Have you ever found yourself thinking you have the memory of a goldfish when you forgot someone’s name a SECOND after they told you? Well I have some good (or maybe bad) news for you! Read on to find out common science misconceptions and the real truth behind them.
Goldfish have a one second memory A study conducted in Israel has proven that goldfish have an extensive memory and ability to recall information months after learning it. Scientists have trained goldfish to react to certain sounds while held in captivity and after months of roaming free in the wild, they were able remember and react to the same sounds! Indeed, you do not have the memory of a rudimentary animal; you are simply a forgetful person.
White spots on nails are a warning sign of calcium deficiency Although white spots on nails may be a sign of calcium deficiency in some cases, there is no need for you to reach for the nearest yoghurt at the first sign of a white spot. Most , they are caused by a condition known as leukonychia. It may sound threatening, but in reality it is completely harmless and often caused by an injury to the nail bed, such as frequent manicures or simply banging your hand on a table.
Cats and dogs are colour blind This is a myth that has been debunked many times over the years, yet there are still people that commonly believe that their pets see in black and white. The reality is that dogs are able to see in colour, but their sense of colour is seven times less vivid than that of an average human due to a lower amount of cone cells in their eyes. Cats on the other hand, see colours very differently to humans. For instance, purple may look blue to them, while red and pink appear as different shades of green.
Everyone should drink eight glasses of water a day Hydration is very important, but the idea that eight glasses of water a day should be drunk by everyone is not entirely accurate. Studies have produced varying recommendations of the amount of water a person should drink a day and there is no one answer that will fit everyone. Factors such as how active a person is, where they live and their general health will determine how much water they require. Therefore, a good rule to follow is to drink whenever you’re thirsty – no need to count the glasses!
The Asteroid Belt is dangerous This one might upset some sci-fi fans, but the idea of a spaceship zooming through a dense field of tumbling, colliding rocks is merely the product of our imagination. Sorry! In fact, the asteroid belt is an incredibly lonely and desolate void between 200 and 300 million miles from the sun with the chances of collision extremely small and insignificant even when travelling at ultra-fast speed. But please try not to think of that next time you watch your favourite sci-fi movie! Have you ever found yourself thinking you have the memory of a goldfish when you forgot someone’s name a SECOND after they told you? Well I have some good (or maybe bad) news for you! Read on to find out common science misconceptions and the real truth behind them.