Have you ever unquestionably believed
something that turned out to be a myth? Think
about that time you swallowed some gum and
worried all day because your mom said it would
take seven years to digest. Why do so many
common beliefs turn out to be false?
Sometimes correct information gets exaggerated or distorted in the
retelling. Other times people innocently make wrong assumptions or
don’t realize their information is incomplete. And let’s face it, sometimes
malicious people intentionally spread misinformation.
Supposed “facts” based on scientific studies are some of the most
widespread myths because people don’t understand the nature of
science. Scientific findings are almost always incomplete and subject to
revision. The job of science is to constantly test previous conclusions
and see if there are better explanations. But once people hear one result,
it’s hard for them to stay up to date on all the changes, so old conclusions
sometimes hang around.
Here is a short list of myths you’ve probably heard throughout your
life and might still believe. Are you sitting down? You could be shocked.
It’s a humbling reminder about human limitations in finding the truth.
Myth: You Use Only 10% of Your Brain
Illustration by MUTI
Though your
brain may not be
working full blast
100% of the time,
at some point over
a 24-hour period,
most parts of your
brain are active—even when you’re
sleeping.
Myth: Hair and Nails Continue to Grow After Death
Fingernails and
hair require
glucose to grow.
After death,
the body stops
producing
glucose. Hair
and nails simply
appear longer
as the skin
dehydrates and
contracts.
Myth: You Should Drink Eight Glasses of Water a Day
Illustration by MUTI
The human body
is composed
of about 60%
water, so
hydration is
necessary for
good health.
But there is no
magic amount.
People’s needs
depend on
various factors,
including their
activity level,
where they live,
and how healthy
they are.
Myth: Water Conducts Electricity
Water itself
isn’t a good
conductor of
electricity—at
least not pure or
distilled water.
Minerals and
sediments,
which
contaminate
most water,
ionize the
molecules,
allowing them
to conduct
current.
Myth: Milk Is Necessary for Strong Bones
Illustration by MUTI
Milk is not a magic potion for
bone health; it’s just an easy way
to get the vitamins and calcium
thought to prevent bone loss and
breaks. Leafy greens, fish, and
liver provide the same nutrients.
And milk alone is not a guarantee
for healthy bones. Exercise is
also essential to guard against
bone maladies.
Myth: Diamonds Are Made from Pressurized Coal
Illustration by MUTI
Diamonds and coal are both made of carbon but by different
processes. Most coal formed from plant material
buried during Noah’s flood. Diamonds, in contrast, formed
in unique conditions deep underground, requiring intense
pressure and heat (most likely during creation week).
Myth: Analytical People Are “Left-Brained” and Creative People Are “Right-Brained”
Our eyes, hands, and feet have a dominant side,
which might be why this myth endures. However,
no conclusive evidence suggests that one side of our
brain determines our personalities. We use both
sides in whatever tasks we attempt.
It’s true that logical thought (used for problem
solving) relies on the left side of the brain, and
creativity tends to draw on the right side. But both
sides are always involved in each type of thought.
For example, if you’ve faced a tough math problem,
you know it requires both creativity and logic.
Myth: The Tongue Has Different Taste Regions
Illustration by MUTI
Remember when your elementary school teacher made
you put sugar and lemon juice on your tongue to find
the regions for sweet and sour? The belief that the
tongue is mapped into taste regions—sweet, sour, salty,
bitter, and umami (savory)—was disproved in 1974, yet
these tongue graphics still appear in textbooks. The
entire tongue can sense all these tastes equally.
Myth: Shaving Makes Your Hair Grow Back Thicker and Darker
Illustration by MUTI
Shaving your
hair blunts the
tip, making it
feel sharper and
appear darker
or thicker as it
regrows.
Myth: Bats Are Blind
Illustration by MUTI
Most bats can see
quite well using
their vision to
navigate, avoid
predators, and
find food. Perhaps
the saying
“blind as a bat”
comes from their
nocturnal habits
and their use of
echolocation to
see in the dark.
Myth: You Will Catch a Virus If You Get Too Cold
Viruses,
not cold
temperatures,
make you ill.
Viruses spread
because you’re
cooped up with
sick people, not
because you’re
outside. Also,
dry air (not
cold) inhibits
mucus and
nose hairs
from pushing
pathogens out.
Myth: If You Touch a Baby Bird, the Mother Will Smell a Human and Abandon the Chick
Illustration by MUTI
Birds have a poor sense of smell, so a mama bird
probably won’t know that you returned her chick
safely to the nest.
Myth: Evolutionary Processes Produced the World We See Around Us Today
Because evolution is so commonly
believed by the science community,
most people accept it as fact.
But once you break down the
claims, you discover that they’re
based on the biased assumptions
of a naturalistic worldview.
Oh, some aspects of the evolutionary
story are built on partial
truths. For example, evolutionists
say natural selection changes
populations of creatures—and it
does. But the changes are limited
within created kinds. In other
words, a newt may grow fatter,
but it will never become a narwhal.
When we look at the world
from a biblical worldview, we can
see how observed facts agree with
Genesis. God created every kind
of creature during creation week,
just 6,000 years ago.
As Christians, we are to seek
truth in all things. That includes
referencing sound research and
sources; but more importantly,
it means we should build our
thinking with God’s Word. While
some myths are insignificant (for
example, popping your knuckles
will give you arthritis), other
myths like evolution can mislead
people about the gospel and Jesus
Christ—the source of truth itself.
That has eternal ramifications.
https://answersingenesis.org/evolution/truth-partial-truth-and-anything-truth/ This article originally appeared on answersingenesis.org
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