- Research suggests that many common science myths, like humans using only 10% of their brain or vaccines causing autism, are false and persist due to cognitive biases.
- It seems likely that understanding these myths can help make better decisions, especially in health and safety.
- The evidence leans toward debunking myths like sugar making kids hyperactive or lightning never striking the same place twice, with scientific studies providing clarity.
Science myths can shape how we view the world, often leading to misconceptions that affect our choices.
This article explores nine such myths, starting with a surprising insight: the belief that sugar makes kids hyperactive is not supported by science, as shown by a 1995 JAMA study finding no behavioral difference in sugar-consuming children.
This unexpected detail challenges common parental assumptions and sets the stage for debunking other myths.
The Myths and Their Debunking
Below, we break down each myth, explaining why it’s false and providing scientific facts to clarify. Each section is concise, ensuring you get the truth without overwhelm.
Humans Only Use 10% of Their Brain
- Myth: Many believe we only use 10% of our brain, suggesting untapped potential.
- Truth: Brain imaging like PET scans and fMRI shows we use nearly all our brain daily, just not all at once. Different regions handle various tasks, debunking this idea.
Vaccines Cause Autism
- Myth: Some think vaccines, especially MMR, cause autism, leading to vaccine hesitancy.
- Truth: Studies, including a large 2015 JAMA analysis, found no link. The original 1998 study was retracted for fraud, and scientific consensus supports vaccine safety (CDC).
Sugar Makes Kids Hyperactive
- Myth: Parents often blame sugar for hyperactive kids after events with sweets.
- Truth: A 1995 JAMA meta-analysis found no evidence linking sugar to hyperactivity, suggesting other factors like excitement or lack of sleep are at play.
We Only Have Five Senses
- Myth: We’re taught we have five senses: sight, hearing, taste, touch, smell.
- Truth: Actually, we have more, like balance (vestibular sense), temperature, and pain. Some scientists count up to 20 senses, expanding our understanding beyond the basics.
Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
- Myth: A common saying suggests lightning avoids repeat strikes.
- Truth: Lightning can strike the same place multiple times, with the Empire State Building hit about 25 times yearly, showing tall structures are prone to repeats.
Antibiotics Can Cure Viruses
- Myth: Many think antibiotics treat viral infections like colds or flu.
- Truth: Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses. Misuse can lead to antibiotic resistance, a growing health concern, so they’re only for bacterial infections.
The Great Wall of China Is Visible from Space
- Myth: It’s often said the Great Wall is the only man-made structure visible from space.
- Truth: It’s not visible to the naked eye from space; astronauts need zoom lenses to see it, as it blends with the landscape, debunking this long-held belief.
Sharks Don’t Get Cancer
- Myth: Some believe sharks are cancer-free, leading to shark cartilage as a cancer cure.
- Truth: Sharks can get cancer, with documented cases like skin and liver cancer, and no evidence supports shark cartilage as a treatment, harming shark populations.
You Lose Most of Your Heat Through Your Head
- Myth: Many think we lose most body heat through our head, prompting hat-wearing in cold.
- Truth: Heat loss is proportional to surface area; the head accounts for about 7-10% of total heat loss, not most, based on 2008 BMJ research.
Why Science Myths Matter
Science myths are misconceptions about scientific facts, often arising from misinterpretations, urban legends, or outdated information.
They can lead to misinformed decisions, such as avoiding vaccines due to autism fears, which can impact public health.
Debunking them is crucial for informed choices in health, safety, and environmental issues, emphasizing the need for accurate scientific knowledge.
- Impact: Myths like antibiotic misuse contribute to resistance, a growing global health challenge.
Challenging the Assumption of Harmless Myths
We challenge a common assumption: that science myths are harmless fun. This perspective shift uses transitional phrases like “But you might think” to engage readers.
For instance, the myth that vaccines cause autism has led to decreased vaccination rates, causing measles outbreaks, a serious public health issue.
Similarly, believing antibiotics cure viruses contributes to antibiotic resistance, making bacterial infections harder to treat.
- Evidence: The 2015 JAMA study on vaccines and autism, analyzing over 95,000 children, confirmed no link, highlighting the myth’s dangerous impact.
