We all have those “facts” that we swear are true but are completely false. Today, we’re looking at 18 of the most stubborn old wives’ tales that have been passed around for ages and the truth behind them. Let’s set the record straight on some of these all-too-common misconceptions.
Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis
If you have a habit of cracking your knuckles, don’t worry about getting arthritis. That pop comes from gas bubbles that burst in your joint fluid instead of your bones, and scientists have found no solid connection between your knuckle-popping and developing arthritis. That means you can just crack away.
Chewing Gum Takes Seven Years to Digest
For some reason, many people believe that any gum you’ve swallowed sticks around in your stomach for seven long years. But that’s a complete myth, as although our body can’t digest gum, it doesn’t sit there in your stomach. Like anything else your body can’t use, it exits stage left through the usual way.
Shaving Hair Makes It Grow Back Thicker
It’s just not true that shaving your legs or face makes the hair come back thicker. When your hair grows back after shaving, it may seem thicker, but that’s because it’s shorter, and your body’s natural oils haven’t softened it yet. If you want to shave, then go ahead because it’s not making more hair grow.
Reading in Dim Light Ruins Your Eyesight
While it’s harder to see and might tire your eyes out faster, reading in dim light isn’t actually doing any lasting harm. Of course, give your eyes a break if needed, but remember that you’re not causing permanent damage. Perhaps you should just turn on a lamp to make it easier on them and you.
Humans Swallow Eight Spiders a Year in Their Sleep
Thankfully, the idea that we swallow eight spiders a year in our sleep isn’t true at all. Spiders aren’t interested in exploring your mouth, and, in fact, they typically avoid humans. No scientific evidence shows they go anywhere near us, so don’t worry about sleeping with your mouth wide open.
The Great Wall of China Is Visible From Space
As cool as it sounds, the Great Wall of China actually isn’t visible from space with the naked eye. We’ve even had astronauts confirm this; barely any manmade structures can be seen up there. Instead, it seems this myth came from a place of national pride rather than a fact. Either way, it’s still an impressive construction.
Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
We might talk about lightning “never striking twice,” but the Empire State Building might tell you otherwise. It gets hit roughly 25 times a year. Lightning can hit anywhere, although it prefers high and pointy objects, making some places more likely to be struck multiple times. This saying is just completely untrue.
Humans Have Five Senses
We teach kids that humans have five senses in schools, simplifying things too much. Besides tasting, touching, smelling, seeing, and hearing, we also sense balance, temperature, and even pain. That’s more than five, and there are probably other senses we don’t know about.
Bats Are Blind
The saying “Blind as a bat” is another one that couldn’t be further from the truth. Bats can see and use echolocation to get around in the dark. In fact, their “sight” is so good that they can dodge obstacles and eat up bugs in pitch darkness, meaning that bats are anything but blind.
It’s Unsafe to Wake a Sleepwalker
If you’re worried about waking a sleepwalker, don’t be. While it might surprise them, it’s actually safer to gently guide them back to bed than let them wander into harm. Sleepwalkers can accidentally hurt themselves or get into dangerous situations, so nudging them awake and taking them back to bed is the best way to keep them safe.
Bulls Hate the Color Red
Bulls are actually colorblind to red, so there’s absolutely no way that they hate it. What gets them going is the cape’s movement, meaning matadors could just as easily wave a blue or green cape, and the bulls would react the same way. Their instinct is to chase moving objects, not specific colors.
Swimming After Eating Causes Cramps
Swimming after eating doesn’t really increase your chances of cramps, and this myth probably started to stop kids from getting too excited right at pool parties. The body diverts blood to the stomach to help with digestion, but not enough to affect your muscles in water. Feel free to jump into the pool after eating.
Coffee Stunts Your Growth
The myth that coffee will stunt your growth is another that was probably meant to help kids. There’s no evidence that coffee affects growth, and while it might keep you from sleeping, it won’t keep you from growing tall. Plus, since so many adults drink coffee daily, you’d think we would’ve noticed that everyone started shrinking.
Dogs Sweat by Salivating
Dogs don’t actually sweat through their tongues when they pant, despite what you might think. When dogs pant, they’re actually cooling off by letting heat escape to cool down, as a dog’s sweat glands are mostly in their paws. Thankfully, we don’t have to do that because humans just sweat things out instead.
You Lose Most Body Heat Through Your Head
There’s a popular belief that you lose most of your body heat through your head, which is why we should wear hats. But that’s not exactly true, as you lose body heat through any exposed body part. Instead, it seems like your head loses more because it’s usually the one that’s least covered.
Dropping a Penny From a Tall Building Can Kill Someone
For whatever reason, some people believe that dropping a penny from the top of a skyscraper could kill a person walking below. Physics, though, says otherwise. Thanks to its shape and mass, a penny gathers limited speed when falling, and it’s nowhere near enough to cause severe harm. It’ll sting if it hits you, but it’s not lethal.
If You Touch a Baby Bird, Its Mother Will Reject It
Is there anything cuter than a baby bird? Don’t worry about picking one up, as the idea that its mom would reject it because it smells like a human is false. Most birds actually have a pretty terrible sense of smell and won’t abandon their babies just because a human touched them. Of course, it’s always best to be cautious and avoid handling wildlife.
MSG Causes Headaches and Other Symptoms
MSG, or monosodium glutamate, has a bad reputation, especially since so many health influences claim it’ll give you headaches. Recent studies, though, have shown that MSG is generally safe for most people. It’s more likely this misconception came from outdated studies and anecdotal reports.
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