Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses

The tricky thing with beliefs is that we all think ours are correct. When actually, almost everything we believe, at some point in our lives, will eventually be at least partially wrong.

Not only are we often unaware of it, but we also have no idea of how to determine which of our pieces of common knowledge are incorrect. So when someone asked “What is a popular belief that is scientifically proven wrong?” on Ask Reddit, the responses started rolling in one by one.

From thinking that you can catch a cold by being in cold temperatures to the belief that gum gets stuck in your stomach for eternity, here are the most popular beliefs that are very far from true.

We reached out to Audrey Tang, an award-winning book author, psychologist and spokesperson who shared some very interesting insights into how popular beliefs and common knowledge emerge, how they are passed through generations, and how it all comes down to the fact that humans are social creatures. Scroll down for the interview below!

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Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Homosexuality has been proven to be natural. It's not a disease or whatever. It has been observed in hundreds of species.

lovin_da_dix , Brian Kyed Report

Final score:

493points

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Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 1 year ago

And even if it wasn't natural it doesn't effect u so shut up

374points

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“Stories have a way of taking on a life of their own, especially in the landscape of social media,” Audrey said. She explained: “Citations are not always given, elements may be changed as the story moves along, and a little bit like gossip, or the 'broken telephone' – eventually a narrative makes its way into popular belief and often is so removed from the original as to be unrecognizable (and example of this is the oft-cited in leadership posts (especially on LinkedIn).”

More importantly, stories are compelling because they give us a sense of completeness. “Research into false memories has shown that when elements of memory are missing we ‘fill in the gaps’ – and this may not be an accurate account.”

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Torture doesn’t work.

It has never worked. It was proven that torture doesn’t work before America was colonized.

Torture DOES produce confessions, but it doesn’t reveal the truth.

MBergdorf , Wikipedia Report

Final score:

368points

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blobby_grrl 1 year ago

Okay, but WHAT is going on in that picture above...

183points

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Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses As a cat lover, it always drives me insane that so many people will automatically give a stray they found milk. Most cats are lactose intolerant.

_Jacket_Slxt_ , Mónika Erdei Report

Final score:

364points

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Loverboy 1 year ago (edited)

If you give a dog water, why would you give a cat any different? Now that I've slept, I'm realizing that this logic wouldn't work for other things.

86points

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Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses You don't have to wait 24 hours to call the police to file a missing person's report. Never wait 24 hours. Every hour that passes means you are less likely to find said person. Dead or alive.

MinnieCreations Report

Final score:

349points

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Take me to dinner first 1 year ago

that always confused me. If they consider the first 72 hours the most important, then why would you have to wait for the first 24??

85points

Easily Excitable Panda 1 year ago

It used to be standard practice; the police just assumed that your child (especially a teen) had just run away, and you HAD to wait 24-48 hours to report, b/c it was believed they'd return on their own in that time. It wasn't until the 1980s that people figured out that was a bad idea.

12points

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TonyTee 1 year ago (edited)

Yeah I’ve always felt that was backwards-a** logic

6points

Bookworm 1 year ago

Apparently it was kind of a thing before cell phones, because it was a lot more common for someone to just not be near a phone.

4points

Lemme get the lemons 1 year ago

Yeah, I've heard of this before especially with the woman who's gone missing over here in England. The family was told that if they were told before the medics might have found them, so I never understood this rule

2points

Stannous Flouride 1 year ago

I have long suspected that it's a plot device cooked up by some writer way back when and has been used as a deus ex machina ever since.

2points

WonderWoman 1 year ago

So that police don't get bogged down looking for someone who forgot to call home - or nonsense like that said by lazy unhelpful police.

2points

GayleDonovan 1 year ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Niki A 1 year ago

If you listen to the Crime Junkie podcast, they mention this fact again and again. I also have heard speculation this is a delaying tactic some use because they assume anyone who is not missing a child will "turn up" or can "disappear if they want to". This seems to happen a lot with regard to teenagers, despite them still being children.

