Myths

For our purposes: Myths are commonly held beliefs or ideas that are false. For a claim to be considered a myth one or more parts of it must be proved false. Other definitions of myth, such as those pertaining to the not false-but-allegorical stories we tell to explain things, are discussed on our “what is a myth?” page.

Below is a collection of all factoids rated “myth” (as in “not true or not fully true”) by our authors.  If you disagree or have more evidence to support a claim consider commenting. See our list of facts here.

A Small Object Like a Penny Dropped From High Enough Can Kill Someone myth

Due to the way terminal velocity caps the maximum speed that something can fall, a small and light object like a penny will never gain enough speed to kill someone regardless of how high it is dropped from.

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.

A Soul Has Weight myth

There is no scientific evidence that shows that living beings have a soul or that a soul has weight. However, the notion that a soul has weight (specifically 21 grams) does come from a scientific study.

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.

Women are Born With all the Eggs They Will Ever Produce myth

Although it was long believed all mammals were born with all the eggs they would ever produce. Recent research suggests that women make new eggs throughout their reproductive years.

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 or coal and peanut butter into a crystal at home by heating the charcoal or coal and putting it in peanut butter and ice. However, scientists can turn many carbon-rich substances into crystal in a lab.

Darth Vader Said, “Luke, I Am Your Father” myth

Darth Vader never actually says, "Luke, I am your father." Vader instead says, "No, I am your father." In other words, this is just one of those misquoted movie lines.

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 97°F (36.1°C) to 99°F (37.2°C) according to MedlinePlus.gov.