10 Everyday Myths People Still Believe Are True
One of the accepted definitions of the word myth is: a widely held but false belief or
idea.
Myths exist to help us explain the unexplained.
People have created stories, or legends, to help solve mysteries they once couldn�t.
Or, in some cases, a myth is pure speculation from a time before science and research could
prove differently, one that has managed to still be a part of common conversation.
Either way, people still insist some myths are true, no matter how much evidence is president
to the contrary.
Usually, if you just stop and think about it � REALLY think about it - you can figure
out if a myth is fact.
To get you started, here are 10 Everyday Myth People Still Believe Are True.
The Great Space Wall
Covering more than thirteen thousand miles in length, you would think the Great Wall
of China would be one of the first things an alien invasion would see as they approach
Earth.
However, unless they get really close, and have perfect weather conditions, they won�t
see it till they�re close enough to blow it up.
The Great Wall remains one of the largest man-made objects ever, but you cannot see
it from space, even with sophisticated cameras.
Making this myth even more interesting, the first people to publicly say the wall could
be seen from space were journalists...
in the eighteenth century.
Since humans didn�t go to outer space for another several hundred years, people simply
assumed since the wall was gigantic, it must be visible from the Moon.
Which is funny, because you can�t even see any of the seven continents from the Moon�s
surface.
Not As Blind as a Bat
When you�re stuck in the dark, smacking your hand against a wall to find a light switch
that�s playing peek-a-boo, a common expression is that you�re as blind as a bat.
Though, by thinking that, you�re actually stating you can see four times better than
the average human.
It is been proven that bats have amazing vision, capable of seeing extremely long distances.
Bats also use a form of radar, called echolocation, to help them locate smaller prey they may
have missed due to the extreme speeds they fly at.
Where bats do suffer vision issues is flying during the daytime.
The harsh light makes it difficult for them to see, so the majority of their hunting takes
place during the evening hours.
Basically, bats just needs are some good sunglasses, and they could be hunting all day long�
and look cool doing so.
Horn-y Vikings
If you�ve ever dressed up as a viking for Halloween, you probably wore a helmet with
horns on it.
In fact, almost every visual depiction of vikings in modern culture has the viking wearing
a helmet with horns, antlers or even wings.
The truth is, however, not as fashionable.
Most vikings wore simple metal helmets, with some having a face plate that protected them
during battle.
Thus far, not one single horned helmet has been found from the viking-era by archaeologists.
This myth can be traced back to the 1800�s when Swedish artist, Gustav Malmstr�m, painted
several pictures portraying vikings with horns on their helmet.
This doesn�t mean that no one ever rocked a horn-y helm though.
Greeks and Romans have been depicted with antlers and horns on their heads over a century
before any viking plundered or pillaged.
Five Second Rule
We�ve all done it.
Dropped a delicious treat on the floor, and in less than five seconds, plopped that snack
right back in our mouth.
You may want to think for at least six seconds before doing that again.
Researchers have concluded that no matter how long food sits on the floor, bacteria
will begin adhering almost immediately.
You can sweep, swifter or mop your floor, but it will always be contaminated.
Carpet transfers very little, while stainless steel transfers the yuck quickly.
The food you�re eating also effects the process.
Gummy and sticky foods, surprisingly, do not attract bacteria, while moisture-filled fruits
and vegetables, like watermelon, will draw the highest rate of contamination.
So next you drop that slice of pizza, just leave it� or pick it up and take extra Vitamin
C immediately.
Forgetful Fish
While a goldfish may not remember every word to War and Peace, it�s been proven they
have a much longer memory than the three-second myth that exists.
One popularized by Dory, played by Ellen DeGeneres, in Finding Nemo and it�s sequel.
In reality, scientists have shown that goldfish can be trained to remember the best path through
a maze, respond to light and sound cues and where their food is for up to five months.
The origin of this myth is difficult to find.
Perhaps starting as an assumption..
or out of guilt.
Since we observe fish in tanks, people may have convinced themselves fish must not be
able to remember their small surroundings.
Given what we have learned, you should at least get your fish one of those bubbling
treasure chests.
