18 Common Facts and Misconceptions You Should Know
1.
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.
2.
Irony refers to a situation in which the literal definition of something is the opposite of its intended meaning. Coincidence is not irony.
5.
Don't know which side of a car the gas tank is on? Most gauges have an arrow indicating which side.
6.
Antibiotics are only effective against bacterial infections. If you're sick because of a virus, you're out of luck.
7.
Humans have more than five senses. For instance, we can also sense temperature, pressure, time, thirst, hunger, and equilibrium.
9.
MSG is perfectly safe. Decades of scientific studies have found no evidence of an allergy to the popular flavor enhancer.
11.
In 1912, an orphanage in France that needed to raise money decided to hold a raffle. The prizes? Real babies.
12.
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.
13.
Einstein never failed math. He was really good at it. Like, as good as Einstein. Duh, Einstein.
15.
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.
16.
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.
17.
The tilt of the Earth's axis, not its distance to the Sun (which is a star), causes different seasons.
Views
Favorites
Comments