multiple alarms at different times, assuming that's the best way to get up on time.
In recent years, scientists have discovered that regular alarms can increase stress levels, adrenaline rushes, and high blood pressure, and are now encouraging people to ditch them for other methods, such as "light alarms" devices like sunrise alarm clocks that mimic natural sunrise effects.
Myth: Thomas Edison Invented the Light Bulb
Most people think US inventor Thomas Edison invented the electric bulb, but that's not entirely true. Edison did play a crucial role in its development, making the light bulb more practical and useful. However, it had been invented many years earlier.
About two centuries before Edison "invented" the light bulb, English chemist Humphrey Davy showed that electricity could generate light. That led to the creation of the first bulbs, which were impractical. It was only when Edison emerged that modern light bulbs were born.
Myth: Drinking Alcohol Makes You Warm
Alcohol is one of the go-to substances for warding off cold. Some individuals drink copious amounts of it and end up with more problems than just feeling cold. But does alcohol truly make us warm?
The fact, though, is that alcohol is a vasodilator; that is, it expands blood vessels. When this happens, more blood flows closer to your skin's surface, so people who drink alcohol feel warmer and look flushed. The feeling, however, doesn't last long.
Myth: Vincent Van Gogh Cut Off His Ear
Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most influential and famous Western artists. The Dutch painter is known for his incredible artwork, including the famous Starry Night over the Rhône and The Potato Eaters. But did he really cut off his ear? Well...
In 1882 when Van Gogh lived in France, his friend and fellow painter, Gauguin, visited him but the two had a fight. Angry Van Gogh threatened Gauguin with a knife, but unexpectedly injured himself, damaging his earlobe. While still bizarre, it's not as frightening as cutting off your ear.
Myth: Reading In The Dark Damages Your Eyes
We have all heard this before, whether from our parents, teachers, or doctors. The common belief is that reading in the dark is bad for your eyes and will lead to the deterioration of your sight over time. But is this really true?
Human eyes are highly complex organs that are capable of adapting to a wide range of lighting conditions. So, reading in low light conditions or from phone screens is likely to tire the eyes quickly, but after a short rest, the discomfort will subside.
Myth: Defibrillators Can Restart A Heart That Stopped Beating
It may come as a surprise to the avid viewers of "Grey's Anatomy" or "House", but in reality once a heart stops beating, a defibrillator is useless to help it start again — no matter how much shock is given to the heart.
When the heart begins to beat irregularly, it is known as fibrillation. If this occurs, a defibrillator scans the heart's electrical rhythm and delivers a shock, restoring regular rhythm. Unfortunately, this life-saving device will not be of any use if the heart stops beating.
Depression Cannot Cause Death
Depression is a serious medical illness. As such, it shouldn't be dismissed easily or quickly. Unfortunately, there are still people who believe that depression cannot cause physical harm and is not fatal since it's just a "mental issue".
Contrary to popular belief, depression is the root cause of suicide and was the tenth leading cause of death in 2017! Suicidal thoughts are more likely when depression goes untreated. It is therefore important to take depression seriously and know there's no shame in seeking help.
Myth: Napoleon Was Short
Napoleon Bonaparte was famous for many things; unfortunately, his height is not one of them. It has been alleged that the French Emperor was a diminutive man of about 5'2. It turned out, however, that this popular myth was nothing but an urban legend.
At the time of his death, Napoleon was listed as 5'2" tall, However, this is a French measurement - the current equivalent is 5'7. While that height may not seem tall now, the average male in Napoleon's day was about 5'5", dispelling the myth that he was short.
Myth: Only 10% Of The Brain Is Used
If we had a nickel for every time we heard this expression. Often used by pseudo-scientists, this saying has been put forth to emphasize the importance of using all of our God-given potential. While these "experts" mean well, they are scientifically inaccurate.
In reality, we use all our brains all the time - some parts more than others for a specific task. Even MRI scans reveal that we engage most of our brain, even for the simplest tasks, and homeostasis is constantly at work.
Myth: Applying Oil to Burns Helps Them Heal Faster
Should we put oil on burns? For a long time, the answer had been "yes." This was a popular folk remedy based on the belief that the calming property of oil could help to soothe the wound and make it heal faster and better.
But burns aren't just any kind of wound, and putting oil on burns may aggravate the pain and worsen the condition. To help burns heal rapidly, it's recommended to run cold water through the area, and then cover the wound with clean gauze.