9points

Eloise_Is_Weird 1 year ago

That is a stupid myth and I feel like television/movie corporations are responsible for kids that died because their parents didn't report them missing until after 24 hours

6points

Serial pacifist 1 year ago

It's Heisenberg!

4points

Sergio Bicerra 1 year ago

You're goddamn right!

4points

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Holly Stevens 1 year ago

It's just lazy cops, they don't want to bother with teens or minorities so they make up these rules and say people are runways or have high risk lifestyles

3points

Pyla 1 year ago

I think it depends on the cop shop and the age of the missing person. There are many not so old cases of cops saying that because a person has a high risk lifestyle, does drugs, or is just an adult, they have to wait.

3points

Loverboy 1 year ago

I wonder how many people could've been found if it weren't for people believing in this.

3points

Riley Quinn 1 year ago

This is true, so I don't know where the myth came about. But not all police stations will react immediately unless it's a child or elderly person. Many respond with invalidating comments like "well, you know how teenagers can be" or some such nonsense.

1point

Lydsylou 1 year ago

The first 48 hrs in a missing person investigation are the most important

1point

Daniele Ribolla 1 year ago

a Breaking Bad frame... 👍

0points

Mary Mosher 1 year ago

I've never understood this one ... how many stories have we heard about police saying "oh they are probably just out partying, or they are a runaway ..." then find a dead body a few days later? How often would that have to happen before someone says "wait a minute ... this is serious, we have to find this person."

0points

Miki 1 year ago (edited)

One of stupidest movie myth.

0points

Jenna Logan 1 year ago

I wouldn't wait 24 hours either but I believe it's 24 before the police take action, but you can always call and ask for a welfare check, they will do that without waiting 24 hours

0points

Mjskywalk 1 year ago

You can report someone missing any time, but if the person is an adult the police may not do much or anything for at least the first 24 hours unless there is evidence that the person is gone involuntarily.

0points

Auntriarch 1 year ago

I can't speak for anywhere else, but in UK, report as soon as you are worried. The incident will be assessed for risk, eg youth, age, mental state, text messages, etc. But even kids in care who are just allergic to rules and are almost certain to rock up an hour after curfew, are taken seriously every time, because this might be the time.

0points

Darlin’ 1 year ago

Most times you will be told to wait, it is not a rule, it is a common occurrence.

0points

ƒιѕн 1 year ago

Breaking Bad poster

0points

Will Cable 1 year ago

Just think how far you could get in 24 hours and make that a radius of a search area and look at how much it covers.

0points

TonyTee 1 year ago

Not for nothing, I wouldn’t even make 10 hours go by.

0points

Pablo Ramos 1 year ago

True, but airing strange or peculiar situations, most cops won't start searching for a missing adult until 24 hours because most turn up by themselves.

-1point

Larry XK 1 year ago

Already read this 50 times on this site in 50 different threads, keep them coming

-1point

Kaylee Best 1 year ago

So how long should you wait.

-1point

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Furthermore, Audrey explained, “We tend to make sense of those gaps based on our world experience at the time – an example of this is, sadly, where a child of divorce may think that a parent left ‘because of them’ – if it has not been explained to them in accessible and understandable language.”

“This is not always the parent’s fault as they too are going through a great deal of emotional upheaval, but dismissing a child’s questions can sometimes lead to the child reconstructing an approximation of what is really going on.”

Related to that, Audrey continues, “When a story resonates with an experience we have been through (or believe we have been through!), we are also more likely to connect with it because of the familiarity.”

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Back in the olden days, people just turned 30 or so and died.

The infant mortality rate was just much higher, but if you made it to adulthood, living to be a senior was not that rare.

maisymowse Report

Final score:

312points

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alwaysMispelled 1 year ago

Exactly. "Life expectancy" simply factoring in infant and childhood mortality. People still got old.

108points

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Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Most dietary information that is widely accepted by the public was from studies that have been proven wrong since the 70s

sgt_taco891 , Wikipedia Report

Final score:

289points

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Solidhog 1 year ago

Along with the myth that breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

120points

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Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Goldfish have a three second memory.

