Jump to content

List of common misconceptions: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
Restoring (again) good, sourced section
again, rm music examples - these are not widely held misconceptions, and are not referenced as such
Line 172: Line 172:
===Scientific method===
===Scientific method===
* There is no single, strict [[scientific method]] used by all scientists, a misconception popularized by elementary science textbooks. The rigid ''hypothesis→experiment→conclusion'' model of science is an important part of many fields, particularly basic sciences like physics and chemistry, but is not the only way to perform genuine science. Many sciences do not fit well into this mould ([[astronomy]], [[paleontology]], [[mathematics]]), and much important scientific work has come from curiosity and unguided exploration, for example, the [[discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation]], or the development of the [[atomic force microscope]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Berkeley understanding science: how science works|url=http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/howscienceworks_01|accessdate=2009-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=W. I. Beveridge |title=The Art of Scientific Investigation|publisher= Vintage|date= 1960 |isbn= 0394701291}}</ref>
* There is no single, strict [[scientific method]] used by all scientists, a misconception popularized by elementary science textbooks. The rigid ''hypothesis→experiment→conclusion'' model of science is an important part of many fields, particularly basic sciences like physics and chemistry, but is not the only way to perform genuine science. Many sciences do not fit well into this mould ([[astronomy]], [[paleontology]], [[mathematics]]), and much important scientific work has come from curiosity and unguided exploration, for example, the [[discovery of cosmic microwave background radiation]], or the development of the [[atomic force microscope]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Berkeley understanding science: how science works|url=http://undsci.berkeley.edu/article/howscienceworks_01|accessdate=2009-05-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|author=W. I. Beveridge |title=The Art of Scientific Investigation|publisher= Vintage|date= 1960 |isbn= 0394701291}}</ref>

== Music ==

* Contrary to the self-perpetuated popular myth, [[Louis Armstrong]] was not born on [[Independence Day (United States)|July 4]], [[1900]]. It was not until mid-[[1980s]] that his real birth date was revealed &ndash; August 4, 1901.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/exploring/louis/scrapbook/bio/bio_detail.html|title=Louis Armstrong Bio|publisher=[http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/aboutus/ ArtsEdge, Kennedy Center]|quote=''Although it would be fitting for American icon Louis Armstrong to be born on July 4, 1900, which Armstrong himself stated was his date of birth, evidence from a baptismal certificate indicates that his true birthday was August 4, 1901.''|accessdate=Jun. 25, 2009}}</ref>
* Although included in [[Charlie Parker]]'s "Omnibook" and eventually copyrighted under Parker's name, the [[jazz standard]] "[[Donna Lee]]" was actually composed by [[Miles Davis]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Milestones: The Music and Times of Miles Davis|last=Chambers|first=Jack|authorlink=Jack Chambers|year=1998|publisher=De Capo Press|isbn=0306808498|page=61|url=http://www.amazon.com/Milestones-Music-Times-Miles-Davis/dp/0306808498|accessdate=Jun. 25, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Jaco Pastorius]] is often misquoted to have invented the [[fretless bass]] by removing the [[fret]]s from a fretted [[bass guitar]] that he had, instead of replacing his [[upright bass]] that had been ruined due to [[humidity]]. Actually, [[Fender]] started marketing fretless [[Fender Jazz Bass|Jazz Bass]] models as early as [[1964]]. The previous owner of that guitar (a [[Florida]]-based [[saxophonist]] named Ben Champion) had already taken out the frets himself, but Jaco was less than satisfied by his overall work, thus finishing the job by filling the gaps with [[plastic wood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lucaspickford.com/transinterview.htm|title=Lament for Linus|publisher=[[Guitar Player Magazine]]|author=Bill Milkowski|quote=''When I got the bass, the cat who had it had taken the frets out himself, and he did a really bad job of it &ndash; left all kinds of nicks and chunks taken out of the fretboard. So I really had to fix it up, I filled in all the chunks with Plastic Wood.''|accessdate=Jun. 25, 2009}}</ref>


==Religion==
==Religion==

Revision as of 15:35, 22 December 2009

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

This list of common or popular misconceptions corrects various fallacious, misleading, or otherwise flawed ideas that are described by multiple reliable sources as widely held.

