We’re often taught to trust what we learn in school, but as we grow older, we discover that some of the “facts” our teachers shared weren’t quite accurate. In this article, we revisit things we were taught in school that turned out to be incorrect later in life.
Bats Are Blind
This misconception stems from the old saying “blind as a bat.” Bats aren’t blind; they actually see quite well. They can also use echolocation when hunting and flying in the dark. It would be like saying that just because you can hear, you can’t see.
Humans Have Five Senses
We often hear that humans have just five senses, but actually, we have more. Besides the well-known senses of touch, sight, hearing, taste, and smell, we also have senses like balance, temperature, proprioception (knowing where our body parts are without looking), and even pain.
Napoleon Was Short
Many people think Napoleon Bonaparte was short, but this isn’t true. He was actually about average height for a man of his time. History reports that the idea that he was short might come from British propaganda or confusion over different measuring systems between France and Britain.
The Salem Witch Trials Burned Witches at the Stake
The truth is, Salem mostly hanged its accused witches, not burned them. This idea likely comes from mixing up the Salem trials with witch trials in Europe, where burning was more common.
The First Thanksgiving Was a Harmonious Feast
The story of the first Thanksgiving is not as happy and friendly as we were told. The commonly told version ignores the complex history of conflict and disease and the suffering people experienced. Many sources, such as Business Insider, reveal that the truth is more bloody and less about eating turkey.
Christopher Columbus Discovered America
Christopher Columbus didn’t discover a land that was already home to millions of people. Indigenous American people had lived in the Americas for centuries before Columbus arrived. In fact, if anything, Columbus only started misfortune, as his arrival led to colonization and suffering.
Albert Einstein Failed Math
Contrary to popular belief, Albert Einstein was great at math. It’s hard to believe that someone who made so many important discoveries in physics can be bad at math. Historians have found that his early academic records show remarkably high marks in math.
You Can See the Great Wall of China from Space
It’s a myth that you can see the Great Wall of China from space with the naked eye. You would still need special equipment to see it from that far away. According to the BBC, this myth even predates space exploration, meaning there can’t be any truth to it.
Thomas Edison Invented the Light Bulb
While some people might disagree, Edison didn’t invent the light bulb; he only made it better and more useful for everyday people. Before Edison, other inventors had already been working on light bulbs for years.
Chameleons Change Color to Blend In
Chameleons are famous for changing their colors, but it’s not just for camouflage, as many believe. Instead, chameleons change colors for various reasons, like communicating with other chameleons, regulating their body temperature, or even showing their mood and health. The ability to blend into their environment is just a small part of why chameleons change color.
Goldfish Have a 3-second Memory
Goldfish remember way more than just the last three seconds. If this myth were true, they would not be able to learn and remember tasks. For example, goldfish can be taught to swim through mazes and distinguish between different shapes, colors, and sounds.
Vikings Wore Horned Helmets
Vikings didn’t wear horned helmets; that’s just a myth from modern culture, particularly movies. There is no archaeological evidence supporting horned helmets, with the first sightings of horned helmets having been in 19th-century art and opera. Actual scientifically discovered Viking helmets were hornless.
The Tongue Has Specific Taste Zones
This fact is widely taught around the world, but it is far from the truth. According to the Cleveland Clinic, your whole tongue can taste sweet, salty, bitter, and sour, not just certain parts. Multiple recent high-quality studies show taste receptors are all over the tongue.
We Only Use 10% of Our Brains
This myth likely comes from a misunderstanding of how different parts of the brain work. In reality, every part of the brain has a known function, whether it’s for processing sensory information, controlling movements, or facilitating complex thoughts and emotions.
The Iron Maiden Was a Medieval Torture Device
The iron maiden, often shown as a medieval torture device, has little historical evidence supporting its use during the Middle Ages. From what history can tell us, it’s more likely that it was a 19th-century invention, possibly created as a sensational exhibit for museums or collections, rather than a tool for execution or interrogation.
Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
The belief that lightning never strikes the same place twice is completely false. In reality, lightning often targets the same locations, especially if they are tall and isolated. For instance, the Empire State Building is hit by lightning multiple times each year. This saying is more about telling us to make use of opportunities than a hard scientific fact.
Shaving Makes Hair Grow Back Thicker
Shaving doesn’t change how thick your hair grows back; it just looks that way because you are comparing your new hair to your shaved skin. If this myth were true, it would mean you would grow new hair follicles every time you shave. Sounds a little scary, if you ask me.
The Five-Second Rule for Dropped Food
The five-second rule isn’t a real thing; dropped food can pick up germs right away. Bacteria aren’t like insects, meaning they don’t disperse when food falls on them. They simply attach. Think of them as sand rather than beads.
