17 ‘Facts’ You Learned at School That Don’t Hold Up Today
School may not have taught you this, but not every ‘fact’ you learn there is gospel truth.
Myth #1: Volcanoes Killed the Dinosaurs
While earlier generations might have learned that volcanoes wiped out the dinosaurs, this theory has been largely challenged by the discovery of a significant asteroid impact.
The Asteroid Impact Theory
In 1991, scientists identified a massive crater that shifted the prevailing theory towards an asteroid being the primary cause of the mass extinction event that ended the dinosaurs’ reign. This revelation has reshaped our understanding of this pivotal moment in Earth’s history.
The Crater That Changed History
The impact site, known as the Chicxulub crater, is located on the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico. The asteroid responsible for this catastrophic event is estimated to have been between 10 and 15 kilometers wide.
The Velocity of Extinction
Despite its size, the sheer velocity at which the asteroid struck the Earth magnified its destructive power, resulting in a crater that spans 150 kilometers in diameter.
This massive impact is believed to have been a major factor in the extinction of the dinosaurs, marking a significant turning point in the planet’s geological and biological history.
Myth #2: Neanderthal Were Primitive ‘Cavemen’
Contrary to the long-standing stereotype that Neanderthals had low intelligence, current archaeological findings reveal that they were indeed quite clever and resourceful.
Evidence from their remains and artifacts indicates that Neanderthals were proficient hunters and adept at crafting sophisticated tools, challenging previous misconceptions about their capabilities and cultural complexity.
Myth #3: Witches Were Burned at the Stake
The grim tales of witch trials often include images of burning at the stake, but this wasn’t the case in the Salem witch trials of 1692.
No witches were burned in the Massachusetts Bay Colony—instead, those convicted were hanged, following English legal customs.
Men Among the Accused Witches
Interestingly, not all accused witches were women. Of the 19 hanged, five were men, including an elderly farmer crushed under stones. This dark chapter affected a wide range of individuals, debunking the myth that only women were targeted.
Myth #4: Time Travel Is Impossible
Time travel, once relegated to the realms of science fiction and fervent Dr. Who fan discussions, might not be as far-fetched as once thought.
The discovery of gravitational waves has opened new theoretical avenues for the possibility of time travel. These ripples in spacetime suggest that, under the right conditions, it might be feasible to develop mechanisms—time machines, if you will—that could manipulate time in ways previously imagined only in stories and theories.
Could Einstein’s Theory Make Time Travel Possible?
Einstein’s theory of general relativity, significantly supported by the discovery of gravitational waves, offers a glimpse into the potential for time travel.
This theory, which illustrates how space and time are deeply connected, suggests that manipulating these dimensions could allow for travel through time.
Scientific Possibilities
While the practical application of time travel remains speculative and unproven, these scientific milestones continue to inspire discussions and explorations into what was once considered purely science fiction.
Myth #5: George Washington’s Had Wooden Teeth
George Washington might be known for his revolutionary role, but his dental history is equally compelling. Contrary to popular myth, Washington never sported wooden teeth!
His dental woes led to the use of intricate dentures made from materials like ivory, gold, and lead—not wood.
The discoloration of ivory might have fueled the wooden teeth legend. Additionally, these dentures incorporated real human teeth, sourced under disturbing circumstances, including teeth bought from enslaved individuals at his Mount Vernon estate.
Myth #6: Napoleon Was a ‘Dwarf’
The misconception of Napoleon Bonaparte’s short stature stems from British propaganda and the differences in measurement units between France and Britain.
At his death, Napoleon was recorded as being 5’2” using the French system, but this translates to about 5’7” in British measurements, which was average for his time. This myth is a prime example of how historical figures can be misrepresented through propaganda and cultural misunderstandings.
Myth #7: All Dinosaurs Went Extinct
Forget the notion that dinosaurs vanished 65 million years ago—modern birds flying above us are proof that dinosaurs are very much alive!
As paleontologist Steve Brusatte puts it, birds, with their dinosaur lineage, are as much a dinosaur as the mighty T. rex or even the horned Triceratops.
Myth #8: Dinosaurs Were Just Giant Lizards
The image of dinosaurs as scaly giants is outdated. Discoveries of well-preserved fossils reveal that many dinosaurs sported feathers—ranging from full fluffy coats to subtle fluff.
The Vibrant Lives of Dinosaurs
This breakthrough, marked by the identification of pigments in these ancient feathers, has transformed our understanding of dinosaur appearance, showcasing their vibrant, colorful lives that we may not have studied at school.
Myth #9: There Are Only Three States of Matter
Most of us are familiar with the three classic states of matter—solid, liquid, and gas. However, the universe holds more complexities than our traditional lessons suggest.
Beyond these, plasma emerges as the fourth state, predominantly found in stars and neon signs where electricity transforms gases into glowing spectacles.
Even More Intriguing is the Bose-Einstein Condensate!
The Bose-Einstein condensate (BEC), predicted by Satyendra Bose and Albert Einstein, represents a fascinating quantum state where particles coalesce into a single quantum entity at ultra-low temperatures.
How BEC Redefines Matter and Its Properties
Discovered experimentally in 1995, the BEC forms when atoms are cooled to temperatures just billionths of a degree above absolute zero, allowing them to overlap and behave as a coherent whole, similar to photons in a laser beam.
This unique state is akin to forming a “super atom,” where individual atoms exhibit collective properties.
Myth #10: We Know All the Planets In Our Solar System
The childhood view of the planets may need an update. Beyond the traditional eight, the concept of planethood has evolved with astronomical discoveries.