History

The Americas

  • Columbus's efforts to obtain support for his voyages were not hampered by a European belief in a flat Earth. In fact, sailors and navigators of the time knew that the Earth is spherical, but (correctly) disagreed with Columbus' estimates of the distance to India. If the Americas did not exist, and had Columbus continued to India (even putting aside the threat of mutiny he was under), he would have run out of supplies before reaching it at the rate he was traveling. The problem here was mainly a navigational one, the impossibility of determining longitude without an accurate clock. This problem remained until inventor John Harrison designed his first marine chronometers. The intellectual class had known that the earth was spherical since the works of Indian Astronomer Aryabhatta who wrote Aryabhatiya and those of Ancient Greece.[1] Eratosthenes made a very good measurement of the Earth's diameter in the third century BC.[2][3]
  • Contrary to the popular image of the Pilgrim Fathers, the early settlers of the Plymouth Colony in present-day Plymouth, Massachusetts did not dress in black, wear buckles, or wear black steeple hats. According to Plimoth Plantation historian James W. Baker, this image was formed in the nineteenth century when buckles were viewed as a kind of emblem of quaintness. This is also the reason illustrators gave Santa Claus buckles.[4][5][6][7]
  • George Washington did not have wooden teeth as commonly believed. According to a study of Washington's four known dentures performed by a forensic anthropologist from the University of Pittsburgh (in collaboration with the National Museum of Dentistry, itself associated with the Smithsonian Museum), the dentures were made of gold, hippopotamus ivory, lead, human and animal teeth (including horse and donkey teeth).[8]
  • A common misconception among Americans is that Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation immediately freed all American slaves.[9] Instead, Lincoln's proclamation warned that slaves in states still in rebellion as of January 1 of the following year will be freed. Since rebelling states did not recognize the power of the Federal government, few slaves were freed as a direct result of the Proclamation.[10] Regions in the South that were under Union control when the Proclamation was issued were not affected by it. These regions were Tennessee, southern Louisiana, and parts of Virginia.[11] It wasn't until the Thirteenth Amendment that slavery was officially abolished in all of the United States.

Europe

Napoleon on the Bellerophon, a painting by Charles Lock Eastlake depicting Napoleon Bonaparte, who was taller than his nickname, The Little Corporal, suggests
  • Napoleon Bonaparte (pictured) was not especially short.[12] After his death in 1821, the French emperor's height was recorded as 5 feet 2 inches in French feet. This corresponds to 5 feet 6.5 inches in modern international feet, or 1.686 metres.[13] His nickname was le petit caporal (The Little Corporal). There are competing explanations for why he was called this, but few modern scholars believe it referred to his stature.
  • Italian dictator Benito Mussolini did not "make the trains run on time". Much of the repair work had been performed before Mussolini and the Fascists came to power in 1922. Accounts from the era also suggest that the Italian railways' legendary adherence to timetables was more myth than reality.[14]
  • During World War II, King Christian X of Denmark did not thwart Nazi attempts to identify Jews by wearing a yellow star himself. Jews in Denmark were never forced to wear the Star of David. The Danes did help most Jews flee the country before the end of the war.[15][16]

Politics

  • Al Gore did not specifically say that he invented the Internet. What he did state was, "I took the initiative in creating the Internet".[17] Gore was the original drafter of the High Performance Computing Act of 1991, which provided significant funding for supercomputing centers, and this in turn led to upgrades of the Internet's precursor, the NSFNet, and development of NCSA Mosaic, the browser that popularized the World Wide Web; see Al Gore and information technology.
  • John F. Kennedy's words "Ich bin ein Berliner" are correct German for I am a Berliner. An urban legend has it that due to his use of the indefinite article ein, Berliner is translated as jam doughnut, and that the population of Berlin was amused by the supposed mistake. However, the phrase is correct for the intended meaning, and in fact the term Berliner for jam doughnuts is not used in Berlin, where they are generally called (Berliner) Pfannkuchen ("pancakes").[18]

Cooking

  • Searing meat does not "seal in" moisture, and in fact may actually cause meat to lose moisture. Rather, meat is seared to create a brown crust and to add a rich flavor via the Maillard reaction.[19][20]
  • Mussels that do not open when cooked can still be fully cooked and safe to eat.[21]
  • Some cooks believe alcohol evaporates quickly when heated, and thus that food items cooked with wine or liquor are non-alcoholic. However, it can take 3 hours or longer to dissipate or burn off all the alcohol, depending on how it is added.[22]
  • Sushi does not mean raw fish, and not all sushi includes raw fish.[23][24] The usual Japanese term for raw fish is sashimi. The term sushi actually refers to the way the rice is prepared with a vinegary dressing.[25] Toppings for the rice may traditionally include raw fish—but also cooked seafood, fish roe, egg, or vegetables such as cucumber, daikon radish, or ume plum. The dish constituting sushi and other fillings wrapped in a seaweed is referred to as makizushi, not sushi.

