As we grow up, and even into adulthood, we encounter information about our world from those around us. Unfortunately, not all the so-called ‘facts’ perpetuated by society are grounded in scientific fact; many are based on misinterpretation or misunderstanding or have long since been debunked. Here are 18 of the most widely believed inaccuracies in America.
Sugar Makes Kids Hyperactive
This belief has caused many parents to restrict sugary treats for their children, hoping they will be less energetic and wild. If only it were that easy! WebMD writes, “The notion that food can have an effect on behavior grew popular in 1973 when allergist Benjamin Feingold, M.D., published the Feingold Diet.” Although he advocated a low-sugar diet free from food colorings, recent research has found no significant link between rowdy kids and sugary foods.
Reading in Low Light Damages Your Eyes
While reading in meager light is problematic for obvious reasons, the eye strain and discomfort it can cause are entirely temporary and won’t lead to permanent damage or changes in your vision. Despite this, ophthalmologists recommend using a designated reading light when reading in gloomy places to prevent eye fatigue and concentration headaches.
Being Cold Makes You Sick
Mothers often tell their children to stay warm and dry in order “not to catch cold,” but this advice is based on a myth. The common cold is caused by a virus that prefers low temperatures and invades the human body more easily when dry winter air thins the mucus membranes in our noses. Being extremely cold may lead to hypothermia, but it can’t magically infect you with a virus.
Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis
Harvard Health asserts that cracking your knuckles may aggravate those around you, but it won’t damage your joints or cause long-term problems like arthritis. The unnerving sound is caused by gas bubbles popping within the synovial fluid that lubricates your joints. While some studies suggest it may weaken your grip strength, there’s no evidence it leads to arthritis.
Eating Carrots Improves Your Night Vision
The myth comes from the high beta-carotene content of orange-colored vegetables (like carrots and sweet potatoes), which the body converts to vitamin A. This vitamin is essential for healthy eyesight, including low-light vision, and a deficiency can negatively impact your sight. However, an abundance won’t make you superhuman (no matter how many orange veggies you eat!).
Lightning Never Strikes Twice in the Same Place
This saying makes for a good proverb regarding the likelihood of repeat events, but it’s not scientifically accurate. Electricity takes the ‘path of least resistance’ to the ground, so lightning often strikes the tallest object in an area and is very likely to hit the same place multiple times, especially things like tall trees, skyscrapers, or lightning rods.
Shaving Makes Hair Grow Back Thicker
Many people believe shaving body hair makes it grow thicker, coarser, and darker than before. Although this may seem true, it’s an illusion. The re-grown hair feels sharper initially because it has a flat, blunt end where it was cut (not tapered). It may also appear darker if previous hair was sun-bleached. But it’s still the same texture and color as before.
All Birds Can See in the Dark
Most birds, particularly daytime birds like songbirds and seagulls, don’t have exceptional night vision. Bird Fact asserts that the only birds with superior night vision are nocturnal species, like owls, who have more rods than cones in their retinas. If disturbed from their roosts during darkness, most birds rely on other senses, like smell and hearing, to navigate their surroundings.
Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees
This proverb is designed to discourage unrealistic financial expectations and is often used when parents are explaining to their children why they can’t have something expensive. Although real cash doesn’t grow on trees, one of the world’s most expensive food ingredients (truffles) does. These prized fungi grow on tree roots and are sniffed out by trained pigs and dogs.
Bulls are Enraged by the Color Red
While a bullfighter’s cape is traditionally red, the bull isn’t enraged by the color red during this traditional Spanish bloodsport. Bulls are dichromatic, meaning they only see two primary colors: blue and yellow. When shaken, the cape (muleta) triggers a charging response because the bull’s brain associates sudden movement with danger and releases adrenaline, prompting a ‘fight or flight’ response.
Diamonds are the Hardest Substance on Earth
Diamonds are incredibly strong and scratch-resistant, ranking ten on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness (the highest number). However, Forbes asserts that the carbon allotrope lonsdaleite is 58% harder than diamond. It’s created when graphite in meteorites is heated and compressed on impact, producing a type of diamond that retains the more robust hexagonal structure of graphite.
Chewing Gum Takes Seven Years to Digest
This cautionary tale from childhood led to some very careful chewing and swallowing! While not digestible, chewing gum passes relatively quickly through the human digestive system if accidentally swallowed. It may take a bit longer to eliminate from your body than ‘real’ food, but it won’t reside in your stomach for seven years or even seven days!
Bats are Blind
Bats use a form of biosonar called echolocation to navigate and locate prey at night, but they aren’t entirely blind. While bats lack the sharp color vision that humans enjoy, they have small, light-sensitive eyes that are great at making out shapes in very low-light conditions, like the caves they often roost in. Basically, their eyesight capabilities suit their nocturnal needs.
Breakfast is the Most Important Meal of the Day
The accuracy of this dietary advice depends on your age and lifestyle, and some people find fasting until lunch gives them more morning energy and focus. While skipping breakfast may be detrimental for young children, what you eat is generally more important than when you eat it. So long as you’re eating a healthy, balanced, and nutritious diet, the timing of meals isn’t critical.
We Only Use 10% of Our Brains
This long-perpetuated myth originates from the fact that no animal brain is designed to be used all at once. That’s the equivalent of turning on every single light and electrical appliance in your home at maximum power! Just because you don’t use all of your brain simultaneously doesn’t mean you don’t use all of it. Indeed, more than 10% of it is frequently used during waking hours.
Leftovers Cause Food Poisoning
Leftovers are a delicious, convenient, and budget-friendly way to avoid food waste, but some people believe they can cause food poisoning. Proper storage, timing, and reheating are necessary, but most leftovers are entirely safe to consume over the following days. Store them in airtight containers in the fridge within two hours of cooking, and reheat to 165°F to kill bacteria.
You Must Drink Eight Glasses of Water a Day
This is more of a guideline than a daily goal, and you’re unlikely to become dehydrated if you fall short. Human water needs depend on size, activity level, health, and the climate you live in. The food you eat also has an impact, with moist foods like juicy fruits and soups also contributing to fluid intake. So long as you don’t feel thirsty, you’re probably getting enough water.
Goldfish Have a Memory Span of 3 Seconds
Goldfish may not be the most intelligent animals, but their memory isn’t limited to seconds. The expression “I have the memory of a goldfish” to express forgetfulness is a bit unfair. Studies show that goldfish can remember complex tasks (like navigating mazes to get a treat) for months and can also be trained to perform tricks like following a target or jumping through hoops.
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