The redefinition of Pluto as a Kuiper Belt Object sparked debates and reclassifications, leading to its status as a dwarf planet, along with Ceres and others in the Kuiper Belt.
The Search for Planet X
This adjustment reflects our expanding understanding of the solar system, which now includes a potential new member, Planet X, suspected to orbit far beyond Pluto.
The Current Count?
Eight planets; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, and five dwarf planets; Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris, with more candidates possibly waiting!
Myth #11: Mount Everest Is the World’s Largest Mountain
Mount Everest is widely known as the highest point above sea level, reaching 29,029 feet. However, when measuring from base to summit, Mauna Kea in Hawaii claims the title of the tallest mountain.
Its total height from the ocean floor is an impressive 33,465 feet, though only 13,799 feet are visible above sea level. This distinction highlights the varied ways mountains can be measured and understood.
Myth #12: Toilets Flush the Opposite Way In the Southern Hemisphere
The Coriolis Effect is indeed a fascinating phenomenon caused by Earth’s rotation, affecting large-scale motions like cyclones, which spin differently in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
However, when it comes to everyday scenarios like water draining in sinks or toilets, the effect is so minimal that it’s virtually negligible.
Why Water Swirls
In everyday scenarios, the direction in which water drains is influenced by more immediate factors such as the design of the fixture and any asymmetries like uneven installations or mineral buildup.
It’s Not About the Coriolis
These local factors overwhelmingly dominate over the subtle influence of the Coriolis effect, making the latter virtually irrelevant in household plumbing.
Thus, the direction your toilet water swirls is not about its design and condition but rather the grand scale of Earth’s rotation.
Myth #13: Folding a Paper More Than 7 Times Is Impossible
The commonly cited limit of folding a piece of paper no more than seven times has been debunked. In a striking display of persistence and creativity, a student from California (Britney Gallivan) set a new record by folding a paper in half nine, 10, 11, and 12 times.
This feat was accomplished using an unusually large and expensive roll of toilet paper, proving that with the right materials and techniques, even seemingly trivial limits can be surpassed!
Myth #14: Albert Einstein Was a Bad Student
Despite the common myth that Albert Einstein was a poor student, his academic journey tells a different story, especially in subjects that sparked his passion like mathematics and science.
Einstein’s Unconventional Path to Genius
While it’s true that he wasn’t the top student in every subject and often skipped classes to learn on his own terms, Einstein’s early love and aptitude for these areas were unmistakable.
By the age of 12, he had already taught himself advanced geometry, and at 16, he penned his first “science paper”!
Challenging Norms and Defining Physics
Einstein’s academic nonconformity was accompanied by a deep skepticism of authority, which propelled him to challenge established norms and explore beyond conventional educational frameworks.
This questioning nature helped him to excel independently and laid the foundation for his later revolutionary contributions to physics.
The Making of a Genius
Einstein’s academic path culminated with a Ph.D. from the University of Zurich at 26, the same year he published four transformative papers in physics, forever altering the field.
Thus, while Einstein may have been a non-traditional student, his early educational experiences and inherent curiosity were indeed the precursors to his later genius.
Myth #15: We Only Have 5 Senses
The idea that humans possess only five senses was a staple in school curriculums, but this simplification falls short of capturing the full spectrum of human sensory experience.
Traditionally, the five senses include sight, hearing, taste, touch, and smell. However, ongoing research and neuroscientific insights suggest that humans are capable of perceiving much more.
The Lesser-Known Human Senses
Neuroscientists propose that humans may have between 22 and 33 different senses. This broader range includes senses that are less commonly recognized but are important to interacting with our environment.
For instance, equilibrioception is the sense of balance that allows us to remain upright and navigate spaces safely without visual cues. Proprioception refers to our ability to know the position of different parts of our bodies without needing to look at them, enabling actions like typing or walking unaided by sight.
Essential Senses for Daily Life
Another significant sense is kinaesthesia, the awareness of body movement, which is essential for coordinating motions. Then there’s thermoception, which helps us detect temperatures in our surroundings—vital for maintaining comfort and survival.
Beyond Touch and Taste
Nociception, the ability to feel pain, alerts us to potential harm, while chronoception involves perceiving the passage of time, influencing our reactions and routines.
Each of these senses plays a fundamental role in our daily lives, pointing to a much more complex sensory system than the traditional five senses model suggests.
Myth #16: Diamond Is the Hardest Substance in the World
While diamonds are celebrated for their unmatched scratch resistance, they are not the hardest material known. Recent scientific advancements have identified at least six substances that surpass diamonds in hardness.
The World’s Strongest Materials
Among these are wurtzide boron nitride and graphene—the latter excels in hardness and is also the strongest known material relative to its thickness, demonstrating that the quest for the hardest substances continues to evolve with technology.
Myth #17: There are Only 4 Oceans in the World
Traditionally, school geography lessons taught about four oceans: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, and Arctic. However, in a significant update to this list, most countries (including the United States) now acknowledge a fifth ocean—the Southern Ocean.
This ocean, also known as the Antarctic Ocean, circles Antarctica and extends northward to the 60 degrees South latitude line.
The Debate Over the Southern Ocean
Officially named by the U.S. Board on Geographic Names, the Southern Ocean’s boundaries were proposed to the International Hydrographic Organization in 2000.
Despite this proposal, the exact boundaries of the Southern Ocean continue to be a topic of international debate, with not all members of the IHO having ratified these limits.
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