US law

  • Entrapment law in the United States does not forbid police officers from denying that they are police. [26] It is more concerned with enticing people to commit crimes they would not, in the normal course of events, have considered. [27]

Science

Astronomy

A satellite image of a section of the Great Wall of China, running diagonally from lower left to upper right (not to be confused with the much more prominent river running from upper left to lower right).
  • It is commonly claimed[28] that the Great Wall of China is the only man-made object visible from the Moon. This is false. None of the Apollo astronauts reported seeing any man-made object from the Moon. The misconception is believed to have been popularized by Richard Halliburton decades before the first moon landing.[29]
  • Black holes, unlike the common image, do not act as cosmic vacuum cleaners any more than do other stars.[30] When a star evolves into a black hole, the gravitational attraction at a given distance from the body is no greater than it was for the star. That is to say, were the Sun to be replaced by a black hole of the same mass, the Earth would continue in the same orbit (assuming spherical symmetry of the sun). Due to a black hole's formation being explosive in nature, the object would lose a certain amount of its energy in the process, which, according to the mass–energy equivalence, means that a black hole would be of lower mass than the parent object, and actually have a weaker gravitational pull.[31]
  • When a meteor lands on Earth (after which it is termed a meteorite), it is not usually hot. In fact, many are found with frost on them. A meteor's great speed during entry is enough to melt or vaporize its outermost layer, but any molten material will be quickly blown off (ablated), and the interior of the meteor does not have time to heat up because rocks are poor conductors of heat. Also, atmospheric drag can slow small meteors to terminal velocity by the time they hit the ground, giving the surface time to cool down.[32][page needed]
  • It is a common misconception that seasons are caused by the Earth being closer to the Sun in the summer than in the winter. In fact, the Earth is actually farther from the Sun when it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Seasons are actually the result of the Earth being tilted on its axis by 23.5 degrees. As the Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of the world receive different amounts of direct sunlight. In July, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun giving longer days and more direct sunlight; in December, it is tilted away. The seasons are reversed in the Southern Hemisphere, which is tilted towards the Sun in January and away from the Sun in July. In tropical areas of the world, there is no noticeable change in the amount of sunlight.[33][34] See also effect of sun angle on climate.
  • It is a common misconception[35] that it's easier to balance an egg on its end on the first day of spring. In fact, the ease or difficulty of balancing an egg is the same 365 days a year. This myth is said to originate with the egg of Li Chun, an ancient Chinese folk belief that it is easier to balance an egg on Li Chun, the first day of spring in the Chinese lunar calendar. In Chinese Li=setup/erect; Chun=spring/egg. Setup spring is a Chinese solar term, literally interpreted as erecting an egg for fun. It was introduced to the western world in a Life article in 1945, and popularized once again by self-titled 'urban shaman' Donna Henes, who has hosted an annual egg balancing ceremony in New York City since the mid-1970s.[36][37][38][39]

Human body and health

An incorrect map of the tongue showing zones which taste bitter (1), sour (2), salty (3) and sweet (4). In reality, all zones can sense all tastes.
  • Different tastes can be detected on all parts of the tongue by taste buds,[40] with slightly increased sensitivities in different locations depending on the person, contrary to the popular belief that specific tastes only correspond to specific mapped sites on the tongue.[41] The original tongue map was based on a mistranslation by a Harvard psychologist of a discredited German paper[42] that was written in 1901.
  • People do not use only ten percent of their brains. While it is true that a small minority of neurons in the brain are actively firing at any one time, the inactive neurons are important too.[43][44] This myth has been commonplace in American culture at least as far back as the start of the 20th Century, as was attributed to William James, who apparently used the expression metaphorically.[45] In the middle of the century, it was attributed to Albert Einstein[citation needed]. Some findings of brain science (such as the high ratio of glial cells to neurons) have been mistakenly read as providing support for the myth.[45]
  • There is no single theory that satisfactorily explains myopia—in particular, studies show that so-called eyestrain from close reading and computer games does not explain myopia. There is also no evidence that reading in dim light or sitting close to a television causes vision to deteriorate.[46][47]
  • Shaving does not cause hair to grow back thicker or coarser or darker. This belief is due to the fact that hair that has never been cut has a tapered end, whereas, after cutting, there is no taper. Thus, it appears thicker, and feels coarser due to the sharper, unworn edges.[48] Hair can also appear darker after it grows back because hair that has never been cut is often lighter due to sun exposure.
  • Hair and fingernails do not continue to grow after a person dies. Rather, the skin dries and shrinks away from the bases of hairs and nails, giving the appearance of growth.[49]
  • Although there are hair care products which are marketed as being able to repair split ends and damaged hair, there is no such cure. A good conditioner might prevent damage from occurring in the first place, but the only way to get rid of split ends after they appear is by a hair cut.[50][51][52]
  • Snapping or cracking one's knuckles does not cause arthritis.[53]
  • Sugar does not cause hyperactivity in children.[54] Double blind trials have shown no difference in behaviour between children given sugar full or sugar-free diets, even in studies specifically looking at children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder or those considered "sensitive" to sugar. In fact, it was found that the difference in the children's behaviour was all in the parents' minds.[55]
  • Prolonged exposure to cold weather such as rain or winter conditions does not increase the likelihood of catching a cold.[56][unreliable medical source?] Although common colds are seasonal, with more occurring during winter, experiments so far have failed to produce evidence that short-term exposure to cold weather or direct chilling increases susceptibility to infection, implying that the seasonal variation is instead due to a change in behaviors such as increased time spent indoors close to others.[57][58][59][60][61] A lowering of body temperature can, however, reduce the body's resistance to an infection that is already present.[62] (See hypothermia)
  • It is a common misconception that sleepwalkers should not be awakened. While it is true that a person may be confused or disoriented for a short time after awakening, it is actually quite dangerous not to wake a sleepwalker as they may injure themselves if they trip over objects or lose their balance while sleepwalking. Such injuries are common among sleepwalkers.[63][64]
  • While the vitamin A in carrots does help to build healthy vision (among other things), it does not improve the eyesight of a person already in possession of healthy vision nor does it improve night vision. In fact, an excess of carrots can cause vitamin A toxicity and carotenemia in rare cases. This misconception arose from an RAF attempt to hide the discovery of radar from the Axis forces by claiming that their pilots had gained vastly improved night vision from being fed carrots, rather than from any technological advancement.[65][unreliable medical source?]
  • In Korea, it is commonly believed that sleeping in a closed room with an electric fan running can be fatal in the summer. According to the Korean government, "In some cases, a fan turned on too long can cause death from suffocation, hypothermia, or fire from overheating." The Korea Consumer Protection Board issued a consumer safety alert recommending that electric fans be set on timers, direction changed and doors left open. Belief in fan death is common even among knowledgeable medical professionals in Korea. According to Dr. Yeon Dong-su, dean of Kwandong University's medical school, "If it is completely sealed, then in the current of an electric fan, the temperature can drop low enough to cause a person to die of hypothermia."[66][67][68][69]
  • Duct tape has little to no effect in removing warts[70][71][unreliable medical source?]. This misconception[clarification needed] is derived from a medical study that announced this claim[clarification needed] on major news networks on October 15, 2002 .[72][unreliable medical source?] This treatment is often called by the name duct tape occlusion therapy. A recent study claimed to have debunked these findings, pointing out the original researchers didn't actually examine participants to determine if the warts were gone.[73] In the 2006 study of 103 children [Haen et al.], duct tape did not perform significantly better than a placebo. This study compared clear duct tape, applied six nights a week to corn pad placebos, which were applied one night a week. In a study released in 2007, a study among older adults found duct tape helped only 21% of the time and was no better than moleskin, a cotton-tape bandage used to protect the skin.[74][unreliable medical source?]
  • High levels of testosterone do not necessarily make humans more aggressive and less cooperative, even though this is observed in other animals. Human behaviour is very complicated and heavily affected by social condition and beliefs.[75][76]

