From the mind-bending black holes in “Interstellar” to the exaggerated dangers of space debris in “Gravity,” pop culture has a way of perpetuating misconceptions about the cosmos.
A recent study by the National Science Foundation revealed that only 74% of Americans know that the Earth orbits the sun,1 highlighting the prevalence of these space myths.
Here are 14 common misconceptions about the universe, separating fact from fiction.
Myth 1: The Sun is Yellow
Truth: Despite popular belief, the sun is not actually yellow. It emits light in all colors, which combines to create white light.
The Earth’s atmosphere scatters blue light more effectively, leading to the perception of a yellow sun. In reality, the sun is classified as a white main-sequence G-type star.
Myth 2: The Asteroid Belt is Hazardous
Truth: Contrary to movie depictions, the Asteroid Belt between Mars and Jupiter is not a dense field of tumbling rocks. In fact, the asteroids in this region are sparsely distributed, and their total mass is only about 4% that of Earth’s moon.
Collisions between asteroids are rare events that excite astronomers.
Myth 3: Space is Weightless
Truth: While astronauts appear weightless in space, this is not due to a lack of gravity. The sensation of weightlessness occurs when an object is in a state of continuous free-fall around another object, such as the International Space Station orbiting Earth at 17,500 mph (28,163 km/h).
Myth 4: Nuking an Asteroid Would Destroy it
Truth: Detonating a nuclear weapon on an asteroid would likely break it into smaller pieces rather than vaporizing it completely. However, some researchers propose that a carefully designed nuclear attack could alter an asteroid’s course by irradiating its surface and releasing gases. (ref)
Myth 5: Summer is Warmer Because Earth is Closer to the Sun
Truth: Earth is actually farthest from the sun during the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. The warmer temperatures are a result of Earth’s tilt, which causes the sun’s rays to hit the surface more directly during summer months.
Myth 6: The Moon Has a Dark Side
Truth: The moon is tidally locked to Earth, meaning one side always faces our planet. However, both sides of the moon experience day and night cycles lasting about two Earth weeks each.
The term “dark side” is a misnomer, as both sides receive sunlight at different times.
Myth 7: NASA’s Budget is Nearly 25% of the Government’s Spending
Truth: NASA’s budget peaked in 1966 at 4.4% of the U.S. gross domestic product (GDP) during the Apollo program. Since then, it has averaged around 1% of the GDP, never reaching the mythical 25% mark. (ref)
Imagine the possibilities if space exploration received such a significant portion of government funding!
Myth 8: Astronauts Buried Their Waste on the Moon
Truth: Contrary to popular belief, NASA astronauts did not bury their feces on the lunar surface. Instead, they wore diapers during moonwalks and disposed of waste back in the lunar module.
The lack of hot water in the module meant astronauts had to wait until returning to Earth for a proper cleanup.
Myth 9: Space is Silent
Truth: While space lacks a medium for sound waves to travel through, not all space missions are entirely silent. Within a spacecraft, sound can be transmitted through the structure itself.
However, the epic space battles with laser sounds and explosions depicted in science fiction are purely imaginative.
Myth 10: The Sun is a Burning Ball of Fire
Truth: The sun is not on fire in the traditional sense. Instead, it generates energy through nuclear fusion in its core, converting hydrogen into helium.
This process releases energy in the form of light and heat without requiring oxygen, which is necessary for combustion.
Myth 11: Humans Would Explode in the Vacuum of Space
Truth: Although space is a near-vacuum, a human exposed to it would not explode. The tight elasticity of human skin prevents the body from bursting.
However, the lack of pressure would cause the body to swell, and dissolved gases in the blood would form bubbles, leading to circulation blockage and eventual death.
Myth 12: NASA Spent Millions Developing a Space Pen
Truth: The story of NASA spending millions on a space pen while Soviet astronauts used pencils is a myth. NASA initially used pencils in space, as evidenced by an order for 34 mechanical pencils in 1965.
The Fisher Pen Company independently developed the Anti-Gravity Space Pen, which both NASA and the Soviets later adopted.
Myth 13: The Universe is Only Made Up of What We Can See
Truth: The visible universe, which includes all the stars, galaxies, and other objects we can observe with telescopes, makes up only a small fraction of the total universe.
Scientists believe that the vast majority of the universe is composed of dark matter and dark energy, (ref) which cannot be directly observed but can be inferred from their gravitational effects on visible matter.
Myth 14: Black Holes Suck Up Everything Nearby
Truth: Black holes do not act like cosmic vacuum cleaners, indiscriminately sucking up everything in their vicinity. Instead, they are more like cosmic “Venus flytraps,” remaining dormant until an object, such as a star, ventures too close.
Only then does the black hole become active, potentially tearing the object apart.
Source:
1. NPR
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.
