9 articles
Health Myths and Medical Claims
Myth-busting articles about common health stories, viral claims, old statistics, and misunderstood science.
These pieces trace where familiar claims came from, why they spread, and what the evidence actually suggests.
The Great Wall of China Is Not Visible From Space. The Astronaut Who Said It Was Admitted He Was Wrong.
One of the most repeated 'facts' about human achievement. The astronaut who perpetuated it recanted. Here's the full story and the physics of why it's impossible.
The Five-Second Rule: What the Actual Research Found
Someone finally tested the five-second rule properly. The results are more nuanced than 'it's fine' or 'it's disgusting.' Here's what the science says.
Why Do We Yawn? Scientists Have Been Wrong About This for a Long Time.
The low-oxygen explanation for yawning was taught for decades and is almost certainly false. The current best hypothesis involves brain temperature. Here's the evidence trail.
Reading in Dim Light Doesn't Ruin Your Eyes. Neither Does Sitting Too Close to the TV.
Two of the most repeated parental warnings in history. Both are false. Here's where they came from and what actually does affect eyesight.
The '8 Glasses of Water' Rule Has No Source. We Traced It Anyway.
Everyone knows you should drink eight glasses of water a day. Nobody knows where that came from. We traced it back as far as it goes — and what we found is more interesting than a clean answer.
Napoleon Wasn't Short. The Myth Has a Surprisingly Clear Origin.
Napoleon Bonaparte was average height for his time. The story of his shortness is one of the best-documented cases of how a historical myth forms and spreads.
Goldfish Don't Have a Three-Second Memory. They Remember Things for Months.
The three-second goldfish memory is one of the most repeated facts in casual conversation. It was never true. Here's what goldfish actually remember.
Sugar Doesn't Cause Hyperactivity in Children. The Evidence Is Overwhelming.
This one has been tested more thoroughly than most medical myths. The answer has been the same since 1995. Parents still don't believe it.
We Only Use 10% of Our Brain. No We Don't. Here's Where That Came From.
One of the most persistent myths in popular science. We traced the origin as far back as the evidence goes — and the real story is more interesting than the myth.