Biology

  • Warts on human skin are caused by viruses that are unique to humans (Human papillomavirus). Humans cannot catch warts from toads or other animals; the bumps on a toad are not warts.[77]
  • The claim[78] that a duck's quack does not echo is false, although the echo may be difficult to hear for humans under some circumstances.[79]
  • The notion that goldfish have a memory of only three seconds is false.[80][81] They have been trained to navigate mazes and can recognize their owners after an exposure of a few months.[82][83]
  • Lemmings do not engage in mass suicidal dives off cliffs when migrating. They will, however, occasionally, and unintentionally fall off cliffs when venturing into unknown territory, with no knowledge of the boundaries of the environment. The misconception is due largely to the Disney film White Wilderness, which shot many of the migration scenes (also staged by using multiple shots of different groups of lemmings) on a large, snow-covered turntable in a studio. Photographers later pushed the lemmings off a cliff.[84]
  • Bats are not blind. While most bat species do use echolocation to augment their vision, all bats have eyes and are capable of sight.[85][86][87]
  • It's a common myth that an earthworm becomes two worms when cut in half. This is not correct.[88] An earthworm can survive being bisected, but only the front half of the worm (where the mouth is located) can survive, while the other half dies.[89] On the other hand, species of the planaria family of flatworms actually do become two new planaria when bisected or split down the middle.[90]
  • According to urban myth, the Daddy Long-Legs Spider (Pholcus phalangioides) is the most venomous spider in the world, but it is harmless to humans because its fangs cannot penetrate human skin. This is false as Pholcus phalangioides can pierce human skin, however, the toxicity of this spider's venom has a very weak effect on humans.[91] In addition, there is also confusion regarding the use of the name Daddy Long Legs, because Harvestmen (order Opiliones, which are not spiders) and crane flies (which are insects) are also commonly referred to as Daddy Long Legs, and share (also incorrectly) the myth of venomousness.[92][93]


Evolution

  • Biological evolution does not address the origin of life; for that, see abiogenesis. The two are commonly and mistakenly conflated. Evolution describes (and through the theory of evolution, endeavors to explain) the changes in gene frequencies that occur in populations of living organisms over time, and thus, presupposes that life already exists. Evolution likewise says nothing about cosmology, the Big Bang, or the origins of the universe.[94][95]
  • The word theory in the theory of evolution does not insinuate doubt from mainstream science regarding its validity; the concepts of theory and hypothesis have specific meanings in a scientific context. While theory in colloquial usage may denote a hunch or conjecture, a scientific theory is a set of principles which explain observable phenomena in natural terms.[96][97] Evolution is a theory in the same sense as germ theory or plate tectonics.[98] (See Evolution is just a theory, not a fact.)
  • Humans did not evolve from chimpanzees.[99] Instead, humans and apes share a common ancestor that lived about 5 to 8 million years ago. This common ancestor diverged into two separate lineages, one evolving into modern-day chimpanzees and bonobos, while the other eventually evolved into modern humans.[100]
  • Evolution is not a progression from inferior to superior organisms, and it also does not necessarily require an increase in complexity (see evolution of complexity). A population can evolve to become simpler with less genetic information or have a smaller genome, but devolution is a misnomer.[101][102]