They won�t forget what you did for them.
Killer Coins
Anyone who lives in a large city, surrounded by skyscrapers, has looked up and wondered
if someone is dropping a penny as they�re walking underneath, fearful of the coin embedding
itself into their skull and killing them.
Thankfully, if this is your fear, we�re happy to say this myth is not true.
Almost any coin dropped from the top would only sting� barely breaking skin.
The penny simply doesn�t weigh enough, so it reaches terminal velocity quickly, causing
it�s journey to the ground to remain at a constant speed.
In order for something to do serious damage, it requires more weight.
Something you should be on the lookout for?
Ballpoint pens!
Depending on the design, the pen could turn and its length would form a lethal arrow careening
down upon you at over 200 miles per hour.
Heads up.
Momma Bird
Have you ever come across a just-birthed baby bird on the ground while doing yard work and
wished you could pick it up and put it back?
Yet, you didn�t because you were afraid that bird would be rejected?
Fear not, go ahead and help the little one out because birds don�t smell well... and
the myth that they sense humans on their offspring and turn them away is not true.
This doesn�t mean you should start reaching into a birds nest and start chucking baby
birds in the air.
If the bird has feathers, you should still leave it alone, as chances are Mom and Dad
are jut out of sight, teaching it how to fly.
However, if the bird is fuzzy, it might need a helping hand to get home.
Go ahead and gently pick it up and place it back in the nest.
Salons for the Dead
If you ever considered placing a hair brush or nail clippers placed in your coffin, to
help you maintain your growing hair and nails after death, we have some bad news for you.
They do not grow once you die.
This myth isn�t not true because your body requires nutrients to complete the metabolic
process required for hair or nail growth.
The reason people think it happens is because of the bodies natural process during death.
This isn�t for the squeamish � if you�re eating lunch, you may want to swallow that
bite � but as you die, moisture begins to leave your body.
As the body dehydrates, the skin retracts showing more of the roots of your hair and
nails.
So, while it may appear longer, you�re just seeing more of the hair and nails you already
had.
Good grooming is not needed in the grave.
Whizzing the Pain Away
Popularized by the show Friends, but a myth long before Ross chose Rachael, a long-standing
story says if you get stung by a jellyfish, your best bet to relive the pain quickly is
to urinate on the swelling sting.
Sorry, but you should keep it in your pants, because peeing on a burning jellyfish sting
can actually increase the pain.
The salt and electrolytes our body releases through urine can cause the throbbing to become
worse If you do get stung, your best bet is wash the sting in salt-water, as fresh water
will increase the flow of the venom released from the barbs of a jellyfishes tentacles.
After rinsing, head home, put some baking powder on the wound and take some asprin.
The pain should dissipate within twenty four hours.
So, do your best to avoid awkward conversations and don�t attempt to pee the pain away.
Rice, Rice, Baby
For centuries, dating back to ancient Egypt, people have thrown rice at wedding to wish
newlyweds a prosperous marriage.
The myth that you should not do this traces back to the 1980�s, when Ann Landers published
a column asking people to not throw rice, for fear that it would swell in a birds stomach
and cause them to explode.
In order for the rice to begin expanding, it would need a serious amount of heat, and
that simply does not happen inside our avian friends.
Birds eat rice throughout the winter to keep their bodies full before the spring.
Without exploding.
The only thing the rice is bad for is churches and reception centers, as it�s kind of a
pain to clean up.
This myth got so popular, it has essentially killed the tradition, with people preferring
to blow bubbles or toss other types of grain upon the freshly married couple.
Some myths are fun, existing to help fill in the cracks left behind by past societies.
Some are created due to lack of knowledge while others occurred because no one stopped
to ask they could possibly be true.
Common sense is still your best bet to determine if something isn�t accurate.
Between that and the internet, you should always fact-check your friends advice before
embarking upon a myth that was busted a long time ago.
Did we miss any myths you think are true?
Let us know in the comments below.
If you like this video and want to see more, subscribe to our channel, give this video
a thumbs up and share it with your friends.
Be sure to a leave us a comment telling us what myths you busted.