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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!

#1

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

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Stardust she/her
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Gay penguin couples are known to adopt eggs and care for the chick

Shane S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I read somewhere that penguins can’t distinguish gender. I don’t know if that’s true or not and it doesn’t really matter. But if it’s true, they don’t even realize they are with another penguin of the same gender. But again, someone fact check me.

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Anne
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Homosexuality was also not forbidden in the Bible until about 100 years ago when some priests decided to change the text where pedosexuality was forbidden to homosexuality. (You shall not lay with a young man as with a woman - the word young was removed)

Shane S
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, you can just dismiss the Bible as a work of historical fiction written by men. So many people try to pick it apart and justify it with interpretation, when it’s easier just to let it go. There’s lots of weird stuff in that book, as there is with most religious/mythical tales. It’s ok to just let go.

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Loverboy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's not even purely sexual. A lot of times, they find a partner and will stay with that partner despite not being able to reproduce. It happens a lot too, with about 1,500 animal species practice homosexuality.

Mary Rogers
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly, the only reason we didn't know about this sooner was because of the discomfort of the scientists observing these animals in the wild. I have also heard that this was really no secret among farmers either. But no one talked about it until the gay rights movement.

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Beck
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Christians act like if you do not have a relationship that produces a child, then that relationship is not worthy. Insane. What about people like me who have had tubes tied or people who cannot have babies? Are they destined to be alone forever? It just pisses me iff.(I have kids but i cannot anymore. So what if my husband dies or I get divorced. I can no longer have babies so tough luck?

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Will Cable
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

One thing noticeable in the media is when someone comes out as gay or bi is you get people saying "Typical, why push it on us we didn't want to know" ...The same lot then say "Why didn't they come out as gay before, why hide it" when someone is found out to be gay or bi later in life.

assdog
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yup, i'm a straight man and have plenty of gay friends (m and f). It doesn't bother me. Also a lot of my friends are of a different colour.(i speak 4 languages) Doesn't bother me. My old school parents brought me up with common sense . Do what you want peoples if it makes you feel how you should be. I aint going to give you trouble

Onion Patch Petunia
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We won't reach true understanding until this subject produces far far fewer responses. And this is a mostly accepting group!

Jenna Logan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Indeed. Love is love, you cannot change how you feel about someone or who you're attracted to.

Thatkamloopsguy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A study was done that found that after a woman has her first male baby every other male she gives birth to has a 40% more likelyhood of being homosexual. They found it was being caused by the woman's immune system.

Lizard Lady
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And in nature, the hetero pairs do not ostracize them. They are accepted fully and completely

Guilherme Bottossi
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I remember when my young sister told me she was a bisexual and was dating a girl and somehow she felt bad about. I cant remember how many times I told her she was ok and did nothing wrong...long story short, she´s happily engaged now.

Gmaddles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And societies before us partook - have fun and everyone else: Mind your own business!

Dizzie D
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I reckon condemning homosexuality in humans evolved because stuffy old religious people got scared that the human race would die out if this was seen as 'normal'. Anyway, mass hysteria ensued and it was seen as taboo for soo long. I think it's natures way of having a good balance in society and if it's not natural then why are people attracted to the same sex in the first place? Makes no sense.

Gmaddles
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Adorable, love the glasses, love the glitter, love the colors - love everything, especially that beautiful relationship

Thomas Ewing
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Cannibalism is practiced by dozens of creatures; that doesn't make it right OR good.

Oaken
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was saying to my kids today that on a purely personal level I don’t get being gay, lesbian, bi or whatever as I’m not but that doesn’t mean that it’s wrong it means that people are different and how is it my place to say what is right or wrong. I also don’t get how buildings are built and I’m not saying they should be knocked down. Let people be ffs.

Rachel Dunwoodie
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

People need to learn to just accept what people are and not be stupid and say silly comments that don’t make sense. Love is love no matter what.

