We all believe in things, that we her from our parents, teachers or in news on TV. Unfortunately, it does not mean they are all true. Some information’s are just passed on, by generations, mainly due to miseducation, or to the quantity of repeats. Even the biggest lie, repeat 1000 times, will make people believe it is true. The misconceptions are common beliefs, about every sphere of our life. They are not particularly dangerous to our wellbeing, even thou, they will make us think and act differently in some situations, due to their false nature. So, for today, I have decided to put together the list of most popular, and well known, misconceptions. Here we go!
- Twinkies have a shelf life of approximately 45 days (25 in their original formulation)—far shorter than the common myth that Twinkies have no expiration date and will never expire.
- Earthworms do not become two worms when cut in half. When they are cut, only the front half of the worm (where the mouth is located) can feed and survive, while the other half will die.
- Cats and dogs are not colorblind. They can see the shades of gray, blue and yellow.
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG) does not trigger migraine headaches or other symptoms of so-called Chinese restaurant syndrome.
- The forbidden fruit mentioned in the Book of Genesis is never identified as an apple. It was never mentioned as any specific types of fruit.
- Seeds are not the spiciest part of chili peppers. In fact, the highest concentration of capsaicin is in the pith) (placental tissue), to which the seeds are connected. Seeds by itself contain a low amount of capsaicin.
- Tomato juice is ineffective at eliminating the smell of a skunk.
- Contrary to the popular belief, Julius Caesar (Roman dictator), was not born via caesarean section. The caesarean section was not named after Caesar either. What is more probable, is that the name of the procedure is derived from the Roman verb caedere, meaning “to cut”.
- The melody of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”, the “Alphabet Song”, and “Baa, Baa, Black Sheep” was not composed by Mozart when he was 5 years old; it was already a popular French folklore melody.
- Statues in ancient Greece and Rome, were not pure and snowy white. Against the popular belief they were brightly colored, adorned with gems, and abundant decorations.
- Napoleon Bonaparte was not so short as you may think. Actually. He was slightly taller than the average Frenchman of his time. His height was recorded as 5 feet 2 inches in French feet, which in English measurements is 5 feet 7 inches (1.70 m).
- Mice do not have a particular taste for cheese; they will eat it only for absence of healthier options. Mice, in fact, prefer favor sweet and sugary foods.
- Great white sharks do not mistake human divers for seals and sea lions. Their striking tactics are vastly different: when attacking a seal, it is quick and violent attack; when it comes to humans the shark charges at a normal pace, bites, and swims off.
- Sign languages are not the same worldwide. Aside from the International Sign language, each country generally has its own native sign language, and some have more than one.
- Peanuts are not nuts! They belong to legumes family (together with beans and peas)
- Cinco de Mayo is not Mexico’s Independence Day. It is in fact celebration of the Mexican Army’s victory over the French army in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862.
- Satan is not the ruler of Hell. This in never mention in the Bible.
- Bulls are not infuriated by the bright red colored capes, used by professional matadors. Cattle are dichromats, so red does not stand out as a bright color.
- The Great Wall of China is not, as is declared, the only human-made object visible from space or from the face of the Moon. The only thing you can see is the white and blue marble of our planet.
- Humans did not evolve from Chimpanzees or Baboons. All of them evolved, in fact, from common ancestor.
- There is no scientific proof, of rapid muscle cramps, if you will swim just after eating.
- Ostriches do not stick their heads in the sand to hide from enemies or to sleep.
- Mammals did not evolve from reptiles. In fact, mammals and reptiles evolved from a common ancestor.
- Waking up a sleepwalker (lunatic, from “Luna” meaning moon), will make them confused, but will not harm them in any way.
- Coffee does not come from beans. “Coffee beans”, are in fact seed of coffee berries.
- Mama bird will not abandon its baby, after it was touch by a human.
- Bats are not blind. They rely on their echolocation abilities (in more than 70 %), nevertheless, they have eyes and can see.
- A penny dropped from the Empire State Building would not kill a person or crack the sidewalk,
- Human blood in veins is not blue. Hemoglobin is the substance responsible for giving blood its red color. Even thou, when you look at your arm, the veins appearing blue under your skin.
- Espresso has about the same amount caffeins, as a regular cup of coffee.
- Shaving, or cutting your hair, does not make them grow thicker and stronger.
- There are no distinctive zones, on human tongue, to recognize five (not four) flavors. Except salty, sweet, bitter, and sour, there is also umami (rich savory meaty taste profile).
- Pulling out one gray hair, does not make it grow two grays in its place.
- Giving sugar to kids, does not make them extra hyperactive.
- Searing does not keep the moisture in meat; in fact, it causes it to lose some moisture. Meat is seared only to brown it, which improvs its color and flavor.
- Christopher Columbus never reached America. All his trips lead him to the Caribbean.
- Chameleons change their color to match their mood and temperature. Against popular belief, they do not change it to match the surroundings.
- Most adult cats are lactose intolerant and drinking cow’s milk is not so good for them.
- Our mental abilities are not completely dependable from left or right brain side. The exact separation does not exist.
- Carrots do not have a superpower to let you see better (they will help with Vitamin A deficiency, by improving the vision quality).
- Dogs do not sweat by salivating. They have sweat glands located on the bottom of their feet, between the soft cushions.
- Pigs are not dirty animals. They do not have sweat glands, so the only way of cooling the body, is to cover the skin with cold mud.
- Humans do not loose body heat through head surface.
- The water that was salted wont boil faster.
Thanks