This article was originally published on Kueez
Ah, science. It's nice to claim you are in the know and have science to back you up. But that's not always how things flow, and we've all believed facts that turned out to be bogus. Sometimes, widespread misunderstandings are the result of faulty marketing campaigns. Other times, it's just word on the street. Either way, most of us have bought into at least a little nonsense: From nutrition to physics, we've got the right updates to make sure you know the truth. Let's set the record straight!
No, It Doesn’t Really Take 7 Years To Digest Swallowed Gum
We've all heard this one since grade school. The warning was dire: Swallow that gum, and you'll have it stuck inside for the next seven years. Maybe in the large intestines, maybe in the small ones. Maybe somewhere else, deep inside the digestive tract. The possibilities were terrifying, and we decided to be a little bit more careful when we chewed. It's true that bubblegum is indigestible, but is it that sticky and stubborn? Experts say no, not really.
An occasional gumball is not too tricky for your body. The material will just pass through, no big deal. One recorded case stands out where a toddler swallowed gum wrapped around coins. That caused an actual blockage, but we don't think you will be tempted. We trust you to be a big boy (or girl).
The Chemical Tryptophan in Turkey Doesn’t Actually Make You Sleepy
Turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, the works: Thanksgiving is the meal of the year, and it's a big deal. But every holiday, we hear about a mysterious side effect. We are advised to get ready with a pillow and fuzzy blanket because we won't be able to stay awake after eating turkey. The meat has is a chemical called tryptophan, and warnings are frequently published about its sleepy effects during that time of year. Is there any truth to this claim?
Tryptophan is similar to the natural brain chemicals that help us relax. But turkey has no monopoly on the matter. Cheddar cheese has even more of the stuff, and we never hear nap warnings. Odds are, you're just having a food coma from the sheer amount of carbs you just ate. Be honest, it was a feast.
Sharks Cannot Smell a Drop of Blood From Literally Miles Away
After seeing the movie Jaws and watching years of Shark Week on the Discovery Channel, you must be pretty freaked out. We know we are. And we've heard the idea that sharks are such efficient predators that they know when you bleed. Even from miles away, they can smell a meal. But are their noses really that powerful? It's hard to imagine the process of a drop sending out signals that far, so fast.
Sharks have a really big brain region for smelling in the water, and they can smell bleeding prey from several football fields away. That's not miles, but it is impressive. In conclusion: Sharks are still terrifying.
Whoever Said Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice Was Wrong
It's a phrase that has come to be almost universal: Lightning never strikes the same place twice. The sizzling electric bolt in the sky seems random. But now that we have modern data, we can definitively test the natural phenomenon. As it turns out, the Empire State Building alone proves the idea wrong. The landmark was actually used as a lightning laboratory because it got struck around 100 times a year.
The reality is, lightning is lazy. It likes to find the path of least resistance, and that means it zaps the tallest and closest target. It's no wonder the Empire State Building got so many hits. It has more than 100 floors!
Ostriches Do Not Hide by Putting Their Heads in the Sand
People constantly say that ostriches stick their heads in the sand to hide. It's come to be a metaphor for cowardly people, and it seems like it could be a true fact. We accepted it at face value. But it always sounded ineffective, didn't it? These big, bulky birds can run up to 60 miles per hour to get away from danger. It's not a good idea to sit still when a cheetah arrives.
As it turns out, they run or try to fight. And if things get desperate, they are smart enough to flop on the ground and play dead. Where did this sand rumor ever get started? Biologists in the field have now set the record straight. Thanks, you guys.
Dropping a Penny From the Empire State Building Will Not Kill Anyone
This story went viral before viral was even a thing. It was a real-life rumor, and we all were shocked. Maybe it was our first lesson in physics, and it was on the playground. Did you know that if you drop a penny from the top of a tall building, it can kill someone if it hits them in the head? Well, no. You didn't know that. Because it's just not true!
