School is where we learn the basics about the world around us. But sometimes, the textbook information doesn’t keep up with new discoveries and changes in our understanding. This means that students might be learning things that are no longer true or have been proven wrong.
In this blog post, I’ll share 13 outdated facts that are still being taught in many schools.
Seasons are caused by Earth’s distance from the Sun
Seasons happen because of Earth’s tilt, not its distance from the Sun. When the North Pole tilts towards the Sun, it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The Earth’s distance from the Sun changes slightly, but this doesn’t cause seasons.
Bats are blind
Bats aren’t blind at all. Most bats can see quite well, especially in low light. They use echolocation to navigate and hunt in the dark, but their eyes work too. Some fruit bats even have excellent color vision.
Humans evolved from monkeys
Humans didn’t evolve from monkeys. Instead, humans and monkeys share a common ancestor. We’re more like distant cousins to monkeys. Our closest living relatives are actually chimpanzees and bonobos.
Vikings wore horned helmets
There’s no evidence that Vikings wore horned helmets in battle. This image comes from 19th-century artists and operas. Real Viking helmets were simple and practical, without horns. The myth is popular but historically incorrect.
Pluto is a planet
Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet in 2006. This change happened because scientists found many objects like Pluto in the outer solar system. They had to decide what counts as a planet, and Pluto didn’t make the cut. However, some teachers still include Pluto when teaching about the planets.
Columbus discovered America
Christopher Columbus didn’t actually discover America. Native people had been living there for thousands of years before he arrived, and other explorers from Europe and Asia had reached the Americas earlier. Columbus’s voyages were important, but calling them a discovery isn’t accurate.
Tongue taste map
The idea that different parts of your tongue taste different flavors is wrong. All taste buds can sense all flavors. This myth probably started from a misunderstanding of an old science paper. Your whole tongue can taste sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami flavors.
We only use 10% of our brains
This is a popular myth, but it’s not true at all. We actually use all of our brains, just not all at once. Different parts of the brain work together for various tasks. Brain scans show activity all over the brain during normal activities.
Humans have five senses
We actually have more than five senses. Besides sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch, we have others like balance, temperature, and body position. Some scientists say we might have up to 21 different senses. The five senses idea is just too simple.
Great Wall of China visible from space
The Great Wall of China isn’t actually visible from space with the naked eye. This myth has been around for a long time, but astronauts have confirmed they can’t see it. Other human-made structures, like cities at night, are much easier to spot from space.
Blood is blue inside the body
Blood is always red, even inside your body. It looks blue through your skin because of how light travels through tissue. When blood is exposed to oxygen, it turns a brighter red. This change in color might have led to the myth about blue blood.
Sugar makes kids hyper
There’s no scientific proof that sugar causes hyperactivity in children. This idea probably comes from the excitement of parties where sugary foods are often served. Studies have shown that sugar doesn’t affect behavior or cognitive performance in most children.
Lightning never strikes twice
Lightning can and does strike the same place multiple times. Tall buildings and other high points are often hit repeatedly during storms. The Empire State Building, for example, is struck by lightning about 25 times each year.
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