Kitti B.
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My dad breeds pigeons. He told me sometimes there are gay. Male ones just doesn't want to mate with females at all but feel perfectly fine amongst other males.

Burnt Bagel
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the f**k did this thread go to penguins and s**t? It’s about people. Let them be what they are. And if you can’t handle that then go f**k yourself.

Completely Hatstand
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find that the vast majority of people I meet don't sleep with me. Therefore, their gender is completely irrelevant.

Shane S
Community Member
1 year ago

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Freddie Saturn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I dont know, but thousands of years proved that only 2 genders can produced offspring and obviously not between the same one.

Riley Quinn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

For a group of people who want the US government off their backs, they sure want the exact opposite when it comes to things they find offensive.

Metin Tekkan
Community Member
1 year ago

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Who sets the standards for normal or abnormal? Society, Religion, Government? In each case you'll find people opposing the norms, the problem is forcing them to believe that it's abnormal or in this case 'normal' .. What if one day media start promoting pedophilia as normal ? You know there are some societies even in first world countries in which this even more satanic sh*t is accepted as normal! Can you say "do what you want" , I respect your decision? The problem with LGBT issue is it was lived behind doors, we everyone minded their own business and there was no problem but recently became a hype and teens began to wonder, some of them want to give it a try just because they are curious and as it's now 'normal' they see no problem even they are biologically not like that.. You can't force us to believe it's normal it's certainly not! It's a sickness, defect in biological system and can be cured with hormonal treatment. Respect for minority but more respect for majority! TGC

Tamra
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You ignorant fool... homosexuality is NOT a sickness to be treated! A homosexual person isn't harming you or anyone else. They simply want to live their lives, loving who they love, without persecution or discrimination. No one's "forcing" you to accept it, just mind your goddamn business and try to keep your fear, hate and bigotry to yourself. Jesus.

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HurlWurk
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1 year ago

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It is however, far less common than media portrays.

Gregg Carr
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1 year ago

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Who remembers "Tupper Ware" from the '70s - Recall this getting blamed for plastics leaching out

suki
Community Member
1 year ago

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"species" that irked me a bit icl...

Cosmologist wannabe
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yes we are a species. we are animals. we evolved from the same pond goop. deal with it.

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Spack225
Community Member
1 year ago

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We also observe mothers eating there young in nature. Just a word of caution when stating using nature to prove morality.

Katy Cordeth
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Religious people "Being gay is wrong because it goes against nature." Science: "Homosexuality is prevalent in the animal kingdom." Religious people: "Humans are not animals, we are separate and distinct!" Make up your mind, guys.

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Geoffrey Scott
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1 year ago

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Soooo...if homosexuality is against God, but we are made by God....

Emma Kohn
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I mean kinda.. if animals are homosexual than technically it wouldn't be against God because the Bible said that humans are the only creatures with free will and the others have to do what he saids....

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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.”

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    #2

    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

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    #3

    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

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    Loverboy
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    #4

    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

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    Take me to dinner first
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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??

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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.”

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    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.”

    #5

    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

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    alwaysMispelled
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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    #6

    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

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    Solidhog
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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    #7

    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

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    Solidhog
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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.

    #8

    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

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    Loverboy
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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    #9

    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

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    ADJ
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

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    Aroace tiger (she/they/he)
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

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    Stardust she/her
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

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    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

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    Surenu
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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.

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    #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

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    Christopher Gerlach
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

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    Kea_Tortilla
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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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

    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

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    Janos Schumacher
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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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

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    Monday
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

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    Monday
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

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    Take me to dinner first
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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

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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

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    Serial pacifist
    Community Member
    1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

    #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

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    Icecream Sarang
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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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

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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

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    Mirabelle Skyrim
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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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

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    Tobias Reaper
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

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    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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    #28

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

    Talented_oven5 Report

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    Monday
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

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

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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

    #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

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    XenoMurph
    Community Member
    1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

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