Natural and Physical Sciences Archives

A broad category referring to the study of the physical universe including nature and biology.

Twinkies Never Go Bad Myth

Twinkies don’t last forever, but they can go a long time without spoiling (up to 30 years by one estimate). The “sell-by” shelf life of a Twinkie is 45 days, after that they go hard and brittle. However, due to the ingredients, a Twinkie won’t spoil for decades.

Starfish Can Regrow Missing Limbs Fact

Some species of starfish can regrow missing limbs, and a few species can actually regrow a whole new “disk” (the center party of their body) from a limb!

Luffa Sponges Come From the Ocean Myth

Luffa (loofah) sponges don’t come from the ocean. A luffa sponge is the ripened fruit of a plant in the gourd / cucumber family.

Turkeys Can’t Fly Myth

The idea that Turkeys can’t fly is a myth. Wild turkeys can fly in short bursts and actually will roost in trees at night. That said, while domestic turkeys can fly in theory, they are typically too heavy to fly in practice.

You Can Turn Charcoal and Peanut Butter into Crystals Myth

You can’t turn charcoal and peanut butter into a crystal. Especially not at home by heating charcoal and putting it in peanut butter. However, scientists can turn many carbon-rich substances into crystal in a lab.

Cows are One of the Top Emitters of Green House Gasses Fact

Cows are on of the top emitters of greenhouse gases. A single cow on average release between 70 and 120 kg of methane (a greenhouse gas) per year. Meanwhile, there are roughly 1 – 1.5 billion cows on earth as of 2018.

Red, Orange, Yellow, and Green Bell Peppers are All Different Types of Peppers Myth

Red, orange, yellow, and green bell peppers are all the same type of bell pepper, they are just in different stages of ripeness. Bell peppers start green and then ripen to yellow and orange and then finally to red.

98.6°F (37°C) is the Normal Body Temperature Myth

98.6°F (37°C) is generally accepted as the normal body temperature of humans, but this commonly thought of average isn’t normal for everyone. Studies have shown normal ranges from from 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C) according to Mediineplus.gov.

Different Parts of the Tongue Sense Different Tastes Myth

Every part of the human tongue can sense all five basic tastes. The taste bud map many know from school is wrong. The map is based on a misunderstanding of an old study.

Honey Lasts Forever Fact

Honey is sometimes called the only food that doesn’t go bad, this is mostly true. Honey stored properly will essentially last forever due to its unique chemical composition.