Question 1

Black holes are cosmic vacuum cleaners that suck everything in

Accepted Answer

Busted: Black holes do not suck objects in like vacuum cleaners. They exert gravitational pull like any massive object. An object would need to come very close to the event horizon to be captured. If the Sun became a black hole, Earth's orbit would not change.

Question 2

MSG is bad for you.

Accepted Answer

Busted: The widely held belief that MSG is bad for you is largely a myth; major food safety organizations, including the FDA, consider it generally recognized as safe for consumption in typical amounts. The negative perception originated from anecdotal reports and flawed early studies, but later rigorous research has not found conclusive evidence of long-term health risks. While some individuals may experience mild, short-term sensitivities to very large doses of MSG, it is not considered harmful for most people.

Question 3

Yawning is contagious because of empathy

Accepted Answer

Plausible: Contagious yawning correlates with empathy measures in some studies, but the mechanism is not fully understood. Mirror neurons and social bonding likely play roles.

Question 4

A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's.

Accepted Answer

Busted: The idea that a dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's is a common misconception. Both human and dog mouths contain a vast array of bacteria, though the specific species differ. While some dog bacteria are not harmful to humans, others can cause serious infections. Dogs also explore their environment with their mouths, exposing them to various pathogens.

Question 5

The Earth is farthest from the sun in winter.

Accepted Answer

Busted: The Earth's seasons are caused by the tilt of its axis, not its distance from the sun. In the Northern Hemisphere, winter occurs when that hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, even though the Earth is actually closest to the sun (perihelion) in early January.

Today's Myths

“Black holes are cosmic vacuum cleaners that suck everything in”

“MSG is bad for you.”

“Yawning is contagious because of empathy”

“A dog's mouth is cleaner than a human's.”

“The Earth is farthest from the sun in winter.”

“The Mariana Trench is deeper than Mount Everest is tall”

“Eating before swimming causes cramps.”

“The ocean is blue because it reflects the sky”

“Spicy food causes stomach ulcers”

“Goldfish have a three-second memory.”

“A lie detector test is 100% accurate.”

“You should drink eight glasses of water a day”

“Marie Antoinette said 'Let them eat cake'”

“Napoleon Bonaparte was very short.”

“Fortune cookies are a traditional Chinese invention.”