From misattributed quotes to false facts, we’ve all been victims of misinformation at some point. We’ve even spread false information thinking it was fact. This is more evident now in the age of social media. Many of us find ourselves fact checking everything through reliable sources. It can get daunting. Especially for those of us who run this site. When we scour the web for interesting content, we consistently find just as many false ‘facts’ as actual facts. We have even setup a category for them.
Many “Facts” sites are littered with misinformation. The few people who run this site (including myself), fact check everything before we publish. We take pride in this. That isn’t to say some may have slipped though the cracks, though. In which case, please let us know if you find any. If you find misinformation on this site, we’ll verify it, write a retraction and publish an article on the subject.
Let’s take a look at some of the more common myths floating around the web that are published as fact.
Myth: The color red makes bulls angry
Bulls can’t see the color red. It’s more likely the matador’s taunting is angering the bull.
Myth: Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis.
Cracking your knuckles will not give you arthritis. It’s not even your knuckles that are cracking. It’s the formation of bubbles between your knuckles. It’s like your built-in bubble-wrap.
Myth: MSG is bad for your health
There have been articles blaming MSG (monosodium glutamate) for ill health effects dating back to 1969. MSG is a common flavor enhancing ingredient used in many Asian cuisines. It’s very similar to table salt. Like salt, eating it in very large quantities is ill advised. There is no evidence to suggest eating a reasonable amount is harmful (with the exception of allergies of course). Bottom line, everything should be consumed in moderation.
Myth: Vikings wore horned helmets
The famous cool looking horned helmets of the vikings were an invention of 19th century theater and art portrayals.
Myth: Sitting clos to the TV will damage your eyes
This myth has been around for well over half a century. Granted, older TVs emitted higher radiation levels which could’ve damaged your eyes through prolonged exposure. However, this has been rectified in modern television sets. All this being said, it can still cause strain on your eyes and give you a headache as a result.
Myth: Napoleon was short
At about 1.68 meters, Napoleon was the average height of a Frenchman during that time.
Myth: A penny dropped from a skyscraper could kill
It may hurt a little, but it certainly wouldn’t kill you. Many have researched this through experiments. Terminal velocity has been clocked between 25-35 mph. Such a drop is nowhere near fatal. This doesn’t mean you should dump a jar of pennies off the Empire State Building, though.
Myth: Three wise men visited Jesus
The bible never stated how many wise men visited Jesus on his birth. It’s believed this myth began as a correlation between the wise men and number of gifts (3) Jesus received.
Myth: Hair grows faster and thicker after shaving
I’ll admit, I was victim to this myth for years. Fact is, it’s not a fact. According to the Mayo Clinic, the hair may appear darker, coarser and more noticeable, but that’s only because the tip is blunt from shaving. It’s an illusion.
Myth: It takes years for gum to digest
Nah. If you happen to swallow gum, most of it will pass through your system. The remainder will be absorbed into your body. However, if you’re crazy enough to swallow multiple packs of gum at once, you might clog your digestive system.
Myth: We only use 10% of our brains
Again. I’ve been victim to this one as well. We actually use most or all of our brain. It’s noted that only portions of our brain can be active at any given moment, but most of it is active over a 24 hour period. How this myth has endured is anyone’s guess.
Myth: You cannot grow new brain cells
Sure you can. There’s even a word for it: neurogenesis. Neurogenesis is the process in which new neurons are formed.
Myth: Your fingernails and hair will continue to grow after you die
When a human dies, the process of decomposition will cause the skin to thin and recede creating the illusion of growth.
Myth: You can see the Great Wall of China from space.
According to NASA, you can’t. At least you can’t with the unaided eye. Through a camera lens or telescope you could.
Myth: Poinsettias are deadly if you eat them
Poinsettias may give you an upset stomach, but they are far from poisonous. Apparently a child died next to a Poinsettia plant over a hundred years ago, and people blamed the poor plant. According to Poison Control, researchers couldn’t find the poisonous dose of the plant. They gave up experimenting at 1.25 pounds (500-600) leaves.
Myth: Don’t touch baby birds
“Don’t touch a baby bird or its mother will reject it”. This is untrue. Bird parents don’t recognize their young by smell. According to National Geographic, this is far from the truth.
Myth: You have to wait 24 hours to file a missing persons report
This is absolutely not the case. If you fear for the person’s safety, you should definitely file a missing persons report. I often wonder how many people have been harmed or worse because someone assumed they had to wait 24 hours.
Myth: Iron maidens used as medieval torture devices
Iron maidens didn’t even exist until the early 19th century. Even then they were just exhibition pieces.
Myth: Goldfish have memories that last seconds
Scientists have discovered goldfish can retain memories for months, not seconds. By using a certain sound and associating it with feeding, they found the fish would remember this sound months later.
Myth: Bats are “Blind as a bat”
Bats are not blind. Sure, bats use echolocation (sonar) as a method of “seeing”, but their eyes work just fine as well. The combination of the two make bats extremely good at locating prey.
Myth: Touching a toad or frog could give you warts
If this were true, I’d be covered in warts as a result of my childhood. If you have warts, you contracted them from contact with another human. Warts are caused by the papillomavis, and it’s unique to our species.
Myth: Ostriches stick their heads in the sand when threatened
Ostriches will sometime fall flat on the ground when threatened, but they can be fierce. Especially when protecting their young. Their sharp talons are powerful enough to kill the most menacing lion.
Myth: Dogs are colorblind
Dogs can see color. They just don’t see the full rainbow spectrum of colors. They can see in shades of blue and yellow as well as blacks and grays. Since dogs cannot see red, they will not see orange, violet and other red spectrum colors.
Myth: Organic food is free from pesticides & chemicals
Organic does not mean it’s free from chemicals. To still be called organic, farmers are allowed to use chemicals from a natural origin. In some cases, these products are worse for the environment. Also, in almost 100,000 studies, there is no definitive proof that organic foods are more nutritious. Also, cyanide is organic, but that doesn’t mean it’s good for you.
Myth: Chocolate causes acne
There have been numerous experiments and studies pertaining to the correlation between chocolate and acne. The conclusion being chocolate cannot cause acne or make it worse. The origin of this myth is unknown, but most likely originated from parents.
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