They don’t and, supposedly, you can even train them to do tricks.

twerkette , pouria oskuie Report

Final score:

278points

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Solidhog 1 year ago

Look up on Youtube. There is one that retrieves a ring. You can even buy Goldfish assault courses!

65points

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Audrey argues that research suggests that our brains seem better wired to process and recall facts set out as a story rather than facts alone.

“For example, the colors of the rainbow may be remembered using the mnemonic 'Richard Of York Gave Battle In Vain,' and similarly, groups of numbers which can be 'chunked' into memorable dates, e.g,. 1066 instead of 1,0,6,6, are better recalled as well.”

And when it comes to popular myths, Audrey suggests that they may occur through people connecting with them and repeating them. “Perhaps if details are changed to suit the storyteller, again, that story takes on even more strength as more people may relate to it and repeat it,” she told Bored Panda.

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses There is an alpha wolf in a pack.

Like the person who made the first claim debunked his own claim, but nobody cared.

Kinjal_Ghosh , Thomas Bonometti Report

Final score:

271points

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Loverboy 1 year ago

I see so many of these self proclaimed alphas nowadays and it annoys the hell out of me. If you say you're an alpha, I automatically consider you scum. "Alphas" are usually misogynistic a******s who influence kids or other equally dumb adults. You are not an alpha, you are a douche. Stop it.

268points

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Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Used to be a popular belief that if you sit to close to the tv your eyes will go bad. But Ive recently come to realize that children who sit “too close” to the tv might already have poor vision, but cannot communicate it, so when they go get their eyes checked it appears that the causation is them sitting to close to the tv, when it was probably genetics or other factors. Thus causing people to think that the cause was them sitting too close to tv.

justafang , Vidal Balielo Jr. Report

Final score:

265points

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ADJ 1 year ago

That is a myth now, but old tv sets from before 1960s emitted some radiation which may have bad effect on eyes.

66points

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#10

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses You can catch colds from being outside without a hat. Colds are caused by viruses, not cold temperatures

crabbyabbyyy , Kristin Vogt Report

Final score:

246points

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Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 1 year ago

But colder temperatures make ur immune system weaker and therefore it's easier to catch a cold

260points

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There’s also an explanation for why particular common beliefs disappear while others remain something people believe throughout generations. “Many beliefs that are passed through generations have a strong link with culture and tradition, and even though there may be no reason for engaging with them because they are part of your personal story, you feel connected with it,” Audrey explained.

According to her, Christmas traditions are a lovely example of this: “my own mother-in-law always makes a Christmas Gift Cracker as this was something that she had enjoyed when she was young. Not having children personally, it is not something I will be passing down, but my husband’s cousins might, and thus whenever this tradition plays out, we are reminded of the happy times at Christmas.”

#11

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Most things that tout "detoxifying" properties.

Thefreshestproduce , Alexander Mils Report

Final score:

215points

POST

Stardust she/her 1 year ago

You have livers and kidneys to do the job (I think I might be missing a few organs here)

136points

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#12

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses The belief that sugar causes hyperactivity in children. This belief has been around for decades, but numerous scientific studies have shown that there is no evidence to support it.

Logpoze3 , Rod Long Report

Final score:

198points

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XenoMurph 1 year ago

Kids get excited at parties and get hyper around their friends. That's a good thing.

103points

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#13

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses We only use 10% of our brain

Key-Wallaby-9276 , Bret Kavanaugh Report

Final score:

191points

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Surenu 1 year ago

Given some people I interact with on a daily basis I can see how one might arrive at this conclusion though, to be fair.

283points

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On the other hand, sometimes certain beliefs are extremely questionable as society changes, Audrey added. “It is hoped that many rules also change accordingly, or, where that is not possible, that enough people become aware of the original rule, find no basis for it to be true, and create their own, which then grow because of their acceptability in the modern world.”

