Today's Myths

Q: Searing meat seals in juices

Busted: Searing creates flavor through the Maillard reaction but does not create an impermeable seal

Q: Humans share 50% of their DNA with bananas

Confirmed: Humans share approximately 50-60% of their DNA with bananas. Many fundamental cellular processes are conserved across all living organisms.

Q: An apple a day keeps the doctor away

Plausible: While apples are nutritious, containing fiber, vitamin C, and polyphenols, eating one daily is not a guaranteed preventive against all illness. However, regular fruit consumption including apples is associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and certain cancers.

Q: The tongue has distinct zones for different tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty).

Busted: The 'tongue map' showing specific areas for different tastes is a widespread misconception. All taste buds, distributed across the entire tongue, are capable of detecting all five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Some areas might be slightly more sensitive to certain tastes, but there are no exclusive zones.

Q: Cheese gives you nightmares

Plausible: A 2005 British Cheese Board study found cheese before bed did not cause nightmares. However, heavy meals close to bedtime can disrupt sleep architecture and increase dream vividness.

Discover the truth behind popular myths — busted, confirmed, or plausible? Vote on what you believe, debate with the community, and learn something new every day.

Food & Drink

Today's Myths

“Searing meat seals in juices”

“Humans share 50% of their DNA with bananas”

“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”

“The tongue has distinct zones for different tastes (sweet, sour, bitter, salty).”

“Cheese gives you nightmares”

“Handled evidence must be placed in plastic bags to preserve it”

“Plant cells and animal cells both contain mitochondria”

“Waking a sleepwalker is dangerous”

“Honey never spoils”

“Eating turkey makes you especially sleepy because of tryptophan”

“Thomas Edison invented the light bulb”

“Rainforests are the lungs of the Earth”

“Ostriches bury their heads in the sand when frightened”

“Fish can feel pain”

“Trees communicate through underground fungal networks”