In reality, it wouldn’t do a lot of damage, if any at all. The theory didn't factor in air resistance, and a penny is so light and flat that this would surely slow its descent. By the time it hits the ground, it would be going just 25 miles an hour, according to researchers who tested it. That's not deadly, but it might hurt!
Solid, Liquid, and Gas Are Not the Only Three Phases of Matter
Seriously, can this really be fiction? We all were forced to memorize the words in school: Liquid, gas, solid. Matter was a basic concept in physics and chemistry, and we were happy it was a simple one. But no, that was just the beginner's book for school kids. In reality, there is even more going on in the universe. Ever heard of plasma? Believe it or not, we are not talking about the TV model.
Plasma isn't the only state you never heard about. There is also quark-gluon plasma, and superfluid. There is another concept called supersolids. It's all pretty complicated, and we don't deal with them every day. But it's all out there, somewhere, somehow!
Being Cold Does Not Literally Give You a Cold
Going outside with wet hair was always a big no-no according to mom. She was convinced that it meant sickness was on the way. She forced you to take precautions that didn't interest you, and slowed down your fun. Did she have a point, all along? According to modern virology, not really. Catching a cold is not about being cold. It's about getting an angry little virus that makes your body react.
In fact, staying inside is more likely to spread viruses in the air. Venturing outdoors during cold and flu season means you might not be trapped in dirty, circulating air. Not the worst idea, actually — even if your hair is wet!
There Are No Disgusting Red Bugs in Your Strawberry Frappuccino
It's actually an issue for vegetarians all the time. Why is this edible red? Sometimes, the answer is artificial. But as these animal lovers know well, the answer can also be insects. Cochineal bugs are harvested and squished by farmers in South and Central America, and turned into a cheap dye called carmine. It's harmless, but it's pretty gross to think about. Even carnivores didn't like hearing that their favorite Starbucks Frap was full of it.
There's good news, everybody: Starbucks stopped using carmine in strawberry Frappucinos back in 2012. It may still be the source of the pigment in your favorite red lipstick, though. Best to read labels, if you're concerned!
The Five Second Rule Is Not Sanitary or Safe, It Turns Out
It's tragic when a snack slips out of your hands. We've all told each other that if a bite has only fallen to the floor for five seconds, it's still perfectly good. This one has been a strategy since childhood since kids tend to be sloppy. But there never was a reason to use that arbitrary number. Food gets contaminated within milliseconds, according to science. Why take the risk on a dirty, public floor?
Dry food will get dirty, on a micro-level. If the morsel is moist, it attracts even more bacteria. Whether you take the risk is up to you, but just know that the rive-second rule is a five-second lie!
Your Hair and Nails Do Not Really Keep Growing After You Die
It's creepy, and it's an idea that's been around for ages. Morticians probably started this rumor, long ago. While preparing dead bodies, funeral professionals noticed that it seemed like human fingernails and hair get longer. It's strange to think that when your soul leaves, your body keeps producing. It's so strange, in fact, that science decided to look into the morbid matter and give us some answers. What was found?
It's all nonsense, boys and girls. The truth is what we all would expect. When you die, things do stop. But one more thing happens that seems to be causing confusion. Your skin dries out and shrinks. Your nails just look longer, as a result.
Drinking Vodka Before Beer Is Not a Way to Avoid a Hangover
Every former college knows this rule from their years on campus: Beer before liquor, never sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear. It's been a tested strategy to avoid headaches in the morning for ages, but does it really work? Perhaps the night before is too hazy to remember the order you actually tried. But if you filmed it, you might realize there is no reliable pattern.
Alcohol is alcohol, and your body can only handle so much of it. It is literally poison, after all. Researchers have actually tested the claim in studies and confirmed that this rule will not help avoid hangovers. Good decision-making is the real trick!
Doggy Mouths Are Not Cleaner Than Our Mouths
We all know that person who slobbers kisses right in their dog's mouth. To explain themselves, they often claim that pooches have even cleaner mouths than we do. So it's no big deal, right? Even if that were true, it's still unappetizing for many forced to watch the act. But the haters can rest assured that they were always right. Dog mouths are teeming with bacteria. It's not sanitary at all!