Detailed Debunking of Each Myth
Now, we delve into each of the nine myths:
Myth 1: Humans Only Use 10% of Their Brain
This myth suggests we only tap into 10% of our brain, popularized by movies and self-help books. However, brain imaging like PET scans and fMRI shows we use nearly all our brain daily, just not simultaneously.
Different regions handle tasks like memory or movement, debunking this idea. Scientific American’s article by Barry Gordon confirms this, noting the myth’s durability stems from misconceptions about brain potential.
Myth 2: Vaccines Cause Autism
The belief that vaccines, especially MMR, cause autism stems from a 1998 study by Andrew Wakefield, later retracted for fraud.
Subsequent studies, including a 2015 JAMA analysis of over 95,000 children, found no link (CDC). This myth’s persistence fuels vaccine hesitancy, risking disease outbreaks, emphasizing the need for scientific consensus.
Myth 3: Sugar Makes Kids Hyperactive
Already covered in the immediate reward, this myth is false, with the 1995 JAMA meta-analysis by Wolraich et al. finding no behavioral impact from sugar.
Parents often misattribute hyperactivity to sugar, but excitement or sleep issues are more likely causes, aiding better behavior management.
Myth 4: We Only Have Five Senses
Taught as sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell, this is an oversimplification. We have more, like balance (vestibular sense), temperature, and pain, with some scientists counting up to 20 senses (Learn Genetics).
This expands our understanding, challenging the traditional five-sense model.
Myth 5: Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
This saying is false; lightning can strike the same place multiple times, especially tall structures.
The Empire State Building is hit about 25 times yearly, as per the National Weather Service (NWS). This shows lightning’s preference for conductive paths, debunking the myth.
Myth 6: Antibiotics Can Cure Viruses
Antibiotics kill bacteria, not viruses, making them ineffective for colds or flu. Misuse contributes to antibiotic resistance, a growing concern, as noted by the FDA (FDA). They’re only for bacterial infections, highlighting proper use’s importance.
Myth 7: The Great Wall of China Is Visible from Space
Contrary to popular belief, it’s not visible to the naked eye from space. Astronauts need zoom lenses to see it, as NASA confirms, due to its blending with the landscape (NASA). This debunks a long-held myth, clarifying space visibility.
Myth 8: Sharks Don’t Get Cancer
This myth, fueled by shark cartilage sales, is false; sharks can get cancer, with documented cases like skin and liver cancer.
Scientific American reports tumors in at least 23 shark species, showing no cancer immunity (Scientific American). This harms shark populations without scientific basis.
Myth 9: You Lose Most of Your Heat Through Your Head
The belief that we lose most heat through our head is a misconception, with heat loss proportional to surface area.
The head accounts for 7-10% of total heat loss, as per 2008 BMJ research, not most, originating from a 1950s military study with exposed heads (BMJ).
Table of Myths and Key Facts
To organize the information, here’s a table summarizing the myths and their truths:
| Myth | Truth |
|---|---|
| Humans only use 10% of their brain | Use nearly all daily, shown by brain imaging. |
| Vaccines cause autism | No link, confirmed by large studies, original study retracted for fraud. |
| Sugar makes kids hyperactive | No evidence, other factors like excitement more likely. |
| We only have five senses | Have more, like balance and temperature, up to 20 senses. |
| Lightning never strikes twice | Can strike multiple times, e.g., Empire State Building hit 25 times/year. |
| Antibiotics cure viruses | Only for bacteria, misuse leads to resistance. |
| Great Wall visible from space | Not visible to naked eye, needs zoom lenses. |
| Sharks don’t get cancer | Can get cancer, documented cases exist, no cure from cartilage. |
| Lose most heat through head | Heat loss proportional to surface area, head 7-10% of total loss. |
Key Citations
- JAMA study on sugar and hyperactivity
- Do People Only Use 10 Percent of Their Brains Scientific American
- Autism and Vaccines CDC
- The Twenty Senses Learn Genetics
- Lightning Safety National Weather Service
- Antibiotics Use and Misuse FDA
- Great Wall of China from Space NASA
- Sharks Do Get Cancer Tumor Found in Great White Scientific American
- Do you really lose most of your body heat through your head BMJ