“A less contentious example, but still a problematic one that is changing, is the view that in some cultures, mental ill health is simply not discussed. As we learn more about mental health diagnoses, cultures become more accepting as to why certain behaviors may be happening and what can be done about it, they blame less and grow more,” Audrey explained.

#14

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Cracking knuckles = arthritis

bigfart99 , Eren Li Report

Final score:

188points

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Christopher Gerlach 1 year ago

There was a dude that cracked only one hand for like 30 years to prove his mom wrong.

17points

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#15

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses “Fish don’t feel pain” , and simultaneously “Fish do feel pain” are both arguments which ignore centuries of research.

They lack a Neocortex which deems them unable to “process” pain, however they have several nociceptors located around the mouth which allows them to “feel it”. What does this mean? Well nobody actually knows yet, and it is largely open to interpretation. It’s unfathomably hard for us to understand, as we can both feel and process pain. Some scientists describe “acting on instinct” as symptoms of pain when these nociceptors become compromised. Some scientists describe it as just that though, acting on instinct based on what parts of their body are compromised and hence weaker or vulnerable.

For example : You hook and release a bass. That Bass now moves slower, eats a little less, and socializes less. Are these actions the result of the fish acknowledging the compromised nociceptors and acting accordingly while giving itself a chance to heal? Or is the fish genuinely hurting and sad? Research points to both being correct, but neither have enough evidence to prove anything yet.

All we know with certainty is that we don’t have a definite answer supporting either argument, so anyone that leans hard one way or another doesn’t know what they are talking about.

goldieglocks16 , FOX Report

Final score:

175points

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Kea_Tortilla 1 year ago

Thank you for acknowledging that we still have so much to learn about our fellow creatures! Pain or not, fish are still animals and deserve respect.

117points

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#16

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses That if you shave it’ll grow back longer and thicker

confusedgoofball , Supply Report

Final score:

166points

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Isabelle 1 year ago

This doesn't make any scientific sense! Why would people believe this?

37points

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The Minister of Digital Affairs of Taiwan also argues that often, “a little bit like social media hashtags, the enduring narratives are those which resonate closely with the zeitgeist at the time, such as #metoo.”

Moreover, endorsements from celebrities can make a difference as well. “Not only does research show that celebrity endorsements are more likely to make you believe a certain thing, but to also not check it for credibility.”

Audrey explained that inviting a psychologist to comment on an article and adding the phrase “backed by science” can do the same thing. “As I always say – 'backed by science,' says NOTHING about the reliability, validity or even relevance of the research as a whole, nor the population it was based on.”

#17

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Hiding under a highway overpass is actually not a good way to survive a tornado.

It has been scientifically proven that the wind gets concentrated and the speeds increase underneath the overpass.

If you aren’t shielded by a bridge girder or something similar you’ll just get swept away and mulched.

Your best bet for survival if you cannot escape the tornado is to find the nearest deep ditch or hole.

jitsbay , Ralph W. lambrecht Report

Final score:

161points

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Janos Schumacher 1 year ago

Find a ditch and get flat. A tornado can pick up a car and throw it just fine. Better to be flat and in a ditch face down with your hands over your head.

13points

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#18

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Despite popular belief, urine is not sterile.

koalamiracle , CDC Report

Final score:

160points

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Monday 1 year ago

Wait....who believes urine is sterile? It's the waste our bodies get rid of how could it possibly be sterile?

109points

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#19

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses That we taste different things in different areas on the tongue.

redDKtie , Wei Ding Report

Final score:

154points

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Monday 1 year ago

My high school biology teacher had a lesson on this. Makes me wonder what other fake c**p was included in the syllabus.

78points

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#20

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses You can swim after you eat it's no problem

Thecooleo , Pixabay Report

Final score:

148points

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Take me to dinner first 1 year ago

Well, not in my case. If I eat and make any kind of physical activity (even walking back home or something) I feel terribly nauseous. My blood pressure is quite low, so taking hot showers after eating is also not well received by my body lol

8points

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#21

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Lightning never strikes in one place twice.

