If you’ve ever been at a family gathering where someone confidently says, “We only use 10% of our brains,” you already know the pain of dealing with persistent myths. These everyday misconceptions cling to society like glitter on carpetnearly impossible to get rid of and mysteriously always spreading. From urban legends to outdated “facts” people refuse to update, these myths continue to roam freely even in the age of high-speed internet and pocket-sized supercomputers.
Today, we’re taking a Bored Panda–style deep dive into 35 myths that still hang around, refusing to fade into oblivion. With humor, facts, and a sprinkle of light roasting, let’s examine the beliefs that somehow survived the scientific revolution, Google Search, and your cousin who “does his own research.”
1. “We Only Use 10% of Our Brain”
Congratulationsyou’re using far more than 10% to read this. Brain scans show activity across the entire organ throughout the day. The real mystery is why this myth refuses to die.
2. “Hair Grows Thicker After Shaving”
Nope! Shaving cuts hair bluntly, making regrowth look thicker, but it doesn’t alter its density, color, or texture.
3. “Goldfish Have a Three-Second Memory”
False. Goldfish can remember things for months. They could probably remember where you hid the fish flakes.
4. “Eating Before Swimming Will Make You Cramp”
This myth has tortured generations of beach-loving kids. While swimming on a full stomach may feel uncomfortable, it doesn’t cause dangerous cramps.
5. “Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis”
Studies show no link between knuckle cracking and arthritis. It may annoy peoplebut that’s a different medical condition altogether.
6. “Touching a Baby Bird Makes the Mother Abandon It”
Most birds don’t have a strong sense of smell. If a baby falls from the nest, putting it back is absolutely fine (and kind).
7. “Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice”
It doesand often. Tall buildings like the Empire State Building get struck dozens of times a year.
8. “Bulls Hate the Color Red”
Bulls are colorblind to red. They react to movement, not color. So they don’t hate redthey hate capes being waved in their faces.
9. “Humans Evolved From Monkeys”
More accurately, humans and modern monkeys share a common ancestor. Think of it as distant cousins, not direct parents.
10. “The Great Wall of China Is Visible From Space”
Astronauts confirm it’s not easily visible to the naked eye. Cities, roads, and airports are much more noticeable.
11. “Bats Are Blind”
Bats aren’t blindthey can see and use echolocation as a superpower. Think of it as night vision with Wi-Fi.
12. “You Swallow Eight Spiders a Year in Your Sleep”
Complete nonsense. Spiders aren’t interested in you, your bed, or your midnight snoring.
13. “Dogs Only See in Black and White”
Dogs can see colorsjust not as vividly as humans. Their world looks more like a muted Instagram filter.
14. “Sugar Makes Kids Hyper”
Science hasn’t found a link between sugar and hyperactivity. Children are naturally chaotic energy balls.
15. “Humans Have Five Senses Only”
We have many more, like balance, temperature, spatial awareness, and pain detection.
16. “A Penny Dropped from a Skyscraper Could Kill Someone”
A penny isn’t heavy or aerodynamic enough to achieve dangerous speed. It won’t slice through pavementor people.
17. “Vaccines Cause the Flu”
No. Flu shots use inactive viruses and cannot give you the flu. Mild side effects don’t equal infection.
18. “Bananas Grow on Trees”
They actually grow on giant herbs. The “banana tree” is an impostor.
19. “Your Tongue Has Taste Bud Zones”
Sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and umami are detected across the tonguenot in isolated regions.
20. “Sharks Can Smell a Drop of Blood Miles Away”
They have an excellent sense of smell, but not supernaturally so. They detect concentration, not isolated droplets.
21. “You Should Pee on a Jellyfish Sting”
Please don’t. Vinegar is recommended. Urine likely makes things worse and ruins friendships.
22. “Humans Explode in Space Without a Suit”
You wouldn’t explode, but you would lose consciousness quickly due to lack of oxygen. Terrifying? Yes. Explosive? No.
23. “Carrots Improve Night Vision Drastically”
This was World War II propaganda to hide radar technology. Carrots are healthy, but they won’t turn you into a superhero.
