Buzz
There's nothing quite like mythbusting (which is the reason why shows like MythBusters are so popular). So, here we are again, bringing you a fresh list of widely accepted but completely false science myths.
10. Evolutionary Advancements
The Myth: Evolution results in organisms evolving from 'lower' to 'higher' forms.
While it's true that natural selection eliminates harmful genes, there are plenty of examples where imperfect organisms continue to thrive. Fungi, sharks, crayfish, and mosses have all stayed remarkably consistent over long periods. These species are so well-adapted to their environments that they don't require further development to survive.
Some other species have undergone significant changes, but not always for the better. Environmental shifts have led to adaptations that might not be as effective in the new context. Fitness is about matching one's environment, not about evolving toward greater complexity. [Source]
9. Humans Explode in Space
The Myth: The human body will explode when exposed to the vacuum of space.
This myth likely originates from science fiction films, which use it to inject some thrill or suspense into the story. In reality, a human can survive in space for 15 to 30 seconds, provided they exhale before exposure (to prevent their lungs from rupturing and air entering the bloodstream). After roughly 15 seconds, the lack of oxygen causes unconsciousness, which eventually leads to death by suffocation.
8. The Brightest Star
The Myth: Polaris is the brightest star in the night sky of the northern hemisphere.
In reality, Sirius is brighter with a magnitude of -1.47, compared to Polaris' 1.97 (the smaller the number, the brighter the star). Polaris is important not for its brightness but because it indicates the North direction, earning it the name 'North Star'. It is the brightest star in the Ursa Minor constellation, and interestingly, it is only the current North Star since pole stars change over time due to the slow, continuous drift of stars relative to Earth's axis.
7. The Five Second Rule
The Myth: Food that falls on the floor is safe to eat as long as it’s picked up within five seconds.
This is absolute nonsense, though it should be clear to most of us. If there are germs on the floor and the food touches them, they will stick to the food immediately. That said, eating germs and dirt isn't always harmful as it can actually help strengthen our immune system. Personally, I follow the 'how-tasty-is-it' rule: if it’s something really delicious, I don’t care if it sits there for ten minutes—I’ll still eat it.
6. The Dark Side of the Moon
The Myth: There is a dark side of the moon.
In reality, every part of the moon is illuminated by the sun at some point. The misconception arises from the fact that one side of the moon is never visible from Earth. This is due to tidal locking, which happens because Earth's gravitational pull is so strong that it keeps the same side of the moon facing us. Wikipedia describes it well: 'Tidal locking occurs when the gravitational gradient makes one side of an astronomical body always face another; for example, one side of the Earth's Moon always faces the Earth. A tidally locked body takes just as long to rotate around its own axis as it does to revolve around its partner. This synchronous rotation causes one hemisphere to constantly face the partner body.'
5. Brain Cells
The Myth: Brain cells cannot regenerate – once a brain cell is lost, it is gone forever.
This myth was widely accepted and taught for many years by the scientific community. However, in 1998, researchers from Sweden and the Salk Institute in La Jolla, California, discovered that brain cells in fully grown humans can regenerate. It was once thought that new cell growth would disrupt complex brain functions, but this groundbreaking study revealed that the brain's memory and learning center can indeed produce new cells, offering hope for potential treatments for conditions like Alzheimer's.
4. Pennies from Heaven
The Myth: A penny dropped from a great height can kill someone below.
This myth is so widespread that it has even become a cliché in movies. The idea is that if you drop a penny from the top of a tall building (like the Empire State Building), it will gain enough speed to fatally injure someone on the ground. However, the aerodynamics of a penny are not sufficient for it to become a deadly projectile. In reality, if someone were hit by the penny, they would feel a sting, but would survive the impact.
3. Gravity in Space
The Myth: There is no gravity in space.
In reality, gravity is very much present in space. The reason astronauts appear weightless is that they are orbiting the Earth. They are constantly falling toward the Earth but are also moving sideways fast enough to avoid it. Essentially, they are in a state of perpetual free-fall. Gravity is present throughout most of space, and when a shuttle reaches orbital height (about 250 miles above the Earth), gravity is only reduced by 10%.
Inspired by an insightful LiveScience Article. This article is shared under the GFDL license, as it includes quotes from Wikipedia.
2. Lightning
The Myth: Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
Next time you witness a lightning strike and think about running to a safe spot to avoid the next one, remember this: lightning can and does strike the same place more than once. In fact, it's quite common. Lightning tends to target areas like tall trees or buildings. In an open field, the tallest object will likely get hit repeatedly until the lightning moves far enough to strike something else. For example, the Empire State Building is struck by lightning about 25 times a year.
1. Friction Heat
The Myth: Meteors are heated by friction when entering the atmosphere.
When a meteoroid enters Earth's atmosphere (becoming a meteor), it is the compression of air in front of the object, not friction, that causes it to heat up. The pressure on the air generates enough heat to make the meteor glow brightly for our viewing pleasure (if we happen to be looking at the right moment). Additionally, let's clear up the misconception that meteors are hot when they land on Earth as meteorites. Meteorites are typically cold when they hit the ground, and they are often found covered in frost. This is because they are so cold from their journey through space that the heat generated upon entry is only enough to burn off their outer layers.
