We hear them all the time—facts repeated so often that everyone assumes they’re true. But many of these so-called “facts” are actually myths, half-truths, or just plain wrong. Whether it’s something you learned in school, heard from a friend, or saw online, it’s time to set the record straight.
Here are some of the most common “facts” people believe… that aren’t true at all. Get ready to rethink what you thought you knew.
Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
Frozen fruits and vegetables are as nutritious as the fresh ones. In fact, frozen produce can be even more nutritious as they retain much of the nutrients.
Mount Everest the Tallest?
While that’s a common knowledge, you’ll be surprised to discover that Mount Everest is not the highest mountain on the planet. In fact, the tallest mountain is actually the Mauna Kea, in the US island state of Hawaii. It measures 33,500 tall. However, much of this inactive volcano is submerged in the water that it looks much smaller at 13,803 feet above sea level.
Bulls Hate Red
Not so true, because bulls are actually colorblind. So bulls will get mad at the cape’s waving movement no matter what color it is, combined with the matatdor’s taunting.
Blind as a Bat
Whoever coined that phrase “blind as a bat” really ought to see the light of truth! Bats may have small eyes, may be nocturnal and may be mostly guided by sound to hunt their prey and to find a mate. But blind? Far from it! All bats can see and in fact there are many bats that have excellent night vision.
The Banana “Tree”???
Trees are woody and have branches. Although the banana plant can grow as big as a tree, it isn’t woody nor does it have any branches. The banana “tree” is actually an herb; in fact, it is the world’s tallest herb! The famous banana fruit is technically called a berry.
Great Wall of China – Spacey?
You can see several man-made structures from space, but the Great Wall of China is not one of them! The wall is, in fact, too narrow to be visible from space. Besides, it blends with the natural contours and colors of its surroundings and thus it is indistinguishable when viewed from the space with the naked eye.
Viking Horned Helmets
There is no archaeological nor historical evidence that suggests that the Vikings wore such headdress. The image of a Viking wearing a horned helmet came from an 1876 production of Richard Wagner’s opera “Der Ring des Nibelungen.”
Don’t Swallow Bubble Gum!
When you have chewed and (accidentally) swallowed a bubble gum or a chewing gum, you assume it will remain stuck in your digestive system for as long as seven years before it finally gets digested. But here’s a myth-buster: you can’t digest it at all. Like any other indigestible object, the gum will simply pass through your system and get evicted in the form of an excrement.
Coffee Beans???
The coffee beans that you’ve known all along are, in fact, seeds. Die-hard caffeine fans should know that!
Sugar High?
Many people believe that kids become hyperactive after eating too much sugar. It’s widely accepted as fact, especially at birthday parties or after Halloween. But research has shown this isn’t true. Multiple studies have found no link between sugar intake and increased hyperactivity in children. In most cases, it’s a placebo effect — parents expect kids to act wild, so they see what they expect.
Caffeine Will Cause Dehydration
While a caffeine is a diuretic — which may cause you to pee — the effect is only mild. It doesn’t look like it heightens the risk of dehydration, so drink as much coffee as you want!
We Don’t Use All Our Brain
We use all parts of our brain, but not all at once. Every part of the brain becomes active at any given moment. Whenever we are focused on a specific task, some parts of our brain needed for that task become more active than the other parts.
Chocolate Causes Acne
Scientists have yet to find a concrete link between chocolates/fatty foods and acne. Chocolates and fatty foods per se will not make your skin to break out. However, overindulging in these kinds of foods might usurp other nutrients that are beneficial to your skin. For example, eating too much chocolate will cause one to not eat fruits and vegetables, whose vitamins are needed for glowing skin.
The Monster is Frankenstein?
In Mary Shelley’s famous novel The Modern Promotheus aka Frankenstein, Victor Frankenstein is the name of the scientist who creates a grotesque monster out of his bizarre experiments. The monster has no name.
Sydney is the Capital of Australia
Canberra may be a lesser-known city than Sydney, but would you believe that it is Australia’s capital? No? Google it!
Alcohol Will Keep You Warm
It does, but that’s just temporary. A swig or two of alcohol will lead to the dilation of the blood vessels. This action will cause warm blood to move closer to the surface of the skin, making you feel warm and even your face beet-red. At the same time though, you are losing core body heat — the kind of heat that you need to survive especially when you’re out in the cold. So this is going to be bad news for the Russians who rely on vodka for their icy fishing trips!