Myths You Probably Thought Were True

Ever been told something by a friend and just assumed it’s true, then gone on to tell more people over the years? Well yeah, chances are, what you’ve been told is completely false. Check out these surprising facts you probably thought were true.

Cracking your knuckles will give you arthritis

Ever have someone scold you for cracking your knuckles, saying it causes arthritis? Well, they’re full of it. All you knuckle crackers can rest assured that there are now links between knuckle cracking and arthritis. All it is is some air escaping the joints of your fingers, so crack away.

Only 10 percent of the brain is used

Most likely propagated by the 2011 film Limitless, a rumor quickly spread that we only use 10 percent of our brains. Supposedly the untapped 90 percent of our brains could help us do extraordinary things, which sounds awesome, but it’s totally false. The only truth behind this is that’s not all of the neurons in our brains fire at once, so sorry, no untold superpowers for you.

The five-second rule

Drop your food on the ground? Quick! Pick it up before it becomes swarmed with germs. Unfortunately, the second it touches the ground, it becomes COVERED with potentially harmful bacteria. So following this rule might not be in your best interest.

Dropping a penny off the Empire State Building could kill someone

The myth is if left to gravity, a penny thrown off the Empire State Building would turn into a lethal falling object. However, this is not the case. While it would definitely hurt if you got hit by a penny thrown off the skyscraper, it would certainly not kill you due to it only weighing a gram.

You can see the Great Wall of China from space

The Great Wall is one of the greatest man-made creations of all time. It is a sight to behold and absolutely gargantuan. Yet, not enough to be seen from space. In fact, no single man-made objects can be seen from space, except for entire cities.

Eating turkey can make you sleepy

Ah, the post-Thanksgiving sleepiness. It’s been said that the chemical tryptophan found in turkey can make you sleepy, but experts say otherwise. That sleepiness you feel is most likely from the mixture of carbs, alcohol, and sheer volume of food consumed.

Goldfish can’t remember anything for longer than a second

Poor goldfish, always being made fun of for having bad memory, when it’s not even true. In fact, goldfish have pretty good memories, capable of remembering things that happened months ago.

Eating a lot of carrots gives you enhanced night vision

Carrots are rich in vitamin A, a nutrient that promotes healthy eyesight. However, eating a surplus of carrots isn’t going to give you night vision. This was a piece of British propaganda that was released to make it seem like they’re pilots have superior night vision during bombing raids.

A swallowed piece of gum takes 7 years to digest

Surely something you mom told you when you accidentally swallowed a piece of gum. This is completely false, though while gum is indigestible. It will simply pass through your intestines, and, uh, out the other way. No harm.