JarJarLifts , Philippe Donn Report

Final score:

146points

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Serial pacifist 1 year ago (edited)

Just ask Roy. https://virginradio.co.uk/lifestyle/92446/meet-the-man-who-survived-being-struck-by-lightning-seven-times

55points

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#22

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses That bubblegum get stuck in your stomach for 99999999999900000 years

Baller69max , João Lucas Lagos Report

Final score:

144points

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Isabelle 1 year ago

It only stays for 3 days, just like other undigestible things!

54points

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#23

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses That rice will make the birds who eat it explode. Birds eat rice all the time! It's actually good for them, especially brown rice.

I believe this myth was made up so people would stop throwing rice at weddings, but harming the birds wasn't an actual risk. It was getting rice grains stuck in your ear that was.

Mister_Moho , Polina Tankilevitch Report

Final score:

132points

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Icecream Sarang 1 year ago

I was under the belief it was bad for them to eat their weight in rice at weddings, which is why we switched to bird seed…then the same thing happened, so now we do bubbles. But if you’re me, you just eloped and are coconut cake in your hotel room.

72points

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#24

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Don't know if it's been said yet still scrolling, but that male lions don't hunt or do anything. Yes, lionesses do most of the hunting but males do help if the prey is too big and strong, such as with cape buffalo or giraffe. Males do a lot, staying back and protecting the territory which is very important if there are cubs, not to mention that the mane not only blows their cover more when hunting, but it tires them out quickly as it's a bunch of hair weighing on their head. Males also have to leave their birth pride at a certain age which of course until they can find a pride, they at that point have to hunt.

Also on the topic of African animals (wildlife nerd) hyenas hunt more than lions and are more successful predators, and hyenas aren't dogs. Elephants don't think you or any human is cute.

Edit: I was told wrong a lion's mane doesn't weigh as much as I thought, but it does have more of a negative effect on their hunting compared to a lioness.

wildnstuff , Iurii Ivashchenko Report

Final score:

128points

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XenoMurph 1 year ago

I am cute. It's not my fault elephants are too stubborn to admit it.

171points

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#25

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses That eggs are bad for you.
That eggs are good for you.

Its been proven that it completely depends on your own genetic makeup on if they are good or bad for you. For some people they're healthy, for others they're not and they're bad cholesterol level skyrockets.

BKDDY Report

Final score:

126points

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Mirabelle Skyrim 1 year ago

For MOST people eggs are healthy. One of the functions of your liver is to regulate your cholesterol to a level that's optimal for your own body. If you eat a lot of cholesterol rich food, the liver will lower its production of cholesterol. If you eat sparingly of cholesterol rich food, the liver will increase its cholesterol production.

55points

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#26

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Carrots do not improve your eyesight.

RiotousRagnarok , Markus Spiske Report

Final score:

125points

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Tobias Reaper 1 year ago

this was propaganda by the british government in world war 2 to hide the fact they had radar

135points

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#27

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses A frog thrown in a pot of boiling water will jump out immediately. If a frog is put in a pot of cool water and that water is slowly warmed, the frog won’t notice and boil to death.

This is indeed false

Backwards_Pessimist , Frank Zhang Report

Final score:

123points

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XenoMurph 1 year ago

This is the worst frog recipe I've ever read. I still don't know how to cook my frog.

235points

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#28

That you can “alkalize” your body to prevent or cure disease.

Talented_oven5 Report

Final score:

104points

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Monday 1 year ago

Well.....if you alkalize your body enough you won't have to worry about any disease since you'll be dead.

143points

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#29

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses Women's periods don't sync up when they live together. Any syncing that occurs is a result of a coincidental overlap of their individual cycles.

zumera , Annika Gordon Report

Final score:

84points

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Aroace tiger (she/they/he) 1 year ago

But it's with ALL my afab friends. Every single last 1. How can a coincidence like that happen?

