18 Common Facts and Misconceptions You Should Know

1.

When people refer to progressive tax brackets, they mean a marginal tax system whereby income between each bracket is taxed at a certain rate so that, for instance, the first $40 000 you make would be taxed at 10%, and the next $40 000 at a different rate. Someone who makes $79 999 will never earn more than someone who makes $80 001. Take the red pill...

2.

...or the blue pill.

3.

Lemmings don't commit suicide. This myth was created by the Disney film White Wilderness. For this nature documentary, the filmmakers created a device that literally hurled lemmings over a cliff.

4.

Irony refers to a situation in which the literal definition of something is the opposite of its intended meaning. Coincidence is not irony.

5.

A dog's mouth is not cleaner than a human's. Don't believe me? Smell one. Or Google it.

6.

There are 16 million thunder storms each year. Right now, there are 1,600 storms happening.

7.

Don't know which side of a car the gas tank is on? Most gauges have an arrow indicating which side.

8.

Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. If you're sick because of a virus, you're out of luck.

9.

Humans have more than five senses. For instance, we can also sense temperature, pressure, time, thirst, hunger, and equilibrium.

10.

A camel's hump is full of fat, not water. Take that, Alice!

11.

MSG is perfectly safe. Decades of scientific studies have found no evidence of an allergy to the popular flavor enhancer.

12.

Your blood is never blue, whether oxygenated or not.

13.

In 1912, an orphanage in France that needed to raise money decided to hold a raffle. The prizes? Real babies.

14.

Columbus didn't "discover" America--millions of people already lived there. In fact, he didn't even reach it. His voyage landed him in the Caribbean.

15.

Einstein never failed math. He was really good at it. Like, as good as Einstein. Duh, Einstein.

16.

Shaving will not cause hair to grow back thicker.

17.

If you experience a lot of heartburn during your pregnancy, chances are your baby will be hairy. Yup. This old wive's tale is actually true.

18.

Searing meat starts something called the Maillard reaction, which is basically chemistry jargon for "deliciousness." It definitely doesn't "seal in the juices." In fact, applying heat takes away moisture. One of the keys to making a great steak is minimizing that reduction in moisture.

19.

The tilt of the Earth's axis, not its distance to the Sun (which is a star), causes different seasons.

20.

Napoleon wasn't short. He was actually 5'7" which, at the time, was above average.