Myth: The Internet is Connected By Satellites
Though most of us use the internet every day, we don't often stop to think about how the internet actually works. Most people believe that the Internet is satellite-based, but in fact, most data over the Internet is sent in quite a different way.
Most internet data exchanged is sent through fiber optic cables over the sea. Although satellite connectivity is used as an alternative to fiber optic cables, it is usually the exception and is only used where fiber optic isn't a practical option.
Myth: Chloroform Immediately Knocks People Out for Several Hours
This is another myth that movies have popularized. We've all seen the scene in which the hero is unaware that his would-be kidnapper is hiding, armed with a handkerchief covered in chloroform, which instantly knocks the victim down for hours.
But this Hollywood thriller does not consider that chloroform's effects are usually not immediate. It would take many minutes before a victim would lose consciousness from inhaling chloroform. Not to mention that this is a very toxic substance that can be fatal if handled incorrectly.
Myth: Never Use A Mobile Phone During A Lightning Storm
At any given time, there are about 2,000 lightning storms around the world. This means that the idea that it is dangerous to use mobile phones during a lightning storm is absurd because then, no one would be able to use a phone.
The myth that mobile phones attract lightning was first raised a couple of years ago by internet users and is now recognized as nothing but an urban legend. Cell phones cannot possibly attract a lightning strike. Lightning usually strikes the tallest potential conductors in its path.
Myth: Brain Cells Stop Growing When We Reach Adulthood
In the past, it was believed that our brain cells stop growing once we reach adulthood. But in recent years new studies challenged the validity of this assumption, trying to reach a definitive answer to the hotly debated topic of whether the brain regenerates.
So how did the myth develop? Researchers found that neurogenesis in primates' brains decreased with age, but the results were inconclusive. It was discovered, however, that even in older people, thousands of new brain cells were still being generated after autopsying 28 brains aged 14 to 79.
Myth: The Largest Source of Oxygen on Earth Is Trees
Trees are awesome. Without them, our world would be in serious trouble. They produce oxygen, which is essential for our existence but the oxygen they provide is minuscule compared to what is produced by algae in the oceans.
Photosynthesizing algae produce over 70% of atmospheric oxygen in the oceans. This should be no surprise since the oceans occupy more than 70% of the earth's surface. The oxygen produced by these single-celled organisms is greater than the oxygen produced by all the rainforests in the world.
Myth: Dogs Only See in Black and White
It is said that dogs see the world in black and white, but let us reveal the truth for you. In spite of the fact that dogs don't see the world in the same vivid colors as us, their vision isn't just black and white.
In comparison to the human eye, dogs have just about 20% of the cells that are responsible for color perception. Hence, they can see only a minimal range of colors, such as shades of yellow, gray, blue, and brown. Nevertheless, their night vision is excellent.
Myth: Skydivers Can Talk to One Another During a Freefall
We've often seen in movies how skydivers communicate by shouting at each other during a free fall. Even so, any skydiver who has ever actually done a jump knows that such a scenario is rife with scientific inaccuracies.
One skydiver explains that the wind rushing past their faces makes it impossible for them to hear other sounds. Consequently, skydivers communicate via body gestures like hand signals, head nods, and arm waves.
Myth: An Apple Fell on Newton's Head, And He Discovered Gravity
It has been popularized by movies and cartoons: the legend of the English scientist, Sir. Isaac Newton. It is said that he discovered gravity when an apple landed on his head. Although it makes for humorous content, the real story is quite different.
The truth is that the young scientist was sitting in a garden, observing apples falling on the ground. It was then that the question popped into his mind: "Why did the apples fall only downwards?" Only then did Newton's famous "Aha!" moment occur. Gravity! That's why!
Myth: Bulls React Aggressively to the Color Red
There are many people who believe that bulls loathe the color red. To such people, it seems that it would be a death sentence to be caught wearing a red shirt when a herd of cattle is passing. But this "fact" doesn't hold up under scrutiny.
The truth is that cattle are blind to red and can only see blue, violet, yellow, and green colors. When the tiger waves a red flag, the irritated bull reacts to motion and not color. An enraged bull will charge at anything that moves regardless of color.
Myth: Cold Weather Makes It Easier to Catch a Cold
It's natural to associate cold and flu symptoms with cold weather. However, studies have shown that neither cold weather nor icy water or cold showers cause cold. As everyone who's caught a cold even during the hot summer days knows.
