Learning new things can be fun, but sometimes you’ll come across new pieces of information that will debunk certain things you accepted as facts. There are lots of inaccuracies or misconceptions that people swear are the gospel truth (but they’re wrong).
It can be annoying to find out that you’ve been wrong for years, but it’s probably better for you in the long run to learn which “facts” are actually horrible untruths that will you make you look like a complete fool. Here are some of the most common “facts” that are totally untrue, but most people believe:
1.) The Great Wall of China is visible from space.
2.) The fish used to make sushi is raw.
3.) Cracking your knuckles will lead to arthritis.
4.) Your hair and fingernails will continue to grow after you die.
5.) Vitamin C is a useful weapon for battling the common cold.
6.) Christopher Columbus discovered America.
7.) It takes seven years to digest swallowed gum.
8.) The common goldfish’s memory only lasts a few seconds.
9.) Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.
10.) Airplanes empty their toilet tanks while flying in mid-air.
11.) Penguins mate for life.
12.) French leader Napoleon Bonaparte was short.
13.) Humans only use 10% of their brains.
14.) Baby birds will be left for dead by their mothers if they make contact with humans.
15.) Bats are blind.
16.) A bite from a Daddy Longlegs spider would kill a human being.
17.) You can’t fold a piece of paper more than seven times.
18.) Bulls hate the color red.
19.) You need to wait an hour after eating before you can swim safely.
(via What Culture)
After this, you might not know what to believe anymore… the safe bet, though, is to question everything. You’ll never know when you’ll discover something new and earth-shattering.