Dogs eat and lick all sorts of things we would never want to get near. Think about it: Garbage, poop, and carcasses, to name a few. And what about that raw meat you just gave them? In conclusion, dogs are dirty. But that doesn't mean we don't love them with all our hearts!
Your Blood Is Not Blue Inside Your Body Until Oxygen Turns It Red
It's an odd idea, but many of us believed it. When blood is inside your body, it is blue. When you get a cut, blood mixes with oxygen in the air and turns red. Look at your blue veins for further evidence! Honestly, this was always an odd idea. The human body is a complex subject, and few people know how things really work. But why did we believe this?
The fact is, human blood is red inside, and outside. The color does become more vibrant when it reaches the air, but it's just not blue. Only royals have blue blood. Just kidding, they don't either.
Shaving Makes Your Hair Grow Back Thicker Is an Old Wives’ Tale
When it was time to shave, many older girls or mothers had a warning for preteens: Don't shave, or the hair will grow back even thicker. It was maddening, and most females ignored the advice. The more you shave, the more hair you will fight? Even if the costs were high, no one wanted hairy legs. Was this claim scientifically true, or an excuse to have hair and not care?
It's actually total bunk, but there was a chance the original rumor was sincere. Shaving does clip the end of a hair and make it feel coarser as it grows back. But does it grow back more, or thicker? No, it's just hair. It doesn't have an agenda.
It’s a Myth That Organic Produce Means No Pesticides and More Vitamins
Health food junkies are going to be disappointed to read the facts on this matter. We all heard that organic food is better, somehow. No chemicals, closer to nature, all the vitamins from the original species. But what does an organic label really mean, these days? As it turns out, organic food is not pesticide-free. Farmers are allowed to use some natural pesticides, but that can harm the enjoyment, too.
Plus, there are no clear nutritional benefits. The industry has studied engineered crops, and there don't seem to be any major differences in vitamins. Maybe they look different or taste different. But health-wise, the facts are in.
Camels Do Not Use Their Humps to Store Water
Camels have been desert friends for desert dwellers for centuries. They don't mind if you ride them or milk them. Some people even eat them, believe it or not. But there is a big mystery around how they survive in these conditions in the first place. Some people say that they store water in their humps, so they never get too thirsty in extreme situations. Is that what is really inside?
No, no. That hump is just fat, which helps them stave off hunger. But hydration? We now know that camels are just very efficient when it comes to using H2O in their bodies. They can go seven months without a drink!
Diamonds Are Not Formed From Old Coal
Diamonds are forever, and a girl's best friend. Allegedly they have been around for a while and earned the titles. As the story goes, coal turned into a sparkly stone over millions of years from pressure inside the earth. That's the explanation many of us learned, at some point. But is that really where those pricey gems come from? Whether they are clear, pink, or yellow varieties, that's just not true.
How do we know, since we couldn't observe the process? We can just measure where both materials are located. Diamonds came from 90 miles below the surface, while coal is just 2 miles down. That's a pretty big gap. Case closed!
Mount Everest Isn’t the Tallest Mountain on Earth
Mountain climbing is not a hobby everyone gets into, because it's expensive, difficult, and even dangerous. That's according to the critics, anyway. Those who love to climb speak of its benefits seeing natural beauty and getting exercise. For true adventurers, Mount Everest is on their bucket list. Some say it's the tallest mountain in the world, so it's natural that many would aspire to its peak. But is it, really?
While it is one of the highest at 29,035 feet above sea level, it is not technically number one. That honor goes to Mauna Kea in Hawaii, which is 33,500 feet tall. The problem? About half of it is underwater right now. Thus, the confusion!