24. “If You Go Outside With Wet Hair, You’ll Catch a Cold”
Colds come from viruses, not breezes. Wet hair only makes you chillynot sick.
25. “Chameleons Change Color to Hide”
They primarily change colors to regulate temperature or express mood, not to play hide-and-seek.
26. “Mount Everest Is the Tallest Mountain”
Measured from base to peak, Mauna Kea in Hawaii wins. Everest is tallest above sea level, though.
27. “Coffee Stunts Growth”
No evidence supports this. Coffee may keep kids awake, but it won’t shrink them.
28. “You Can See China’s Wall From the Moon”
A repeat myth so persistent it needed its own entry. Spoiler: still not true.
29. “Humans Eat Only When Hungry”
Emotional snacking says otherwise. Most refrigerators don't close themselves.
30. “Black Cats Bring Bad Luck”
Black cats are adorable and historically revered. The superstition is leftover medieval nonsense.
31. “Browning on Meat Means Spoilage”
Color changes can happen due to oxidation, not necessarily spoilage. Smell and texture are better indicators.
32. “Gum Takes Seven Years to Digest”
Your body can’t digest gum, but it passes through your system normally. No gum graveyard inside your stomach.
33. “Humans Can't Multitask”
The truth: we switch tasks rapidly. Not true multitasking, but close enough for modern life.
34. “If It’s on the Internet, It Must Be True”
Ironically, the existence of this article disproves that.
35. “Myth-Busting Isn’t Necessary Anymore”
Clearly, it still isbecause some myths just won’t quit.
Extra Experiences & Insights: Why These Myths Stick Around ()
Myths survive because people love easy explanations. We crave simple stories, even when the truth is messier. For instance, I once had a coworker who insisted that shaving his beard made it “grow angrier.” He was genuinely convinced his face was plotting revenge. No study, YouTube video, or dermatologist could convince him otherwise. Why? Because personal experienceeven when misinterpretedoften feels stronger than scientific fact.
Another example: the classic “don’t go swimming after you eat.” If you grew up with parents who enforced a strict 30-minute post-lunch beach timeout, you likely accepted it as universal truth. It becomes part of your internal script. Decades later, even with evidence disproving it, your brain whispers, “But… what if?”
Fear also plays a role. The spider-swallowing myth sticks because it’s creepy. It triggers emotions, and emotional myths imprint deeply. Likewise, the black-cat superstition persists in many cultures simply because humans historically feared the unknownand black cats became symbolic targets.
Confirmation bias fuels these beliefs, too. If someone believes sugar makes kids hyper, one energetic moment becomes “proof,” while the dozens of non-hyper moments go unnoticed. Our brains are detectives that only gather evidence supporting the narrative we already like.
Then there’s authority bias. When teachers, parents, or community leaders repeat myths, they gain unearned credibility. For example, a well-meaning elementary school teacher once told my class that touching frogs gives you warts. We believed it. Why? Because teachers know things. Right? (Sorry, Mrs. Halston. Science disagrees.)
Pop culture also perpetuates this stuff. Movies show humans instantly freezing solid in space or sharks smelling blood from galaxies away. These scenes become “common knowledge” despite having no scientific backbone. Fiction becomes reality in people’s minds because it looks convincing and dramatic.
And let’s be honest: memes accelerate myths at light speed. One viral post claiming “bananas are radioactive” transforms into “bananas will give you radiation poisoning.” In reality, bananas have harmless natural isotopes. But nuance rarely goes viral.
The real solution? Humor. Myth-busting with a smile helps people let go of misinformation without feeling attacked. No one likes being proven wrongbut everyone loves a good laugh. And that’s why Bored Panda–style articles work: they educate while entertaining, allowing truth to slip in quietly through the back door of humor.
As long as myths existand they always willthere will be people ready to debunk them. Hopefully with patience, accuracy, and just enough comedy to keep the internet entertained.
Conclusion
Myths are stubborn creatures, but knowledgeand a little humorgoes a long way. The more we question, the more we learn, and the less we fall victim to outdated “facts.” Whether it’s goldfish memory or exploding-in-space fears, the truth is far more interesting than the myths we cling to.