Today's Myths

Q: Eating turkey makes you sleepy.

Busted: While turkey contains tryptophan, an amino acid that can aid in serotonin and melatonin production, it doesn't contain significantly more than other meats. The post-meal drowsiness often associated with turkey is more likely due to consuming a large, heavy meal rich in carbohydrates and possibly alcohol, which can cause blood sugar fluctuations and shift blood flow to the digestive system.

Q: Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.

Busted: Hair and fingernails do not continue to grow after a person dies. The appearance of growth is an optical illusion caused by the dehydration and shrinking of the skin around the nails and hair follicles, making them appear more prominent. Actual growth requires complex hormonal regulation and glucose, which cease at death.

Q: The Earth has a second moon.

Plausible: While Earth has only one large, natural satellite (the Moon), it is orbited by numerous smaller, temporary objects often referred to as 'mini-moons' or 'quasi-satellites.' These are usually small asteroids captured by Earth's gravity for a period before drifting away. These are not permanent like our Moon but are real, albeit transient, celestial companions.

Q: Sugar makes children hyperactive

Busted: Multiple double-blind studies have found no link between sugar consumption and hyperactivity in children.

Q: Swallowing watermelon seeds will make a watermelon grow in your stomach.

Busted: Swallowing watermelon seeds will not cause a watermelon to grow in your stomach. Human digestive acids are far too strong for a seed to germinate and grow. The seeds will simply pass through your digestive system, usually undigested, and be expelled from the body.

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

“Eating turkey makes you sleepy.”

“Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.”

“The Earth has a second moon.”

“Sugar makes children hyperactive”

“Swallowing watermelon seeds will make a watermelon grow in your stomach.”

“Expired food is always unsafe to eat.”

“The average human body temperature is exactly 98.6°F (37°C).”

“Ostriches bury their heads in the sand when scared.”

“The Moon is gradually moving away from Earth”

“One common misconception is that Anne Bonny was definitively Irish.”

“Coffee stunts a child's growth.”

“Eating turkey makes you sleepy.”

“The popular notion of 'alpha males' and 'beta males' in human society is based on scientific evidence.”

“Brown sugar is healthier than white sugar.”

“The platypus is venomous”