The North Star Is Not the Brightest Star in Our Night Sky
The north star, sometimes called Polaris, is the star that humans have relied on for ages when they were lost in the great outdoors. How can you stay on track, when your journey takes twists and turns? Always go north, and use the star as your guide. The issue was always knowing which star actually was the right one. That's easy: It was the brightest one, some used to say.
Sounds like some people may have made some wrong turns if they relied on that advice. The North Star is not the brightest in the sky, by any means. It ranks at about 50, according to astronomers who have measured brightness formally. Number one? The dog star, also known as Sirius.
No, Chocolate Will Not Give You Acne
Eating chocolate is a delightful hobby for many. It was so sad to learn that this snack can give you pimples! Girls who struggled with acne during their teen years heard this rumor, anyway. There were always a lot of explanations about why the ugly dots wouldn't go away, no matter how many times you scrubbed and washed. It had to be the chocolate, right? Wrong. It never was.
Researchers actually tested this one to finally put the myth to bed. They fed dozens of people intense chocolate samples and gave others a placebo. In the end, there was no difference between the test groups. Thankfully!
It’s Not True That People Only Use 10% Of Their Brain
This myth has been relentless and seems to resist all debunking efforts. Is it really true that human beings use 10% of their brain? People may like the idea because it offers so much potential. If the other 90% is not even being used, imagine your abilities if you can unlock it all! The appeal is not so hard to understand. But still, it's time to understand a little bit more neurology.
We have fancy machines now, and there is no need to guesstimate. Scans show that simple activities use almost all of our brain, in one way or another. It's all interconnected, and active. Where did this silly myth even come from?
Drinking Coffee Does Not Stunt Your Growth
It's one of the most popular hot drinks in the world, and it all comes from a beautiful bean. Americans consume 400 million cups of coffee each day. How are they doing? They are the perfect test case to see if coffee stunts your growth, a common rumor. Researchers have looked into the matter and concluded that coffee can slightly limit the absorption of calcium. And yes, this mineral is related to bone health. But are Americans getting shorter, the more they drink?
So far, there has been no link between caffeine consumption and bone growth. That's the big drug in the drink, and kids get plenty of it in soft drinks and chocolate, too. As of now, Americans are not shrinking. If anything, they are getting wider. But that's another story!
It’s Just a Stubborn Myth That Bats Are Blind
Bats eat fruit or drink blood, depending on the type. They definitely poop on people, but only at night. There are all sorts of interesting things to learn about bats. For example, they can also use echolocation. Is that because they are blind? For whatever reason, they earned that reputation. Blind as a bat is an easy expression to explain impaired vision in the people we know, but was that comparison always misplaced?
Actually, it's incredibly inaccurate. Bats have small eyes and sensitive vision so they can see in conditions we think are pitch black. They don't really see color, but do you need that if you live in a cave?
You're Going to Need More Than an Apple a Day to Keep the Doctor Away
It's a tale as old as time: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Generations of folks have said this to each other, and it probably resulted in a lot of apple buys. Was the apple lobby behind this rumor? Was it the teachers' union, who wanted students to bring them a shiny apple at work? We don't know for sure. It was probably just pre-modern wisdom, and it wasn't the worst idea.
Apples do have vitamin C and fiber, but the human body needs much more than that to stay healthy for the long term. If you're going to adopt a philosophy of fruit, at least mix it up, once in a while. Have you heard bananas are full of potassium?
Chameleons Do Not Just Change Color to Match Their Surroundings
The dinosaurs were fascinating, but they're all dead and gone. What are we left with? The chameleon is the most interesting lizard we've seen lately, and we need to know more about them. Chameleons can famously change color. But why do they choose to do it, and what's the decision-making process? It seems that most people believe they adapt their pattern to match the vibes in their environment. But actually, they are not always trying to blend in.
It's not an accident that people concluded camouflage. But that's only true when they are resting. At other times, something emotional is going on. Dark colors actually communicate aggression, like when females don't want to mate. The more you know!
