Myths are everywhere and the reason for that is that people tend to think they’re smarter than they really are. There are myths about the common cold, myths about hangover, about food, pretty much about everything there is! If you enjoyed Discovery Channel’s Mythbusters then you’ll most likely enjoy our little article about common myths debunked. We don’t care who you heard it from, your mother, your friends, your doctor or your teacher, the following myths are just that: myths. Read on and tell us what you think.
10. Cracking Your Knuckles Gives You Arthritis
Studies have been made and they’ve shown that cracking your knuckles does not lead to arthritis, only maybe to the irritation of those around you. But don’t celebrate just yet, long periods of cracking will lead to a lower grip strength, so chill and give your hands a break.
9. A Duck’s Quack Doesn’t Echo
Pretty silly, right? Well, it’s a myth! Why would a duck’s quack not echo? Ducks aren’t all that special! In fact their quack does echo, but only faintly. I believe this one started because ducks are found in places that aren’t too echo-friendly, such as marshes. If you want to hear a duck’s quack echo, get one and go in an empty building. Or you can simply take our word for it.
8. Nails And Hair Continue To Grow After You Die
Another common myth debunked! When you die your hair and nails simply can’t grow because… well, you’re dead. What sparked this myth was the fact that once the body enters the decomposition state, the moisture is lost from the body, causing the skin to recede, thus making the hair and nails appear longer.
7. You Can Trick a Breathalyzer
There is absolutely no way you can mask the alcohol vapors from your breath from being detected by a breathalyzer! None! The Mythbusters tested this one and they debunked it after trying to trick the breathalyzer using onions, sucking on a penny and even using mouthwash (which, if it contains alcohol, makes matters worse). Besides, if the police believe you might be drunk, they can always ask for a blood test and good luck trying to trick that one!
6. Your Cell Phone Could Trigger An Explosion at a Gas Station
This myth couldn’t be further from the truth. I mean do you really believe that something as innocuous as a cell phone could trigger an explosion with a bit of gas fumes?! The static discharge that may occur when you get out of the car has a better chance of doing that!
5. Goldfish Have a Three Second Memory
Basically this myth tells us that goldfish are similar to me coming home on a Sunday morning after a night of debauchery. But they really aren’t! They’re actually smarter that you think – there have been numerous researches done on goldfish (including one by the Mythbusters) that showed that goldfish could be trained. This means that their memory is longer than three seconds (they even remembered how to do things five months after they were taught how to do it). Pretty sad news, isn’t it?
4. A Coin Thrown Off the Empire State Building Could Kill You
They say that gravity will cause a falling coin to accelerate to speeds that will cause damage to wherever it lands, but you need to know that an object needs more than speed to cause it to turn into a dangerous object… mass is important also. If a coin thrown off the Empire State Building hits you on the head, it will hurt a bit, but it will not kill you! Not in a million years!
3. The Five-Second Rule
The five-second rule will save you from being the butt of the joke when you drop some food on the floor and you just don’t want to throw it away. But it’s just a myth. Do you really think that bacteria will wait for five seconds before invading your bagel? Are you really that hungry that you are willing to compromise your health? If not, then be an adult about it and don’t believe this nonsense of a rule.
2. Albert Einstein Was Bad at Math
This is another thing we’ve been hearing all our lives, that in fact, Albert Einstein was bad at math. But is there any truth to that statement? Actually not so much. He said it himself that he never failed mathematics and was mastering advanced math before the age of fifteen. Maybe this myth started due to the fact that he fail to pass the exam for the Swiss Federal Polytechnic School in 1895 (he was two years younger than his fellow colleagues).
1. Standing in the Cold Will Give You a Cold
Standing in the cold will make you cold, but it will not give you a cold, because viruses are responsible for colds, not cold weather. It’s hard to believe, isn’t it? Especially if you’ve been told this all your life, but it is true. So, the next time you’re sitting in the cold feeling crappy, relax, you’ll get home be all warm again and nothing’s going to happen to you.
Did you enjoy our common myths debunked? Do you have any more common myths you’d like to share with us? Then drop us a line in the comment section below, we’d love to hear from you!
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