1. Bulls Hate the Color Red
Bulls are colorblind to red and green. It’s the movement of a matador’s cape that gets their attention. The red color is more about tradition than triggering rage.
2. Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis
If you’ve been scolded for cracking your knuckles, you’re not alone. But science says there’s no clear link between this habit and arthritis. That popping sound is just gas bubbles bursting in the joint fluid—not your joints breaking down. So crack away (if you must), guilt-free!
3. Goldfish Have a Three-Second Memory
Poor goldfish—they’ve been underestimated for years! Research shows they can remember things for months, like feeding schedules or tank features. Your goldfish might even recognize you.
4. Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
It absolutely does—and frequently. Tall objects like trees and skyscrapers often attract multiple lightning strikes. The Empire State Building, for example, gets hit dozens of times a year.
5. Hair Grows Back Thicker After Shaving
This one is an illusion. Shaving cuts hair at the surface, giving the stubble a blunt tip that feels coarse. The thickness and rate of growth depend on genetics, not razors.
6. Mount Everest Is the Tallest Mountain in the World
Well, technically. But if you measure from base to peak, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is taller. Most of Mauna Kea is underwater, so Everest gets all the glory.
7. Dropping a Penny from a Tall Building Can Kill Someone
A penny might sting, but it’s not lethal. Air resistance slows it down, so it won’t gain enough speed to seriously harm anyone. Still, maybe don’t test this one!
8. You Should Wait 24 Hours Before Reporting a Missing Person
This myth, popularized by TV dramas, isn’t true. Police encourage reporting missing people as soon as possible—especially if it’s out of character for someone to disappear.
9. Sugar Makes Kids Hyperactive
Blame the birthday parties, not the cake. Studies show no direct link between sugar and hyperactivity. Excitement, special occasions, or simply being a kid are likely culprits.
10. Humans Only Use 10% of Their Brains
Movies and pop culture love this idea, but brain scans show we use all parts of our brain, even when resting. The real mystery isn’t how much we use but how it all works together.
11. You Swallow Eight Spiders a Year in Your Sleep
This creepy-crawly “fact” is pure fiction. Spiders aren’t likely to crawl into a warm, vibrating space like your mouth. Besides, who’s counting? The myth probably stuck because it’s just so delightfully icky.
12. If You Touch a Baby Bird, Its Mother Will Abandon It
Birds don’t have a great sense of smell, so touching a baby bird won’t make its parents reject it. If you see a chick that’s fallen, you can gently return it to its nest.
13. Your Body Takes Seven Years to Digest Gum
Gum doesn’t linger in your stomach for years—it’s mostly indigestible but passes through your system like other food. Chewing gum daily won’t leave you with a stomach full of it.
14. Bats Are Blind
The phrase “blind as a bat” is just plain wrong. Bats have decent eyesight, though they rely on echolocation for navigating in the dark. They’re nighttime ninjas, not sightless creatures.
15. Vaccines Can Cause Autism
This harmful myth has been thoroughly debunked. The original study making this claim was fraudulent and discredited. Vaccines save lives, and the science is clear on their safety.
Dispelling myths is a great reminder to question what we think we know. What’s the most surprising myth on this list?