Physics

  • Contrary to the common myth,[103] the Coriolis effect does not determine the direction that water rotates in a bathtub drain or a flushing toilet. The Coriolis force is relatively small; it appears over large scales (like weather systems), or in systems such as the Foucault pendulum in which the small influence is allowed to accumulate over time. In a bathtub or toilet, the flow of the water over the basin itself produces forces that dwarf the Coriolis force. In addition, most toilets inject water into the bowl at an angle, causing a spin too fast to be affected by the Coriolis effect.[104]
  • Gyroscopic forces are not required for a rider to balance a bicycle.[105][106][107] However, the stability of a bicycle is improved by gyroscopic forces as well as by its geometry and the rider's ability to counteract tilting by steering.
An illustration of the equal transit-time fallacy.
  • It is not true that air takes the same time to travel above and below an aircraft's wing.[108] This misconception, illustrated at right, is widespread among textbooks and non-technical reference books, and even appears in pilot training materials.
    Further information: equal transit-time fallacy, list of works with the equal transit-time fallacy, and lift (force)
  • Putting a teaspoon in the neck of an opened bottle of champagne will not help it retain its fizz.[109] The misconception may arise from the fact that few people have two bottles of champagne open and unfinished at the same time to perform an accurate comparison[110] and likely suffer from subjective validation bias.
  • Glass is not a high-viscosity liquid at room temperature: it is an amorphous solid, although it does have some chemical properties normally associated with liquids. Panes of stained glass windows often have thicker glass at the bottom than at the top, and this has been cited as an example of the slow flow of glass over centuries. However, this unevenness is due to the window manufacturing processes used in earlier eras, which produced glass panes that were unevenly thick at the time of their installation. It is not uncommon to find old windows that are thicker at the sides or the top.[111][112]

Scientific method

Religion

Christianity

Islam

Technology

Inventions

Transportation

  • The United States Interstate Highway System was not designed with airplane landings in mind. A common urban legend states that one out of every five (or ten) miles of highway must be straight and flat to allow emergency (or military) airplane landings, but this is not the case.[122][123] However, several parts of the German and later the Swiss Autobahn system were indeed designed to be auxiliary military airports, both during World War II and the Cold War.[124]
  • Toilet waste is never intentionally dumped overboard in aircraft. All waste is collected in tanks which are emptied on the ground by special toilet waste vehicles. A vacuum is used to allow the toilet to be flushed with less water and because plumbing cannot rely on gravity alone in an aircraft in motion.[125][126] The infamous blue ice is caused by accidental leakages from the waste tank.

Sports

See also

Further reading

  • Diefendorf, David (2007). Amazing... But False!: Hundreds of "Facts" You Thought Were True, But Aren't. Sterling. ISBN 9781402737916.
  • Green, Joey (2005). Contrary to Popular Belief: More than 250 False Facts Revealed. Broadway. ISBN 978-0767919920.
  • Johnsen, Ferris (1994). The Encyclopedia of Popular Misconceptions: The Ultimate Debunker's Guide to Widely Accepted Fallacies. Carol Publishing Group. ISBN 9780806515564.
  • Kruszelnicki, Karl (2006). Great Mythconceptions: The Science Behind the Myths. Andrews McMeel Publishing. ISBN 9780740753640. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Lloyd, John (2007). The Book of General Ignorance. Harmony Books. ISBN 9780307394910. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  • Tuleja, Tad (1999). Fabulous Fallacies: More Than 300 Popular Beliefs That Are Not True. Galahad Books. ISBN 978-1578660650.
  • Varasdi, J. Allen (1996). Myth Information: More Than 590 Popular Misconceptions, Fallacies, and Misbeliefs Explained!. Ballantine Books. ISBN 978-0345410498.

