Many popular beliefs and myths might seem true at first glance, but science shows a different reality. What we commonly think we know may not always hold up under scientific scrutiny, as research often disproves these widely accepted ideas.
From everyday ideas to old legends, here are the truths behind these misconceptions and explain why science tells us otherwise.
1. Lightning Never Hits the Same Spot More Than Once
Lightning can, and often does, strike the same place multiple times, especially tall structures like skyscrapers, trees, or towers. For example, the Empire State Building is hit by lightning around 20-25 times a year. (ref)
2. You Only Tap into 10% of Your Brain’s Potential
Brain imaging studies show that we use almost all parts of our brain, even while resting. Each part of the brain has a known function, and the idea that 90% goes unused is a misconception.
The brain has an amazing ability to change, called plasticity. Whenever we make a new memory, learn a person’s name, pick up a new skill, or even just eat breakfast, our brains adapt and change. (ref)
3. A Penny Dropped from the Empire State Building Could Be Deadly
A penny falling from such a height wouldn’t be dangerous because of air resistance. It would reach a terminal velocity that isn’t fast enough to cause fatal harm.
According to researchers, if a penny or any other object were dropped from the Empire State Building in an airless environment, it would hit the ground at about 210 mph.(ref) But since it would encounter air resistance, the speed would be much slower.
4. Cracking Your Knuckles Leads to Arthritis
Studies have shown no direct link between cracking knuckles and arthritis. The popping sound is caused by the release of gas from the joint fluid, and while it might annoy people, it doesn’t increase your risk of developing arthritis. (ref)
5. Sugar Makes Kids Hyperactive
Numerous studies have found no strong evidence that sugar causes hyperactivity in children. While sugar can provide a temporary energy boost, factors like excitement or environment are more likely to influence hyperactivity in kids.(ref)
6. Goldfish Can Only Remember Things for Three Seconds
Goldfish actually have much longer memories than three seconds. Research shows they can remember things for weeks or even months, have the ability to estimate distance, and be trained to recognize patterns and routines. (ref)
7. Shaving Causes Hair to Grow Back Thicker
Shaving does not affect hair thickness, color, or rate of growth. (ref) The hair may feel coarser when it grows back because the razor cuts the hair at an angle, making it seem thicker, but it isn’t actually changing its texture.
8. The Great Wall of China Can Be Seen from Space
The Great Wall of China is not visible to the naked eye from space. While it’s long, it’s also quite narrow and blends in with the natural landscape, making it difficult to see without magnification. (ref)
9. Humans Only Have Five Senses
In addition to the traditional five senses (sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell), humans have other senses like balance, temperature, pain, and body position (proprioception). Altogether, scientists recognize more than five senses. (ref)
10. Bulls are Enraged by the Color Red
Bulls are colorblind to red. Cattle don’t have the ability to see red because their eyes lack the red color receptor. They can only see colors like yellow, green, blue, and violet. (ref)
What actually angers them in bullfights is the movement of the cape, not its color. They react to the motion, not the color itself. (ref)
11. Bats Can’t See
Bats are not blind. While some species rely on echolocation to navigate in the dark, they still have functioning eyes and can see, especially in low light conditions. (ref) Many bats have good vision, particularly fruit bats, which rely on sight to find food.
12. Alcohol Makes You Feel Warmer
Alcohol gives a false sense of warmth by making blood move closer to the skin’s surface, but it actually lowers your core body temperature. Drinking alcohol in cold weather can increase the risk of hypothermia, as your body loses heat faster. (ref)
13. Gum Takes Seven Years to Digest in Your Stomach
Gum does not stay in your stomach for seven years. While it’s true that gum can’t be fully broken down by digestive enzymes, it passes through the digestive system like other food and is eventually excreted. (ref)
14. Hair & Nails Continue to Grow after You Die
After death, hair and nails do not keep growing. What actually happens is that the skin dries out and shrinks, making it appear as though hair and nails are getting longer, but they aren’t growing. (ref)
15. A Coin Toss Gives an Equal Chance to Both Sides
A coin toss is not perfectly fair. Studies show that there’s a slight bias depending on how the coin is flipped and the starting position. The side facing up when the coin is tossed has a slightly higher chance of landing face-up. (ref)
16. Being Cold Gives You a Cold
Simply being cold doesn’t cause a cold. Colds are caused by viruses, not by temperature. However, cold weather can weaken the immune system and make it easier for viruses to spread, which might increase your chances of getting sick if you’re exposed to the virus. (ref)
17. Chameleons Change Their Color to Match Their Surroundings
Chameleons don’t change color solely to blend in with their surroundings. They change color for various reasons, including communication, temperature regulation, and stress.
While they can adapt their color to some extent to their environment, it’s not the primary reason for their color change. (ref)
18. The Five-Second Rule Keeps Food Safe after Being Dropped
The five-second rule doesn’t ensure food safety. Bacteria can transfer to food instantly upon contact with a contaminated surface, regardless of how long the food has been on the ground.
Food safety depends more on the cleanliness of the surface than the time it spends there. (ref)
19. Sugar Directly Causes Diabetes
Eating sugar alone doesn’t directly cause diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is influenced by multiple factors, including overall diet, weight, and genetics.
High sugar intake can contribute to weight gain, which is a risk factor for diabetes, but sugar itself isn’t the sole cause. (ref)
20. Humans Descended from Monkeys
Humans did not directly evolve from monkeys. Instead, humans and monkeys share a common ape ancestor with chimpanzees. These ancestors lived about six to eight million years ago. (ref)
Over the course of the years, different evolutionary paths led to the development of modern humans and modern monkeys.
Science helps us see through the fog of popular myths and misconceptions. By debunking these widely held beliefs, we have a clearer understanding of how the world really works.
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Nancy Maffia
Nancy received a bachelor’s in biology from Elmira College and a master’s degree in horticulture and communications from the University of Kentucky. Worked in plant taxonomy at the University of Florida and the L. H. Bailey Hortorium at Cornell University, and wrote and edited gardening books at Rodale Press in Emmaus, PA. Her interests are plant identification, gardening, hiking, and reading.