Drinking Milk Does Not Give You Strong Bones
Milk does a body good, the dairy companies would have you believe. Generations of Americans saw that commercial on TV, each and every day. The US Department of Agriculture still tells us that we should drink three cups a day. But with modern nutritional studies, it's possible to answer that claim with a lot of data. Is cow's milk really good for your bones, for example? The reality will surprise millions.
Although milk has calcium and vitamin D, studies show that there is no noticeable difference in bone fractures for milk drinkers and milk haters. Sounds like juice is okay in the morning if that's what you prefer.
Lemmings Do Not Jump off Cliffs in Mass Suicides Like the Video Game
Lemmings was a popular video game in the early '90s when screens had simple graphics. At this point, it's positively vintage, and not many people have an original copy. The basic idea was this: Stop all the little digital lemmings from falling off a cliff. People got the idea that the real-life creatures are pretty much the same. Is it true that lemmings commit mass suicide, on occasion? And if so, why?
Mother nature would never allow that. Critters have a survival instinct. Lemmings do sometimes do fall off cliffs, though. When they migrate, they may accidentally fall off the edge if they are not familiar with the terrain. The video game was beyond extreme!
It’s Time to Reveal That Sugar Is Not as Addictive as Heroin
For those constantly on a diet, limiting sugar is a real problem. It's delicious, it's in everything, and it's addictive. That's how it feels, anyway. Some research has shown that there are no addictive properties to the sweet stuff, though. It might be lighting up the same reward areas of the brain as cocaine and heroin, but the substance itself doesn't require more and more to get the same fix. And there's no deadly withdrawal, either.
Still, when people start eating sugar-free bread and pasta sauce, it can seem like a strain. It just doesn't taste as good! But truthfully, before companies started adding it in, humanity was okay. You will be too, after a donut detox!
No Need to Wait an Hour After Eating to Swim to Avoid Dangerous Cramps
Everyone has heard this warning before. Don't eat a big meal and immediately go swimming, or you might get a cramp. Cramps make it hard to swim, and you could drown! Perhaps the idea was that all the blood has gone to your stomach for digestion, and that makes it hard for the rest of your muscles. Sounds pretty serious. But is any of that logic medically true, at all?
Cramps do happen when swimming, sometimes. But they really have nothing to do with eating, and it's time to stop spreading falsehoods. If you do get a cramp in the water, you can always just float on your back!
Bulls Do Not Become Angry Because They See the Color Red
Spain's national sport has gone out of fashion, in recent years. Animal rights activists really hate it! Traditionally, matadors get all dressed up and prepare to fight a giant bull. The idea is that the animal should die by the end of the event, but a fight actually has to be provoked to achieve it. In front of a crowd, a big, red cloth is waved to stimulate anger. Is that what really bothers the bull?
Nay, that's just a myth. In reality, the bull is just mad at the waving fabric, and any color would produce the same reaction. Plus, they are red-green colorblind. That should really answer the question, for remaining skeptics.
You Will Not Get Warts From Touching a Toad
It's an urban legend that is hundreds of years old: Don't touch that toad, no matter how cute he is. You will get his warts, and then what will you do? Most ideas like this died off with scientific discoveries over the last century. But for whatever reason, people won't let this one go. Where do human warts come from? Maybe from touching toads. Looking at a bumpy toad, it's easy to conclude it could be contagious. Let's debunk!
Sorry, humans deal with different viruses that cause our warts. Play with toads to your heart's delight. Just don't shake hands with someone who has warts, because those do transfer. Yikes!
Honey Isn't Healthier for You Than Processed Sugar
The world is a lot more health-conscious these days, and sugar is a top concern. It's hard to resist, we must admit. But with so much diabetes in our stats, people are trying to watch their sweet tooth a bit. Maybe there is a way to enjoy dessert without raising your blood sugar. Some have suggested that honey is better processed by the body than plain old white sugar. Is there any merit to this suggestion?
No, no. Sadly, the body knows what sugar is, even if it's bee sugar. If you're eating a granola bar made with honey, it's still going to trigger a sugar process. When it comes to your health, this is not the shortcut you hoped for. Sorry, sweetie!