References

  1. ^ Dicks, D.R. (1970). Early Greek Astronomy to Aristotle. Ithaca,Ny: Cornell University Press. p. 68. ISBN 9780801405617.
  2. ^ http://www.lonelyplanet.com/shop_pickandmix/previews/panama-veraguas-province-preview.pdf
  3. ^ Stengle, Jamie (2009-08-25). "Lunar eclipse: The view from history's perspective | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/20/2008". Philly.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  4. ^ Shenkman, Rick. "Top 10 Myths about Thanksgiving". Hnn.us. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  5. ^ Pollak, Michael (1998-11-26). "SCREEN GRAB; Mayflower Descendant Digs Deep Into the Lore - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  6. ^ http://www.pbs.org/wnet/colonialhouse/print/p-teach_lesson1_answers.html>
  7. ^ "Mayflower Myths - Thanksgiving Holiday". History.com. 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  8. ^ 9:59 a.m. ET (2005-01-27). "Washington's False Teeth Not Wooden". MSNBC. Retrieved 2009-08-29.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  9. ^ Cruz, Gilbert (2008-06-18). "A Brief History of Juneteenth". TIME. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  10. ^ "Text of the Emancipation Proclamation". Libertyonline.hypermall.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  11. ^ "Chronology of the Civil War". History.umd.edu. 2008-10-13. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  12. ^ "Theory of 'Napoleon complex' is debunked". Retrieved 2009-07-13.
  13. ^ "www.napoleon.com Fondation Napoléon". Napoleon.org. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  14. ^ "Snopes on Mussolini". Snopes.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  15. ^ Vilhjálmur Örn Vilhjálmsson. "The King and the Star — Myths created during the Occupation of Denmark" (PDF). Danish institute for international studies.
  16. ^ "Some Essential Definitions & Myths Associated with the Holocaust". Center for Holocaust and Genocide Studies - University of Minnesota.
  17. ^ "Al Gore on the invention of the internet". Snopes. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  18. ^ "Ich bin ein Pfannkuchen. Oder ein Berliner? | Stadtkind: Berlin". Stadtkind. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  19. ^ "Does searing meat really seal in moisture?". Cookthink.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  20. ^ McGee, Harold (2004). On Food and Cooking (Revised Edition). Scribner. ISBN 0-684-80001-2. Page 161, "The Searing Question".
  21. ^ Kruszelnicki, Karl S. (2008-10-29). "Mussel myth an open and shut case". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  22. ^ "Does alcohol burn off in cooking?". Ochef.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  23. ^ The complete idiot's guide to Asian cooking by Annie Wong, Jeffrey Yarbrough; Alpha Books, 2002; ISBN 0028643844, 9780028643847.
  24. ^ How to Do Everything: Everything You Should Know How to Do Rosemarie Jarski; Published by Globe Pequot, 2007; ISBN 1599212218, 9781599212210.
  25. ^ [recipes.howstuffworks.com/sushi.htm]
  26. ^ "Snopes on Entrapment". Snopes.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  27. ^ Sloane (1990) 49 A Crim R 270. See also agent provocateur
  28. ^ The Family Memoirs of the Rev. William Stukeley (Durham: Surtees Society, 1882-1887) Vol. 3, p. 142.
  29. ^ Great Walls of Liar, Snopes.com. Retrieved 2 January 2008.
  30. ^ Wolfson, Richard (2002). Simply Einstein: relativity demystified. W. W. Norton & Company. p. 261. ISBN 0393051544.
  31. ^ Misner, Charles W (1973). Gravitation. New York: W. H. Freeman. ISBN 978-0716703440. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ Plait, Philip (2002). Bad Astronomy: Misconceptions and Misuses Revealed, from Astrology to the Moon Landing "Hoax". John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-40976-6.
  33. ^ "Sun-Earth Connection". Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  34. ^ "Ten Things You Thought You Knew about Sun-Earth Science". Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  35. ^ "Egg Balancing on Equinox". snopes.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  36. ^ Carlson, Jen (2007-10-31). "Donna Henes, Urban Shaman - Gothamist: New York City News, Food, Arts & Events". Gothamist. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  37. ^ "h2g2 - Egg-Balancing and the Vernal Equinox". BBC. 1999-10-16. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  38. ^ "You can balance an egg on its end today ... and any other day » Knoxville News Sentinel". Knoxnews.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  39. ^ "Can You Balance Eggs on End During the Spring Equinox". Urbanlegends.about.com. 2009-03-25. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  40. ^ Huang A. L., et al. ""The cells and logic for mammalian sour taste detection""., Nature, 442. 934 - 938 (2006).
  41. ^ "Beyond the Tongue Map". Asha.org. 2002-10-22. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  42. ^ Hänig, D.P., 1901. Zur Psychophysik des Geschmackssinnes. Philosophische Studien, 17: 576-623.
