The Average Human Has an Accurate Memory Myth
The average human has a limited short-term memory and a fairly inaccurate long-term memory. This is due to the way we process, encode, and recall memories.
Society and Social Sciences
Society and Social Sciences is a broad category referring to the relationships between networks and groups of people, and the study of this.
People Can Multitask Effectively Myth
People can’t multitask effectively. Giving simultaneous attention to tasks, or alternating and dividing attention between tasks, reduces the performance of at least one task.
Venture Capital Helped Create Silicon Valley and Startup Culture Fact
Venture capital, which was just emerging in the late 50’s, helped create companies like Intel, which in turn created Silicon Valley and startup culture.
Language is a System of Communication that Uses Symbolism Fact
Language can be thought of as a system of communication that uses symbols to convey deep meaning. Symbols can be words, images, body language, sounds, etc.
Thoughts Can “Rewire” Your Brain Fact
Thoughts and other stimuli can essentially “rewire” our brain, strengthening useful synaptic pathways and weakening less used ones, this is called neuroplasticity (AKA learning and memory).
Bitcoin is an Actual Coin Myth
Bitcoin isn’t a literal coin; it’s a list of transactions recorded on a shared digital public ledger called a “block chain”.
U.S. Universities Have Always Charged Tuition Myth
US public state universities used to be tuition-free from the early 1800’s to the late 1960’s, although they still charged fees, but college has never been free in the US.
U.S. Spends More on Military Than Any Country Fact
The US spends far more on its military than any other country (but not when compared to GDP). In 2015 America spent about $600 billion on U.S. defense spending.
America Has Always Had an Income Tax Myth
The first income tax in the U.S. was part of the Revenue Act of 1861, the first permanent income tax was in 1913 as part of the 16th Amendment.
Ada Lovelace Was Lord Byron’s Daughter Fact
Ada Lovelace was the child of influential British poet Lord Byron. She is better known for writing the world’s first computer program.