Human Body
You only use 10% of your brain.
FALSE. Brain scans show humans use many regions of the brain throughout the day.
Goldfish only remember things for 3 seconds.
FALSE. Goldfish can remember information for months and can even learn routines and tricks.
Lightning can strike the same place twice.
TRUE. Lightning often strikes tall objects repeatedly, especially buildings and towers.
Gum stays in your stomach for 7 years.
FALSE. Your body cannot fully digest gum, but it still moves through the digestive system normally.
You swallow spiders in your sleep.
FALSE. There is no scientific evidence that people regularly swallow spiders while sleeping.
Humans need sleep to survive.
TRUE. Sleep helps the brain and body recover, store memories, regulate emotions, and stay healthy.
Octopuses have three hearts.
TRUE. Two hearts pump blood to the gills, while the third pumps blood to the rest of the body.
There are more stars in space than grains of sand on Earth.
TRUE. Scientists estimate the universe contains an enormous number of stars — likely more than all the grains of sand on Earth.
Microwaves can heat food.
TRUE. Microwaves use energy waves to make water molecules vibrate, producing heat.
Bananas are slightly radioactive.
TRUE. Bananas contain potassium, and a tiny amount of potassium is naturally radioactive.
Sugar makes kids hyper.
MOSTLY FALSE. Research shows excitement and environment usually cause hyper behavior more than sugar itself.
Bulls hate the color red.
FALSE. Bulls react to movement, not color. They are actually colorblind to red.
Seasons happen because Earth is closer to the Sun in summer.
FALSE. Seasons are caused by Earth’s tilt, not its distance from the Sun.
Honey can last for thousands of years without spoiling.
TRUE. Honey has very little water and is naturally acidic, making it difficult for bacteria to grow.
Cold weather alone makes you sick.
FALSE. Viruses and germs make people sick, not cold temperatures by themselves.
Your body contains enough iron to make a nail.
TRUE. The average human body contains about 3–4 grams of iron, mostly in the blood.
Some frogs can freeze during winter and survive.
TRUE. Certain frogs can partially freeze and later thaw out when temperatures warm up.
Sound can travel through space.
FALSE. Sound needs matter, like air or water, to travel. Space is mostly empty.
Carrots can improve night vision.
PARTLY TRUE. Vitamin A in carrots helps maintain healthy eyesight, but carrots do not give people super vision.
There is enough gold in Earth’s core to coat the planet.
TRUE. Scientists believe Earth’s core contains massive amounts of gold and precious metals.
Hair and nails continue growing after death.
FALSE. Skin shrinks as the body dehydrates, making hair and nails appear longer.
Dogs only see in black and white.
FALSE. Dogs can see some colors, especially blues and yellows, but not the full range humans see.
A day on Venus is longer than a year on Venus.
TRUE. Venus spins so slowly that one full rotation takes longer than its trip around the Sun.
Drinking water helps regulate body temperature.
TRUE. Water helps the body cool itself through sweating and supports many body functions.
A penny dropped from a skyscraper could kill someone.
FALSE. Air resistance slows the penny down long before it reaches deadly speeds.