85points

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#30

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses I just read it recently that people believe that consuming alcohol moderately has some health benefits but it was proven by a recent study that it does not have any health benefits at all.

iam_joyc3 , Wil Stewart Report

Final score:

79points

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XenoMurph 1 year ago

That's also not true. Different drinks have different effects. "A recent study..." will be contradicted by tomorrows recent study. The reality is that there are positive and negative effects at the same time. So a study that tries to find one thing will find it, but it will exclude the other things, because that wasn't part of the research.

83points

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What do you think ?

Half of these are just sharing the wrong belief on it's own, the other half are sharing the corrected thoughts. Really damn confusing when one post says "Gum sits in your stomach for x years" and the next says "Homosexuality is natural". Can we please stick to either sharing the lie OR sharing the truth and not mix and matching them without any indication which is which?

45points

Tyler 1 year ago

I was just about to say the same thing! I can't tell which are saying the false belief, and which are saying the correction.

AndThenICommented 1 year ago

Feminine and masculine energy BS. I have friends who truly believe that certain activities are inherently ‘feminine’ and when I said that’s completely man made and tied to cultural norms they were adamant that it was a truly biological thing… :-/

19points

BeepBoop the Single Pringle 1 year ago

oh dang I wasn't expecting you to say they thought it was biological.. It's totally man made. Ugh some people should Google more (that also includes me)

VodkaInMySweetTea 1 year ago

There is a severe lack of science in this "science has proven" thread. "I've noticed..." isn't science.

16points

Samuel Pelatan 1 year ago

You mean it lacks scientific method or biology and social science aren't science ?

5points

DrBronxx 1 year ago

If people are going to talk about studies, they should have to cite them. I mean, I could say "it was proven by a recent study that all people named Kevin have a vestigial tail that looks like a pinky finger." That carries just as much weight as anything else here that does not have a source. If you want to prove something wrong, then PROVE it wrong. Back up your "correction".

Leo Domitrix 1 year ago

This isn't science.

Verena Fiori-Jambor 1 year ago

In my opinion all these threads cause even more confusion…some aren’t even proven

Amy E 1 year ago

Unsupported, nothing cited, and the posts aren't even consistent in how they are stating a claim. Poorly done article, one of the worst I've seen on here!

Illustrious G 1 year ago

Ok, I have a real one for this list, I think it’s a little more well-known now, but it was spread a lot in prior years: Baby birds will NOT be rejected by their parents if they have “human scent” on them. #1. Birds do not have that strong of a sense of smell; and #2. They have very strong parental instincts. If at all possible, return fallen babies to the nest, and if not, contact a rehabilitator in your area. And please do NOT try to raise the baby yourself if you do not have the proper materials and training!

similarly 1 year ago

I STILL don't know if high fructose corn syrup carries an increased risk of obesity and diabetes. Literally half the scientific literature says "yes" and the other half says "no". One says that the body has a more difficult time metabolizing fructose compared with glucose, and so tends to store it as fat, and the fructose can affect insulin levels in the liver. Then other scientific articles say that there's absolutely no proof of that. Which do I believe? I know this: Prior to 1980, lots of people ate lots of snacks. Plenty of plenty of people sat inside all day watching tv. Lots of people ate too much. But during the 1980s, first soft drinks and then a LOT of foods switched to HFCS and suddenly obesity and diabetes rates soared. Certainly I'm aware of Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc (and similar) fallacies, but it still seems suspicious to me.

EmBree 1 year ago

My dad was 100% certain the hair dye changed the color of your hair permanently. Not the dyed part, mind you, but the color of the hair that grew out afterward. It didn't matter how many times I explained that the dark hair was my natural hair color and the light blond he remembered was my hair bleached by the sun.

Rachel Reynolds 1 year ago

One gram of uranium-235 has just about 20 billion calories. A meal to last a life time

CarroWilliams 1 year ago

Someone Asks “What Is A Popular Belief That Has Been Scientifically Proven Wrong?” And People Deliver 30 Illuminating Responses

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