  43. ^ "Snopes on brains". Snopes.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  44. ^ Radford, Benjamin (March/April 1999). "The Ten-Percent Myth". Skeptical Inquirer. Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal. ISSN 0194-6730. Retrieved 2009-04-15. It's the old myth heard time and again about how people use only ten percent of their brains {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  45. ^ a b Beyerstein, Barry L. (1999). "Whence Cometh the Myth that We Only Use 10% of our Brains?". In Sergio Della Sala (ed.). Mind Myths: Exploring Popular Assumptions About the Mind and BRain. Wiley. pp. 3–24. ISBN 0471983039.
  46. ^ Vision myths Myths about Vision and Eyes, The Eye Digest, University of Illinois Eye & Ear Infirmary, Chicago, IL, 2009-05-19, retrieved 2009-06-14 {{citation}}: Check |url= value (help)
  47. ^ Does reading in poor light actually hurt vision, Google Answers, 2003-02-09
  48. ^ "Shaved Hair Grows Darker". snopes.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  49. ^ Graham-Brown, Robin (2007). Lecture Notes on Dermatology. Blackwell. p. 6. ISBN 1-4051-3977-3. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  50. ^ "Hair Care Myths and Tips". Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  51. ^ "Question of the Week". Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  52. ^ "Hair Myths: Don't Believe Everything You Hear About Your Hair". Retrieved 2009-04-13.
  53. ^ Prevention Health Books, Outsmart arthritis: expert-endorsed remedies for short-term relief and lifetime control (Macmillan, 2003), 15.
  54. ^ "Festive Medical Myths". Vreeman RC, Carroll AE. British Medical Journal 2008;337:a2769.
  55. ^ Fullerton-Smith, Jill (2007). The Truth About Food. Bloomsbury. pp. 115–117. ISBN 9780747586852. Most parents assume that children plus sugary foods equals raucous and uncontrollable behaviour.[...] according to nutrition experts, the belief that children experience a "sugar high" is a myth.
  56. ^ Zuger, Abigail 'You'll Catch Your Death!' An Old Wives' Tale? Well . . . The New York Times (March 4, 2003). Retrieved on 12-17-08.
  57. ^ "Common Cold". National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. 2006-11-27. Retrieved 2007-06-11.
  58. ^ Dowling HF, Jackson GG, Spiesman IG, Inouye T (1958). "Transmission of the common cold to volunteers under controlled conditions. III. The effect of chilling of the subjects upon susceptibility". American journal of hygiene. 68 (1): 59–65. PMID 13559211.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  59. ^ Eccles R (2002). "Acute cooling of the body surface and the common cold". Rhinology. 40 (3): 109–14. PMID 12357708.
  60. ^ Douglas, R.G.Jr, K.M. Lindgren, and R.B. Couch (1968). "Exposure to cold environment and rhinovirus common cold. Failure to demonstrate effect". New Engl. J. Med. 279.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  61. ^ Douglas RC, Couch RB, Lindgren KM (1967). "Cold doesn't affect the "common cold" in study of rhinovirus infections". JAMA. 199 (7): 29–30. doi:10.1001/jama.199.7.29. PMID 4289651.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  62. ^ "Johnson C, Eccles R. (2005) Acute cooling of the feet and the onset of common cold symptoms. Family Practice 22: 608-613". Common Cold Centre, University of Cardiff. 2005-11-14. Retrieved 2009-05-14.
  63. ^ "Sleepwalking: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments". MedicineNet, Inc. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  64. ^ "Sleepwalking". National Sleep Foundation. Retrieved 2009-05-10.
  65. ^ "Carrots & Night Vision". ABC Science. Retrieved 2009-05-25.
  66. ^ "Beware of Summer Hazards!" (Press release). Korea Consumer Protection Board (KCPB). 2006-07-18. Retrieved 2009-09-05.
  67. ^ Surridge, Grant (2004-09-22). ""Newspapers fan belief in urban myth"". JoongAng Daily. Chicago Reader, Inc. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  68. ^ Adams, Cecil (1997-09-12). ""Will sleeping in a closed room with an electric fan cause death?"". The Straight Dope. Chicago Reader, Inc. Retrieved 2007-08-02.
  69. ^ Adams, Cecil. "Why Fan Death Is an Urban Myth". Retrieved 2009-09-06.
  70. ^ http://www.artipot.com/articles/417027/warts-on-hands-myths-and-why-they-remain-myths.htm
  71. ^ http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/get-in-step-with-summer-foot-care.html
  72. ^ "AAFP tips page". Aafp.org. 2003-02-01. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  73. ^ "Efficacy of Duct Tape vs Placebo in the Treatment of Verruca Vulgaris (Warts) in Primary School Children". Archpedi.ama-assn.org. 2006-11-01. doi:10.1001/archpedi.160.11.1121. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  74. ^ "Study: Duct tape wart cure overstated". Usatoday.Com. 2007-03-19. Retrieved 2009-07-21.
  75. ^ http://www.nature.com/news/2009/091208/full/news.2009.1131.html
  76. ^ Eisenegger, C. et al. Nature doi:10.1038/nature08711 (2009).
  77. ^ London Drugs. "''Putting an End to Warts''". www.londondrugs.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  78. ^ Mythbusters Does a Duck's Quack Echo? (Season 1, Episode 8)
  79. ^ "University of Salford Acoustics". Acoustics.salford.ac.uk. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  80. ^ Hipsley, Anna (2008-02-19). "Goldfish three-second memory myth busted - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)". Abc.net.au. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  81. ^ Mythbusters Goldfish Memory (Season 1, Episode 14)
