Buzz
I can't resist the allure of exploring facts and misconceptions – they are among my favorite topics, especially in the Mytour category. We've already published a substantial collection of lists addressing this subject, but there's always space for more. Below, we present 15 misconceptions that haven't been covered on our site before. Enjoy reading!
1. Misconceptions 1 to 5
1. Vertigo is not the same as a fear of heights – that would be acrophobia (from the Greek word 'akros', meaning 'highest'). Vertigo (derived from the Latin word for 'whirling') refers to the feeling of motion while standing still, often accompanied by dizziness. It is a well-recognized medical condition.
2. Microwave ovens don't cook food from the inside out. The phenomenon called the 'skin effect' occurs in microwaving, where electricity is most concentrated on the surface (or skin) of the food being cooked. The further from the surface, the less effect the current has. This is why, when defrosting a steak, the outside might become overcooked while the inside stays frozen.
3. Russia's October Revolution isn't celebrated in October. This is due to the Julian calendar used at the time of the revolution. When Russia switched to the Gregorian calendar the following year, October 25 on the Julian calendar was converted to November 7 on the Gregorian calendar.
4. Contrary to its name, Oktoberfest doesn't begin in October. It actually starts in September and runs for 16 days, concluding in the first week of October. Thus, most of the beer-drinking festivities take place in September.
5. Contrary to popular belief – likely fueled by movies and TV shows – you don't need to wait 24 hours to report someone missing. You can file a report at any time if you suspect someone is missing. While police may not respond immediately if an adult with a history of disappearing for a drink is missing, they will act swiftly if it's a child who hasn’t returned home from school.
2 Misconceptions 6 – 10
6. In the past, there was no such thing as the phrase 'ye olde shoppe' – 'ye' never meant 'the.' Instead, it was a word for 'you,' still used in parts of Ireland today. The confusion arises because 'the' used to be spelled with the letter 'thorn' (Þe), which is no longer used in modern English. The pronunciation of 'Þe' was identical to today's 'the.' When the printing press was invented, it didn't have the 'thorn' character, so the letter 'y' was substituted.
7. Continuing on this topic: 'thou, thee, thine' were once informal words, although we often use them today to suggest a humorous sense of formality. Over time, these informal pronouns were phased out and replaced by plural (or formal singular) forms. This is why, in the Bible, 'You' is used to address God, while 'thou' is used for everyone else. Interestingly, and perhaps embarrassingly, Joseph Smith reversed this usage in his translation of the Book of Mormon.
8. Muscle doesn’t turn into fat if you stop exercising. Fat is stored in fat cells or burned for energy, while muscles are composed of muscle fibers, which cannot transform into fat. If you stop working out, your muscles may lose mass, but that doesn't automatically lead to an increase in body fat.
9. Helen Keller wasn’t born blind and deaf. She lost both her sight and hearing due to an illness when she was just one year old. By the time her famous teacher arrived when she was seven, Helen had developed a vocabulary of about 60 signs that she could use to communicate with her mother.
10. The Middle Ages brought forth many curious ideas, but despite popular myths (often perpetuated by Hollywood), chastity belts were actually a creation of the bizarre Victorian era. These devices weren’t meant to prevent women from bearing children with the wrong man, but were intended as a method to curb masturbation. Sorry ladies.
Misconceptions 11 – 15
11. Embassies and consulates aren’t considered part of the country they represent; instead, they are considered part of the host nation. For example, the US Embassy in Iraq is not considered US soil, but rather Iraqi soil. However, embassies and their personnel are granted certain privileges as outlined by international laws and treaties.
12. Contrary to popular belief, white clothing isn’t necessarily the best choice for staying cool. While it’s true that white fabric reflects sunlight, the same effect occurs on the inside – your clothes reflect your body heat back at you. Darker clothing, such as black, is actually more effective at drawing heat away from your body. In extremely hot climates, it’s better to wear black and avoid direct sun exposure, a common practice in many Arabian countries.
13. Paper currency isn’t actually made from paper – it’s crafted from a blend of cotton and linen, bonded with gelatin. This composition helps it retain its color and durability much longer than paper would. In certain countries, traditional paper bills have even been replaced by plastic money.
14. Urinating on a jellyfish sting is not a recommended solution in an emergency – not only will it not help, it could make things worse. Most jellyfish stings react negatively to fresh water, and urine is similar in composition, lacking the saltiness of seawater. Using urine or fresh water can cause unopened sting cells to activate, intensifying both the pain and the effects. The best approach is to rinse the sting with seawater and seek immediate medical help, as some jellyfish stings can be deadly and lead to anaphylactic shock.
15. Contrary to popular belief, the Wall Street crash didn’t trigger a wave of suicides. In the aftermath, only two suicides were documented, and neither was linked to financial losses. In fact, those who lost money, including bankers, investors, and ordinary people, simply focused on rebuilding and recovering their finances.
