Debunking Fifty Popular Myths

A myth is a widely held but often false belief or idea that typically develops over time, blending elements of folklore, culture, and misunderstandings. Myths often emerge as simple explanations for complex or unknown phenomena, appealing to people’s desire for clarity in a confusing world. For instance, before scientific knowledge about astronomy or biology, myths filled gaps in understanding with stories or “facts” that resonated on a cultural level, even if they weren’t accurate. People tend to believe myths because they are frequently repeated, packaged in ways that sound plausible, or associated with trusted figures or traditions. Myths can also offer comfort or a sense of order, making them deeply embedded in societies and surprisingly resistant to change even when disproven.

Nature & Animals

1. Bats are blind.
   Bats can actually see, and some species have excellent vision. Most rely on echolocation for navigation, but they’re far from blind.
2. Goldfish have a 3-second memory.
   Studies show that goldfish have a memory span of up to several months, remembering routines, locations, and people.
3. Dogs see in black and white.
   Dogs can see colours, mainly blues and yellows, though they lack the full range of human vision.
4. Sharks can smell a drop of blood miles away.
   Sharks have a strong sense of smell but it’s limited to hundreds of metres, not miles.
5. You can determine a dog’s age by multiplying by seven.
   Canine ageing varies by breed and size, making the “7 years to 1 human year” formula overly simplistic.
6. Ostriches bury their heads in the sand.
   Ostriches don’t actually bury their heads in the sand. They sometimes lean down to the ground to inspect or turn their eggs.
7. The daddy longlegs is the world’s most venomous spider.
   They’re harmless; daddy longlegs spiders don’t produce venom harmful to humans, and some species can’t even bite us.
8. Bulls are angered by the colour red.
   Bulls are colour-blind to red. It’s the movement of the matador’s cape that provokes them.
9. Lemmings commit mass suicide.
   Lemmings don’t intentionally jump off cliffs. The myth came from misunderstandings of their migration behaviour and was exaggerated by documentaries.
10. Owls are the wisest of birds.
    Owls have no particular cognitive edge; their “wise” appearance is due to large eyes and a steady gaze.

Body & Health

11. Humans only use 10% of their brains.
    Brain scans show we use virtually all parts of our brain, even while resting.
12. Shaving makes hair grow back thicker.
    Shaving has no effect on hair thickness; hair may feel rougher due to the blunt ends.
13. Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis.
    Studies have found no link between knuckle-cracking and arthritis.
14. Eating carrots improves night vision.
    Carrots contain vitamin A, which is good for eyesight, but they don’t boost night vision. This myth started as WWII propaganda.
15. Humans swallow 8 spiders a year in their sleep.
    This claim has no basis in fact and is highly unlikely, as spiders avoid humans.
16. Sitting too close to the TV damages your eyesight.
    It may strain the eyes temporarily but doesn’t cause permanent damage.
17. Eating chocolate causes acne.
    No conclusive evidence directly links chocolate to acne, though some may experience flare-ups from sugar or dairy.
18. You lose most of your body heat through your head.
    Body heat is lost from any exposed area equally, not just the head.
19. Humans have five senses.
    We have more than five senses, including balance, temperature, and pain.
20. Alcohol warms you up.
    Alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, making you feel warm, but it actually lowers core body temperature.

Space & Science

21. The Great Wall of China is visible from space.
    It’s not visible with the naked eye from space due to its narrow width and colour blending with the environment.
22. Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
    It often strikes in the same location repeatedly, especially tall structures.
23. The Earth orbits the sun in a perfect circle.
    Earth’s orbit is elliptical, not a perfect circle.
24. Gravity doesn’t exist in space.
    Gravity exists everywhere; objects in orbit experience microgravity, but they are still affected by Earth’s gravitational pull.
25. A penny dropped from a tall building could kill someone.
    A penny’s terminal velocity is too low to cause serious harm.
26. Water conducts electricity.
    Pure water doesn’t conduct electricity; impurities (like salt) are what make water conductive.
27. NASA spent millions developing a space pen while the Soviets used a pencil.
    Both space agencies initially used pencils; later, they both used the commercially developed “space pen.”
28. We get our oxygen from trees.
    Most of Earth’s oxygen actually comes from oceanic phytoplankton, not land-based trees.
29. An egg can balance on its end during the equinox.
    With patience, an egg can balance any day of the year; the equinox has no effect on this.
30. Blood is blue in the veins.
    Blood is always red, though veins may appear blue due to light and tissue interaction.

History & Culture

31. Vikings wore horned helmets.
    No evidence suggests Vikings wore horned helmets; the image comes from 19th-century operas and artwork.
32. Napoleon was unusually short.
    Napoleon was around 5’6″-5’7″, average height for his time.
33. Walt Disney was cryogenically frozen.
    Disney was cremated; there’s no evidence of him being frozen.
34. Toilets flush differently in the northern and southern hemispheres.
    Toilet flushing isn’t affected by the Coriolis effect; design determines water flow.
35. Christopher Columbus discovered America.
    Columbus never reached the mainland U.S.; Indigenous peoples had been in the Americas long before, and Norse explorer Leif Erikson reached North America around 1000 AD.
36. People in the Middle Ages believed the Earth was flat.
    Educated people in the Middle Ages knew the Earth was spherical, thanks to Greek scholars like Aristotle.
37. Albert Einstein failed math.
    Einstein excelled in math from a young age; he only struggled with exams that weren’t maths-related.
38. Marie Antoinette said “Let them eat cake.”
    This line is misattributed to her, likely invented to emphasise the monarchy’s detachment from the people.
39. George Washington had wooden teeth.
    Washington’s dentures were made from various materials, but not wood.
40. Romans regularly used vomitoria to purge during feasts.
    “Vomitoria” referred to stadium exits, not designated places for vomiting.

Technology & Modern Myths

41. Macs don’t get viruses.
    Macs are vulnerable to viruses, though they may face fewer attacks compared to Windows PCs due to their market share.
42. If you touch a baby bird, the mother will abandon it.
    Most birds don’t have a strong sense of smell and won’t abandon a chick because it’s been handled.
43. Microwaves cause cancer.
    Microwaves use non-ionising radiation and don’t have enough energy to cause cancer.
44. Goldfish grow only as large as their tank.
    Goldfish can grow quite large if given enough space and proper care.
45. You must wait 24 hours to report a missing person.
    There’s no legal waiting period to report someone missing, and you should contact authorities immediately if you suspect danger.
46. Alcohol kills brain cells.
    Heavy drinking can damage brain connections, but moderate consumption doesn’t kill brain cells outright.
47. We eat 70 insects per year in our sleep.
    There’s no evidence supporting this; insects tend to avoid human contact.
48. Sushi means “raw fish.”
    Sushi actually refers to vinegared rice; it doesn’t require raw fish.
49. MSG is bad for you.
    Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is safe for most people. Studies have found no link between MSG and adverse reactions.
50. Deoxygenated blood is blue.
    All blood is red, though veins appear blue through the skin due to light refraction.

These facts correct misconceptions that span science, history, and daily life!

Facts are a new beginning!