  82. ^ www.livenews.com.au: SA Schoolboy Explodes Fish Memory Myth[dead link]
  83. ^ "''Goldfish Pass Memory Test''". nootropics.com. 2003-10-01. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  84. ^ "Lemmings". Snopes. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  85. ^ "Common Misconceptions About Bats". Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  86. ^ "The Truth About Animal Clichés". Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  87. ^ "Blind as a Bat?". Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  88. ^ "h2g2 - Earthworms". BBC. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  89. ^ "Gardening with children - Worms". BBC. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  90. ^ "Fundamentals of Planarian Regeneration". University of Utah School of Medicine. 2004-07-02. Retrieved 2009-11-12.
  91. ^ Mythbusters Daddy-longlegs (Season 1, Episode 16)
  92. ^ "UCR Entomology Spiders - Daddy Long Legs".
  93. ^ "Spider Myths - If it could only bite".
  94. ^ "Organic Evolution". Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  95. ^ "Misperceptions meet state of the art in evolution research". Retrieved 2009-04-07.
  96. ^ "Evolutionary Science and Society: Educating a New Generation" (PDF). Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  97. ^ "It Is Not Just a Theory... It Is a Theory!". Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  98. ^ "Misconceptions about the Nature of Science". Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  99. ^ Amy Harmon, New York Times (2008-08-31). "Teaching evolution to young Christian skeptics". Sfgate.com. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  100. ^ "Evolution: Frequently Asked Questions". Pbs.org. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  101. ^ Scientific American: Is the human race evolving or devolving?, see also biological devolution.
  102. ^ Moran NA (2002). "Microbial minimalism: genome reduction in bacterial pathogens". Cell. 108 (5): 583–6. doi:10.1016/S0092-8674(02)00665-7. PMID 11893328.
  103. ^ "Bad Coriolis". Ems.psu.edu. 1996-10-16. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  104. ^ "Which way will my bathtub drain". Usenet Physics FAQ. Retrieved 2008-08-07.
  105. ^ Whitt, Frank R. (1982). Bicycling Science (Second ed.). Massachusetts Institute of Technology. pp. 198–233. ISBN 0-262-23111-5. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  106. ^ Klein, Richard E. "Bicycle Science". Retrieved 2006-08-04. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  107. ^ Jones, David E. H. (1970). "The stability of the bicycle" (PDF). Physics Today. 23 (4): 34–40. doi:10.1063/1.3022064. Retrieved 2006-08-04.
  108. ^ "Incorrect Lift Theory". Grc.nasa.gov. 2008-07-28. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  109. ^ Jefford, Andrew. "Bubble and Chic". Retrieved 2008-07-18.
  110. ^ O'Hare, Mick (22 January 2008). How to Fossilize Your Hamster: And Other Amazing Experiments for the Armchair Scientist. Holt Rinehart and Winston. p. 256. ISBN 0805087702. {{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  111. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/science/29glass.html
  112. ^ "Does Glass Flow". Glassnotes.com. 1998-05-30. Retrieved 2009-08-29.
  113. ^ "Berkeley understanding science: how science works". Retrieved 2009-05-15.
  114. ^ W. I. Beveridge (1960). The Art of Scientific Investigation. Vintage. ISBN 0394701291.
  115. ^ "BBC - Religion & Ethics - Beliefs: The Immaculate Conception". Retrieved 2009-05-08.
  116. ^ Isbister, William H. "A "good" fatwa". Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  117. ^ Vultee, Fred. ""Fatwa on the Bunny"". Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  118. ^ Bailey, Rik. "BBC H2G2 FAQ on Islam". Retrieved 2009-12-20.
  119. ^ CBC News. "INDEPTH: ISLAM, Fatwa FAQ". Retrieved 2009-04-08.
  120. ^ "Thomas Crapper". Snopes. 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2008-12-13.
  121. ^ Robert, Friedel. Edison's Electric Light: Biography of an Invention. New Brunswick, New Jersey: Rutgers University Press. pp. 115–117. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  122. ^ Landing of Hope and Glory, snopes.com, retrieved 2007-12-30
  123. ^ Weingroff, Richard F. (May/June 2000). "ONE MILE IN FIVE: Debunking the Myth". Federal Highway Administration. Retrieved 2006-06-29. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  124. ^ Autobahn-Flugplätze (NLP-Str), lostplaces.de, retrieved 2008-12-16
  125. ^ How Stuff works. "How does the toilet in a commercial airliner work?". Retrieved 2008-06-27.
  126. ^ Philips, Matt. "On World Toilet Day, Let Us Praise the Airline Lav". The Middle Seat Terminal (Wall Street Journal). Retrieved 2009-04-02.
  127. ^ Cole, Diane (1990-10-04). "Contrary to myth, baseball may have had no single inventor". US News and World Report. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  128. ^ Fox, Butterfield (1990-10-04). "Cooperstown? Hoboken? Try New York City". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-04-03.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_common_misconceptions&oldid=333280170"