Humans Have Way More Than Five Senses
We always learned that five senses are the basic biology of human beings. We are all familiar with sight, smell, taste, hearing, and touch. But you may be surprised to hear that these senses are just the beginning. There is also balance and temperature. Then, there's time. Additionally, we have something called proprioception. That's awareness in our bodies that we are about the walk into something. If we do, we have another sense: Our sense of pain.
Maybe it was always just easy to teach kids the basics in a group of five. But if you really think about it, humans have a lot more to do than just eat things and listen to music.
Goldfish Have Longer Memories Than Three Seconds
Fish do not really have a reputation for intelligence. Maybe dolphins get that credit, but we all know they are mammals, and that doesn't count. The fish that are truly fish do not even get credit for having decent memory, and goldfish are the biggest example. For whatever reason, a factoid that these pets only have three-second memories went viral years ago. It sounds hard to survive that way. Is that even true?
No, goldfish are actually are smarter than you thought. Studies investigated this claim and found that they could remember things for five months or more. That's a bit better, isn't it?
Cracking Your Knuckles Doesn’t Give You Arthritis
This was yet another playground idea that made its rounds, back in the day. Kids who used to crack their knuckles would hear the warning, over and over again. If you keep doing that, you will end up with a terrible finger disease. Arthritis is not something you will experience now, but one day you will regret the cracks. In the end, of course, most of them never did. That's because arthritis has a totally different cause!
Plus, you are not really cracking your bones when you partake in popping. It's just little air pockets, which build up in your joints. From time to time, it's okay to let the air out. No harm, no foul. And no arthritis.
You Can Actually Grow New Brain Cells After All
Some parts of our bodies are constantly regenerating. Fingernails and hair grow so much we need to cut them. Skin repairs itself in a jiffy when a scratch or cut takes place. But the serious organs in our body worry us when we hear about damage. If you damage your brain, there are serious results that can change lives. Obviously, brain cells cannot grow back like healing a scab. Right?
As it turns out, you are not born with all of the brain cells you will have in your lifetime. While severe damage is not easily repaired, your brain does grow new cells as you enter adulthood. It's a process, and we are learning more and more about it all the time.
Sparkling Water Is Just as Hydrating as the Regular Stuff
In the summertime, hydration is key, We are not camels, after all. We need to drink water on a constant basis to make sure our bodies function at their peak. For whatever reason, there are people who claim to hate water. They prefer juice or coca-cola, and that's not something you need to drink all day long. Too much sugar is not the best way to get your liquids. What about soda water?
Rumor has it that fizzy water is not as hydrating as the regular stuff. That is just not true, proven in studies with athletes. Don't feel guilty because you love the bubbles. They love you, too.
Brown Sugar Isn’t Better for You Than White Sugar
White sugar is the devil, any dieter will tell you. There is no way to permanently stop sweet cravings, for too many of us. It's all about self-control and self-discipline, sadly. When we want something sugary, it will take willpower to conquer the desire. Some people wonder if there is a shortcut no one has yet promoted. Is natural brown sugar a good alternative, allowing you to indulge sometimes?
No, yet again, there is no sugar that your body will not recognize. It's just not good to overeat in this category, whether white or brown. Diabetes will not care if you explain it was all brown. Sorry, again.
There’s No Beaver Butt in Your Vanilla Cookies
Vanilla is a delightful, universal taste that seems to be in a lot of sweets. Ice cream, cookies, tarts, and even flavored lip glosses have used the bean. But in industrial production, is this flavor always authentically derived? Some people became aware of an additive from beaver behinds that tasted similar called castoreum. Disgusting, you say. But wait, is that what has been making your vanilla treats taste so good?
At around 70 dollars per pound, it's pretty expensive. Vanilla beans themselves would be less to use! If something is a poor value, companies tend to stay away. Plus, the FDA asked major companies in America if they use it, and the answer was no.