12 Popular Misconceptions That Some of Us Still Believe

3 years ago

There are some numbers and facts in our minds that we consider to be undeniably true. And if we stopped believing timeless myths like the "5-second rule", what would happen to us? Perhaps it's high time to set the facts straight.

Bright Side found examples of "statistical" data that actually aren't true at all. And be sure to read to the end of the article, where you'll find a very interesting bonus!

1. In the past, people died before the age of 30.

In prehistoric times, the average life expectancy was about 30 years old, but that doesn't mean that all people died at the age of 29. The high child mortality rate made the average life expectancy lower. But the maximum age was often significantly higher than 30 years old.

2. People swallow 8 spiders a year.

Most predators won't attack something that is many times bigger than they are. Besides, spiders are very sensitive to warmth and vibration, so they wouldn't come near a human on purpose. The scary number appeared after Lisa Holst's article was published in 1993 where she made up "facts" to show how gullible people could be.

3. Lightning doesn't strike the same place twice.

Contrary to popular belief, lightning can strike the same spot twice. More than that, according to research, it's not all that rare.

4. It's necessary to drink 8 glasses of water per day.

If you try to consume enough water, but it's really hard to finish that 8th glass, don't do it. It means that you've already had enough water. This is not a universal number! The important thing you should do is drink water when you're thirsty. Research shows that the brain makes swallowing harder when the amount of water in the body has reached full capacity.

5. You shouldn't swim for 30 minutes after eating.

Swimming after eating won't harm you more than walking after eating - and contrary to popular belief, it can't lead to cramps. The worst thing that will happen is that you'll feel a bit nauseous.

6. 1 year of a dog's life equals 7 in human years.

If you want to calculate how old your dog is in human years, you shouldn't believe the 7:1 principle. In fact, everything depends on the breed and the size of your pet. This myth appeared thanks to children's math tasks back in the '60s when they needed to calculate dogs' ages using this principle.

7. Flies live for just 24 hours.

Adult flies don't live for 24 hours, but rather, approximately 2-4 weeks. They can also spend an entire winter in hibernation.

8. The tongue has 4 areas of taste perception.

In fact, the entire tongue can perceive taste and the myth that there were just 4 areas appeared as a result of the badly translated work of a German scientist.

9. Goldfish remember things for only 3 seconds.

Goldfish can actually remember things for longer than 3 seconds. Scientists from Israel conducted a study where they tried to teach goldfish to get food after making a certain sound. The fish remembered the sound 5 months later.

10. People have only 5 senses.

People have more than 5 senses. Some scientists count up to 21 including balance, pain, temperature, and the perception of body language.

11. We should use shower gel every day.

When we use shower gel every day, we wash off the skin's natural oils. That's why it can become dry and susceptible to different diseases. It's okay to use shower gel every day on just the hands, armpits, and groin area. For the entire body, use shower gel just 2-3 times a week.

12. Using eyeliner is perfectly safe.

When women apply eyeliner to their eyes, they usually don't think about the fact that the pencil can be contaminated with bacteria, fungus, and other dangerous things. In order to reduce the risk of infection, change your eye makeup every three months and avoid applying it inside the lash line.