In reality, colds are caused by viruses, or to be more precise, rhinoviruses. This is the name of the pesky microscopic minions that are responsible for the common cold. They trigger the inflammation of the throat and nose membranes, causing us to feel unwell.
Myth: It's Important to Brush Your Teeth After Every Meal
Should we brush our teeth once, twice, or three times a day? Well, they are those who advocate brushing after every meal. Such people's passion for oral hygiene is admirable, but brushing more than three times a day may cause more harm than good.
The ideal brushing routine should be twice a day: morning after breakfast and evening after dinner. Brushing your teeth too frequently may wear out the enamel. If it's a must to brush after a meal, it's best to wait 30 minutes before brushing.
Myth: Microwaves Destroy Vitamins and the Nutritional Value of Food
For the longest time, microwave ovens have been accused by many of being an unhealthy cooking method. Suspected of causing cancer, the radiation from microwave ovens is also thought to destroy the nutrients in food. But are these claims really true?
Generally, cooking — to an extent — reduces the nutritional value of food, but microwaving food does not reduce it any more than conventional cooking does. Microwaving food is the least likely to destroy nutrients, and fear not, your food won't become "radioactive."
Myth: Antonio Salieri Was Jealous Of Wolfgang Mozart
In the classical music world, it is widely believed that Italian composer Antonio Salieri was envious of his peer Wolfgang Mozart's talent. Although there seemed to be a healthy rivalry between the two, certain events have been greatly exaggerated for dramatic effect.
As opposed to the popular belief that Mozart and Salieri were at odds and that Salieri was jealous of Mozart, in reality, the two had mutual respect for one another, and Salieri was actually more famous and successful back then than Mozart.
Myth: The Great Wall of China is Visible From Space
Stretching an impressive 21,196 km, the Great Wall of China is undoubtedly one of the most impressive structures ever built. In addition to being a world wonder, it has been described as "the only man-made object visible from space." But is that so?
This myth has spread like wildfire but has been repeatedly debunked — no man-made object is visible from space (sorry, Great Wall). Several astronauts have confirmed that although the Great Wall is enormous, it is not visible from space, not even in low orbits.
Myth: Shampoos and Conditioners Can Help Split Ends
Although there are tons of hair products in the market that promise that they can fix your split ends, the best cure for split ends is to prevent them in the first place; and what about the second best cure?
Forget all the promises made by shampoo and conditioner brands. Once you have split ends, the best thing to do is to get them trimmed. While it may seem counterintuitive, cutting your hair regularly helps it grow stronger and faster.
Myth: Chocolate Isn’t Healthy
Chocolate has a bad reputation for causing weight gain and receives a lot of bad press for its high sugar and fat content. Despite these overwhelming downsides, moderate consumption of chocolate has some surprising health benefits.
Recent studies have discovered that cocoa, the primary ingredient of chocolate, contains biologically active phenolic compounds. This compound, which is more concentrated in dark chocolate, has been linked to several health benefits, such as reducing the risk of heart disease and reducing cholesterol levels.
Myth: An Apple a Day Keeps the Doctor Away
You may have heard your mother say this well-known phrase, but an apple a day is not the one-stop solution for all your health needs. Yes, apples are packed with essential nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins, but good health goes beyond that.
Although the consumption of healthy foods, including apples, dramatically reduces the risk of many diseases, there is no evidence that this is all there is to a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, a routine check-up with the doctor is essential, regardless of your diet.
Myth: Einstein Had Bad Grades in School
Albert Einstein was, without a doubt, one of the brightest minds in history. His genius is so profound that people who want to find a chink in the armor are left grasping at straws, and one that is particularly grasped at is the Einstein-was-bad-at-math myth.
Contrary to popular belief, Einstein was an excellent math student, topping his class. It is said that he mastered differential and integral calculus before the age of 15. Nevertheless, the myth is likely linked to Einstein's rebellious attitude toward school teaching methods.
Myth: Chameleons Change Their Colors to Blend in With Their Surroundings
For a long time, it has been assumed that the main reason chameleons change their body colors is to blend into their surroundings and thus escape predators. However recent studies discovered that chameleons change their color for several other fascinating reasons.
Chameleons change their body colors to maintain a favorable body temperature, communicate, or reflect their moods. Furthermore, a male chameleon would often wear a bold color like red or yellow, irrespective of its environment when a rival male confronts it.