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Schools are often regarded as sanctuaries of knowledge and intellectual growth, where young minds are nurtured to understand the intricacies of history, science, and mathematics. This system aims to shape individuals into well-informed, responsible adults.
However, it’s worth noting that not everything taught in schools is accurate. Below, we uncover ten of the most widespread falsehoods that have been passed down through education.
10. The Myth That Deoxygenated Blood Is Blue (and the Reason Your Veins Look Blue)
If you examine the inner part of your wrist closely, you’ll likely notice a series of blue veins extending into your hand. Contrary to what elementary school lessons might claim, the blood flowing through these veins isn’t blue. The misconception is that blood without oxygen appears blue, while oxygen-rich blood from the heart is red. However, when you bleed, the blood is instantly red due to its exposure to oxygen in the air.
If you’ve ever donated blood or had it drawn at a clinic, you’ll know the liquid collected is unmistakably red, not some strange blue substance. The blue appearance of veins is due to how light interacts with your skin and how your eyes interpret colors. As light passes through skin layers, lower frequency wavelengths (like red) are absorbed, while higher frequency blue light is reflected back. This is why individuals with albinism often have red veins, as their skin lacks the pigmentation that affects light reflection.
9. The Myth of Thirteen Original Colonies in America
This misconception is understandable, given the thirteen stripes on the American flag symbolizing the original colonies. However, the truth is that there were only twelve colonies, not thirteen.
This is due to the fact that Delaware was never an independent colony. After the British took control of the area from the Dutch in the 1660s, the Delaware territory was passed back and forth between Maryland and Pennsylvania. It eventually became the property of William Penn, who also owned Pennsylvania, and remained part of Pennsylvania until the Revolutionary War. Interestingly, it wasn’t even referred to as Delaware at the time—it was simply called “The Three Lower Counties.”
8. The Myth of Liquid Glass
The misconception: old windowpanes appear thicker at the bottom because glass is a slow-moving liquid.
A historian once observed an ancient windowpane and noticed an oddity: the glass was thicker at the base than at the top. Unable to find another explanation, he concluded that glass must be a very slow-flowing liquid, which over time caused the top to thin out while the bottom accumulated more material, creating the uneven thickness.
This idea gained widespread acceptance, to the point where even university professors began teaching it, highlighting how even scientists can sometimes misunderstand their own field. However, a recent study on the viscosity (flow rate) of glass revealed that even the least dense type of glass would remain largely unchanged for 10^32 years—approximately three times the age of the universe. Why this researcher’s findings should be trusted over the original claim remains unclear, as both conclusions are essentially speculative.
The true explanation for the thicker bottoms of antique glass windows lies in medieval manufacturing techniques. Artisans would blow glass into a large sphere, then spin it into a flat disk. This spinning process caused the edges to thicken, similar to how pizza dough spreads. When cutting the disk into windowpanes, the thicker edge was placed at the bottom to ensure stability.
7. The Misconception That Europeans Invaded Africa and Abducted Slaves
This isn’t an attempt to downplay the horrors of slavery or excuse those involved. However, many Americans believe that colonial-era slavery began with Europeans sailing to Africa, capturing thousands, and transporting them in chains to Europe and America.
Some aspects of this narrative are accurate. Chains were indeed used, and many Africans were forcibly taken. However, contrary to the depiction in many history books, most enslaved individuals were sold to Europeans by African slave traders—traders who had been active on the continent for millennia. Slavery was not a new concept; it was widely practiced during that era. For instance, Egyptians employed Caucasian slaves in their military as early as the thirteenth century. Even the Bible acknowledged and permitted the practice.
In the context of the Atlantic Slave Trade, many enslaved individuals were originally captives from defeated tribes. However, once African traders recognized the profitability of selling slaves to Europeans, they started actively abducting people specifically to sell them along the Nigerian coast.
And while we’re on the topic of slavery misconceptions…
6. The Myth That Abraham Lincoln Was a Staunch Opponent of Slavery
Abraham Lincoln is frequently celebrated as a staunch opponent of slavery, primarily for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation in 1862. However, his stance on slavery was far from straightforward—not to mention his views on other social issues—throughout his presidency. He wasn’t a committed abolitionist; his primary goal was to strengthen the Union during a time when the Confederate states had seceded and the nation was engulfed in civil war.
As he himself stated: “If preserving the Union required freeing no slaves, I would do it. If it required freeing all slaves, I would do that too. And if it meant freeing some while leaving others enslaved, I would also take that path. My actions regarding slavery and the African American race are driven solely by what I believe will save the Union.” This is a classic example of political double-talk.
The Emancipation Proclamation wasn’t fundamentally about racial equality or human rights. It was a strategic wartime measure: “a necessary military action... All individuals held as slaves in Confederate states shall henceforth... be free.” In essence, only the slaves in enemy territories were liberated. So much for the great liberator!
