Today's Myths

Q: Opossums hang by their tails.

Busted: While opossums have prehensile tails capable of grasping, the popular image of them hanging by their tails, especially while sleeping, is a myth. Adult opossums are too heavy to support their full body weight by their tails for more than a moment, though juveniles may dangle for short periods. Their tails are primarily used for balance, stability during climbing, and carrying nesting materials.

Q: The color orange is named after the fruit.

Confirmed: The word 'orange' for the color in English is indeed derived from the name of the fruit. Before the fruit became widely known in Europe, the color was referred to as 'yellow-red' or 'geoluhread' in Old English. The fruit's name itself can be traced back to Sanskrit ('nāraṅga') and Persian ('nâranj').

Q: A common misconception is that the phoenix originates solely in Greek mythology.

Busted: While it does originate there, it has analogues in many other cultures, including Egyptian and Persian mythology. Another misconception is that the phoenix always dies in flames; some legends instead say it simply burns to death and decomposes before being reborn.

Q: You can tell a person's personality by their handwriting (graphology).

Busted: Graphology, the analysis of handwriting to determine personality traits, is largely considered a pseudoscience. Scientific studies have consistently failed to demonstrate its validity or reliability in predicting personality or job performance. While forensic handwriting analysis can be used to authenticate a writer based on unique characteristics, this differs from inferring personality.

Q: Piranhas can strip a cow to bone in seconds

Busted: Piranhas are generally timid scavengers that rarely attack large living animals. Mass feeding frenzies are rare and occur mainly during drought conditions when food is scarce.

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.

Animals

“Some people mistakenly believe the T-34 was introduced with 85 mm armament, but its original main armament was a 76.2 mm gun (the 85 mm came later on the T-34-85).”

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Technology

“Some assume the Nissan GT-R is a direct successor to the Skyline GT-R within the Skyline lineup, but the facts state that although it is the sixth-generation GT-R, it was no longer part of the Skyline line-up.”

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Today's Myths

“Opossums hang by their tails.”

“The color orange is named after the fruit.”

“A common misconception is that the phoenix originates solely in Greek mythology.”

“You can tell a person's personality by their handwriting (graphology).”

“Piranhas can strip a cow to bone in seconds”

“Humans only use a small percentage of their DNA (often called 'junk DNA').”

“Some people mistakenly believe that the brightest star in Gemini is Castor, because it is designated Alpha Geminorum.”

“A common misconception is that the basilisk is always depicted as a giant serpent.”

“The full moon causes unusual behavior in people”

“Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone”

“Cracking your back or neck can cause a stroke”

“Eating spicy food causes ulcers.”

“Humans only use 10% of their brains”

“Some people mistakenly believe the T-34 was introduced with 85 mm armament, but its original main armament was a 76.2 mm gun (the 85 mm came later on the T-34-85).”

“Some assume the Nissan GT-R is a direct successor to the Skyline GT-R within the Skyline lineup, but the facts state that although it is the sixth-generation GT-R, it was no longer part of the Skyline line-up.”