Question 1

Ostriches bury their heads in the sand.

Accepted Answer

Busted: Ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand. This myth likely stems from their defensive behavior of lying down and stretching their long necks and heads on the ground to appear less visible when threatened. They also dig shallow nests in the sand for their eggs, which they periodically turn with their beaks, giving the illusion of burying their heads.

Question 2

Certain frequencies of sound can cause physical discomfort or nausea

Accepted Answer

Plausible: Infrasound below 20 Hz and certain resonant frequencies can cause feelings of unease, nausea, and even visual disturbances. Some researchers have linked infrasound in haunted buildings to reported ghost sightings and eerie feelings.

Question 3

Eating poppy seed bagels can cause you to fail a drug test

Accepted Answer

Confirmed: Consuming poppy seeds can indeed cause a positive result on standard opiate drug tests. Poppy seeds contain trace amounts of codeine and morphine from the opium poppy plant, which can be detected in urine for up to 48 hours.

Question 4

Eating sugar makes children hyperactive.

Accepted Answer

Busted: Extensive scientific research, including double-blind studies, has consistently shown no direct causal link between sugar consumption and hyperactivity in children. The perceived hyperactivity is often attributed to the excitement of the situation or parental expectations. While excessive sugar intake is unhealthy, it does not directly cause hyperactivity.

Question 5

You can tell the gender of a crocodile or alligator by the sound it makes.

Accepted Answer

Confirmed: The sounds made by crocodiles and alligators can indeed indicate their gender, particularly during mating season. Male alligators, for example, produce deep, resonant bellows to attract females and assert dominance. Females also vocalize, but their bellows are typically less intense. These specific vocalizations are a key part of their reproductive behavior.

Today's Myths

“Ostriches bury their heads in the sand.”

“Certain frequencies of sound can cause physical discomfort or nausea”

“Eating poppy seed bagels can cause you to fail a drug test”

“Eating sugar makes children hyperactive.”

“You can tell the gender of a crocodile or alligator by the sound it makes.”

“The Great Chicago Fire was started by Mrs. O'Leary's cow.”

“Eating spicy food causes ulcers.”

“Pterodactyls were dinosaurs”

“Marie Antoinette said 'Let them eat cake.'”

“Different areas of the brain control completely separate functions”

“Black belts in martial arts are expert fighters”

“Elephants are afraid of mice”

“Dolphins are the smartest animals after humans”

“Trees communicate through underground fungal networks”

“Brain cells cannot regenerate”