Some school truths, which in fact turned out to be myths

Some city legends are so convincing that they even turn into people's minds into irrefutable facts. They even begin to be repeated by teachers at school! Orwell said that myths, in which many believe, turn into truth, but with science it does not work - every erroneous axiom will sooner or later be refuted. What are the most common ideas - mistakes?

Space and the Great Wall of China

Teachers say that the only human-made structure visible even from outer space is the Great Wall of China, supposedly even the astronauts on the Moon could see it. In fact, even when flying directly above the surface of the planet, it's difficult to see anything, and it's impossible at all from a satellite of the Earth. Even Chinese astronauts refute this myth - the naked eye can not see the wall. However, some structures can be distinguished beyond the atmosphere, for example, pyramids in Giza or light and road systems of large cities. From the moon, absolutely nothing is visible. The myth about the Chinese landmark appeared in the thirties of the twentieth century, but it was dispelled only when the astronauts were able to confirm that from the Moon our planet is visible only as a blur.

People have blue blood

Some argue that the human blood inside the veins is blue and blushes only from oxidation upon contact with oxygen. Ostensibly that is why veins seem blue under the surface of the skin, and bruises are also blue or violet. In fact, the blood is red and inside the body, and outside. Color is provided by iron molecules bound by hemoglobin with oxygen. When the blood is oxidized, it becomes dark, but does not change color. In fact, oxygen is contained in the body, so the hypothesis makes no sense. The veins seem blue because they are formed by a connective tissue of a bluish-yellow hue. In combination with the color of the skin and get a familiar shade.

Ten percent of brain efficiency

Some argue that a person uses only ten percent of the brain, and geniuses learn to use the whole and therefore achieve success. In fact, everyone uses the brain completely, there are no sectors in it that conceal genius. We can say that only selected shares are active at any given moment, but this does not mean that the rest of the brain does not play a role at all. The brain is used by a person very actively - its mass does not exceed three percent of body weight, and it requires twenty percent of energy.

People have only five senses

It is usually believed that a person has five senses. This vision, hearing, smell, taste and touch. In fact, it is worth making some amendments to the old list, developed by Aristotle. Experts share each feeling over a subgroup, for example, the perception of color, brightness, saturation of tones. In addition, there is also a sense of balance or a sense of pain, a sense of temperature and many others.

After death, hair and nails continue to grow

Many people believe that nails and hair grow even in corpses. In fact, without oxygen, skin cells die swiftly, for twelve hours, so that no growth is expected. Nails require glucose, which is also not produced in a dead body. Why do they seem longer? Because the dehydration of the corpse drains the skin and it stretches on the fingers.

Edison invented the light bulb

Edison really successfully sold his version of the light bulb, nevertheless invented it before his novelty offer on the market. The lamp appeared already in 1806, when the British scientist Humphrey Davey invented the so-called arched lamp with a carbon filament. A few decades later, Frederic De Moleins patented a light bulb of his invention, so Edison simply perfected other people's ideas.

Panic because of the "War of the Worlds"

According to rumors, the radio show on the book "War of the Worlds" caused panic among people who believed that the planet was really attacked by aliens. In fact, the program was not very popular. There is evidence that no frightened people entered hospitals or police stations. In a word, it's just an interesting urban legend.

Sites with different tastes in the language

It is believed that the language is divided into four main sectors, each of which is responsible for the perception of a particular taste. In fact, in the language of thousands of taste buds, some of them are really individually sensitive to a certain taste, but they do not divide by clear groups.

Do not swallow chewing gum

Of course, the body really can not digest the chewing gum, but it will simply leave the body along with other wastes, so there is nothing terrible in this.

In Australia, water flows differently

It is believed that in the other hemisphere the water spins in the other direction. It is not right. Of course, certain forces affect water in water bodies, but they are not noticeable on the scale of the crane. It all depends on the shape of the faucet and the sink.

The signing of the Declaration of Independence was the fourth of July

Celebration of Independence is not quite rightly understood by many Americans: this is not the day of the declaration of Independence. The document was created already on July 2, and the fourth was simply finally approved.