Today's Myths

Q: Dogs can only see in two colors

Plausible: Dogs are not fully colorblind but are dichromatic, meaning they see the world primarily in shades of blue and yellow. They lack the red-green cone receptors that humans have, so their color spectrum is limited but not absent.

Q: Christopher Columbus discovered America.

Busted: While Christopher Columbus's voyages marked a significant point in European exploration of the Americas, he did not 'discover' the continent. Indigenous peoples had inhabited the Americas for thousands of years prior to his arrival. Furthermore, Norse explorers, led by Leif Erikson, are believed to have reached North America centuries before Columbus.

Q: Bananas grow on trees

Busted: Banana plants are technically giant herbs; their stems are made of tightly packed leaf bases, not wood

Q: A baseball curveball is an optical illusion

Busted: A curveball genuinely curves through the air due to the Magnus effect. The spin imparted by the pitcher creates differential air pressure on opposite sides of the ball, causing it to follow a curved trajectory that can deviate by up to 17 inches.

Q: The full moon causes erratic behavior.

Busted: The belief that the full moon causes 'lunacy' or erratic behavior is a persistent myth with no scientific basis. Numerous studies have investigated this phenomenon across various populations and found no consistent correlation between lunar phases and human behavior, mental health, or crime rates.

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

Today's Myths

“Dogs can only see in two colors”

“Christopher Columbus discovered America.”

“Bananas grow on trees”

“A baseball curveball is an optical illusion”

“The full moon causes erratic behavior.”

“There is more water in the atmosphere than in all the world's rivers combined”

“Napoleon Bonaparte was very short.”

“Opposites attract in relationships.”

“Mount Everest is the tallest mountain in the world.”

“The Earth is perfectly round.”

“Alcohol keeps you warm in cold weather.”

“Hair and fingernails continue to grow after death.”

“Humans use only a small fraction of their DNA”

“A compass always points to the North Pole”

“Quicksand can suck you under completely”