Growing up, you probably heard some myths that everyone believed were true. If you did some specific action, you would see the consequences of it; it would make you either sick or cause problems in your life.
These myths served almost like warnings, and we took them quite literally. Other myths were based on ‘science’ and some were debunked once we understood the world around us better.
What was once treated as a cold-hearted truth was debunked in modern times, but these ‘superstitions’ made us truly believe them, and many still do.
1. Swallowing Gum Means It Stays in Your Stomach for Seven Years
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Imagine chewing a gum as a kid, and you suddenly swallow it. You are petrified, and you turn to your parents for comfort. What do they offer?
More concern, as they express that the gum will stay in your stomach and turn into a giant ball of everything. This myth traumatized kids, and many feared chewing gum entirely.
The truth? It passes through your stomach like everything else. But this myth did make parents buy less gum, and it kept some classrooms cleaner.
2. Cracking Your Knuckles Will Give You Arthritis
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If you were a kid who loved cracking your knuckles, this was every parent’s favorite line to stop the annoying noise.
This myth has been debunked since science has shown there’s no link between knuckle cracking and arthritis. The real truth is that the popping sound comes from gas bubbles in your joints, which means that your bones are not grinding at all.
So if you like it, crack away, just make sure your parents are not around you.
3. If You Go Outside With Wet Hair, You’ll Catch a Cold
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You probably heard this one many times, once you took a shower and decided to go out with your friends.
This myth was very common, and although our parents meant well, there is no scientific evidence that going out with wet hair will make you sick.
We do know that only viruses can make us ill, so if you still feel guilty about going out after a shower, it is time to relax and enjoy your hair drying in the sun.
4. Watching Too Much TV Will Ruin Your Eyes
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If you grew up watching too many cartoons and TV shows, you probably heard your parents or grandparents using this myth to make you stop.
This myth has no scientific proof, and although looking at screens can tire your eyes, it will not make your vision worse.
Blinking and taking a break is always beneficial, but we are now sure that this myth was created as a way to save some electricity, or to change the channel to the news.
So, if you still like watching TV for a long time, do not worry about your eyes going bad.
5. You Have to Wait 30 Minutes After Eating to Swim
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You had your meal and you simply could not wait to get to the pool or sea… but your parents warned you that you had to wait at least 30 minutes before going in.
Why? Because your stomach would turn, you would feel sick and vomit, and probably drown. This was a myth that made you sit for 30 minutes that felt like a year before jumping into water.
The only thing that made kids sick was this waiting game, nothing else. The myth has been debunked, and it is totally safe to swim after a meal.
6. Humans Only Use 10% of Their Brains
We all grew up watching science documentaries, and the new brain discoveries always seemed fun. Learning how our most important organ works was somehow magical.
However, the myth that we only use 10% of our brain sounded weird and unbelievable, and it was a perfect plot for sci-fi scripts and self-help books.
We thought that we were much smarter than we are and that we could even have superpowers if we unlick our brain’s potential. however, science now shows that we use much more, even when resting.
7. Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
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Well, to put it bluntly, it does. And quite often, if we are going to be honest. Trees, skyscrapers, and unlucky backyards can be hit more than once because lightning simply does not have any memory.
Even the Empire State Building gets struck about 20 to 25 times a year. So, the best way to protect yourself is to stay home under a blanket with a cup of tea and a romantic movie.
8. Shaving Makes Hair Grow Back Thicker and Darker
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It was believed for a long time that if you shave your head or beard, your hair will grow much thicker and healthier. Many children’s hair was shaved for this reason, and people were surprised why it never recovered.
Well, when people started studying hair and how it works, it was proven that your root is always the same, no matter how many times you shave your head or beard.
Cutting and maintaining hair can help a lot, but the root is what makes your hair grow; the sharp razor can only make it appear more intense once it starts growing.
9. Dropping a Penny From a Skyscraper Can Kill Someone
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If you were ever tempted to throw a penny from a skyscraper, and this myth stopped you, we are here to tell you it is not true.
A penny isn’t aerodynamic enough to build deadly speed, so it is more than safe to drop it from the 11th floor.
At most, it might sting someone it hits, but it won’t go full Final Destination scene.
However, it is not advised to do it because it simply is not cool to throw change from rooftops, because there may be children around, or you could hurt small animals.
10. Goldfish Only Have a 3-Second Memory
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You have probably heard the saying: “They have the memory of a goldfish.” It implies that someone has a really short memory span, because it was believed for a long time that goldfish only have a 3-second memory.
However, recent study shows that goldfish can remember much more, such as feeding times and certain paths they took while swimming.
So, goldfish might be better at remembering stuff than us and we never knew it.