Let’s be honest—if Lincoln had truly championed equality, Martin Luther King might not have needed a holiday named in his honor.
5. The Myth That Diamonds Are Formed from Coal
If you’ve been led to believe that diamonds are created from highly compressed coal, you’re not alone—many people share this misconception. However, this is entirely untrue. Diamonds are typically discovered in vertical volcanic rock formations, whereas coal is usually found in sedimentary layers alongside rocks like limestone and shale.
Coal and diamonds rarely exist in the same geological settings. Coal forms near the Earth’s surface from decomposed plant material, while diamonds originate in the Earth’s mantle—over ninety miles (145 km) closer to the core—and are brought to the surface through volcanic activity.
While it’s true that diamonds are created from carbon under extreme heat—2,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,100 degrees Celsius)—and immense pressure, the carbon source is unlikely to be coal. So, while the romantic idea of coal transforming into a dazzling diamond is appealing, it’s simply not grounded in reality.
Interestingly, modern technology allows scientists to create diamonds from almost any carbon source in a lab—even from the remains of a deceased loved one. A touching yet unconventional tribute.
4. The Misconception That All Founding Fathers Were Christian
A common myth perpetuated in history lessons is that America’s Founding Fathers were devout Christians. References to God in the Declaration of Independence, the inclusion of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance (which, by the way, wasn’t introduced until over a century later), and other factors have contributed to the belief that figures like Washington and his peers were fervent Christians.
However, this isn’t accurate. Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin, for example, were thought to be deists—individuals who acknowledge a higher power but don’t adhere strictly to religious texts like the Bible. George Washington likely leaned toward pantheism, the belief that divinity is synonymous with nature. John Adams identified as a Unitarian, a branch of Christianity that views Jesus as a moral leader rather than the Son of God. Alexander Hamilton did embrace Christianity, but only later in life, following the death of his son.
3. The Truth About Thanksgiving (All of It)
The popular narrative goes like this: The Pilgrims aboard the Mayflower landed at Plymouth Rock in 1620. Unprepared for the brutal winter, they were rescued by kind Native Americans, who provided food and taught them to grow corn. The following fall, to celebrate their first successful harvest in the New World, they held a feast, uniting Pilgrims and Native Americans in a moment of shared gratitude.
The truth, however, is far darker and more violent. Three years before the Pilgrims arrived, European fishermen and settlers had brought a plague that devastated the coastal tribes of New England, killing nearly ninety-six percent of the population. Reports describe villages littered with unburied bodies, as survivors fled to avoid the disease. One account by Howard Simpson noted, “Villages were abandoned and in ruins, with the ground covered in the bones of thousands who had perished, left without anyone to bury them.”
Evidence suggests the Pilgrims were aware of the plague and chose Cape Cod precisely because the Native population had been decimated, leaving behind cleared land and ready-to-harvest cornfields. To make matters worse, the Pilgrims often stole food and tools from the weakened survivors. While this was horrific, settlers in Virginia were reportedly cannibalizing Native Americans, making the Pilgrims seem almost merciful by comparison. Yes, I mean literally eating them.
2. The Misconception That Humans Evolved Directly from Apes
In this case, Christians are partially correct—though not in the way they might assume. Introductory lessons on evolution often leave students with the impression that humans descended directly from apes. Visit a zoo, and you might see what some believe to be your distant relatives playing and, well, engaging in less-than-dignified behavior.
However, this isn’t how evolution unfolded. If humans had evolved directly from apes, natural selection would have eliminated the apes, as the superior species (humans) would have outcompeted them. A more accurate theory is that humans and great apes—such as chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans—share a common ancestor. Over time, they evolved separately, with humans diverging from chimpanzees around six million years ago, gorillas about eight million years ago, and orangutans roughly twelve million years ago.
This process of divergence continues today—at least in the animal kingdom. Scientists suggest that less than a million years ago, eastern and western gorillas began evolving separately and are now developing distinct traits.
1. The Myth That Van Gogh Cut Off His Own Ear
If you ask someone to describe Vincent van Gogh, they’ll likely mention that he cut off his ear and sent it to his girlfriend. However, none of this actually happened—though the real story might be even more shocking.
A new theory suggests that van Gogh’s ear was severed by his fellow artist Paul Gauguin during a heated argument. Historian Hans Kaufmann, after examining old records and van Gogh’s letters, proposes that the two painters clashed, leading van Gogh to hurl a wine glass at Gauguin. In retaliation, Gauguin drew his sword and cut off van Gogh’s ear. To avoid legal consequences, Gauguin fabricated the story of van Gogh’s self-mutilation.
This wasn’t an isolated incident in the art world. The lovers Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine had a similar altercation. Under the influence of absinthe, Rimbaud stabbed Verlaine in the hand with a fork, which later resulted in Verlaine receiving a painful punishment and being sent to prison.
