Depending on when you went to high school, we can reflect on 22 things we were taught back then that we now know aren’t true. It’s interesting to see how our understanding has changed, debunking some ideas we once considered facts. It’s a simple look back at what we learned in high school and how our perspective has evolved.
Pluto Is a Planet
The comprehension of Pluto hinges on the specific timeframe of your solar system education. Regardless of when you learned, the simplistic classification of Pluto as either a planet or not is only partially accurate. Initially discovered in 1930, Pluto held the esteemed title of the ninth planet in our solar system. However, as the exploration of the Kuiper Belt unearthed similar celestial bodies, Pluto faced reevaluation, ultimately being reclassified as a dwarf planet by NASA. Its diminutive size, approximately 1,400 miles wide, puts it at merely half the width of the United States.
Columbus Discovered That the Earth Wasn’t Flat.
Columbus, often credited with discovering America, didn’t make such a revelation. Moreover, his quest to debunk the “flat Earth” theory is now viewed skeptically. Columbus likely knew the Earth was round before embarking on his journey, as historical evidence suggests educated individuals of his time were aware of the planet’s spherical nature. Columbus himself possessed a book titled Geography, describing Earth as spherical. Contrary to common belief, his concern wasn’t the fear of falling off an edge but the vastness of the ocean he aimed to traverse.
Chameleons Change Color
The revelation that chameleons alter their color not solely for camouflage but also for communication and temperature regulation might change our perception of cartoon lizards. Imagine a new twist where a chameleon serves as a mood ring, reflecting its emotions. This empathetic chameleon could bring a fresh perspective to the animated world, using its color-changing abilities to express feelings and emotions, adding a touch of whimsy and charm to the traditional reptilian character.
Seasons Are Determined by the Earth’s Proximity to the Sun
In contrast to the traditional teachings about the Solar System, the connection between the seasons and the Earth’s distance from the sun is more complex than once believed. NASA reveals that the Earth’s axial tilt drives the changing seasons—fall, winter, spring, and summer. This nuanced understanding challenges the simplistic notion that seasonal variations are solely linked to the Earth’s proximity to the sun, adding a layer of complexity to our comprehension of the celestial mechanisms governing our planet’s climate.
Three States of Matter
In primary science education, we’ve been imparted with fundamental knowledge regarding the most prevalent states of matter: solids, liquids, and gases. However, it’s enlightening to discover that four additional forms exist, perhaps less commonly emphasized. These include plasma, Bose-Einstein condensate, quark-gluon plasma, and degenerate matter. While less frequently addressed, these states play an equally crucial role in understanding the diverse nature of matter and its manifestations.
Swallowed Gum Doesn’t Digest for Seven Years
Among the myriad reasons teachers provided for prohibiting gum chewing, the notion that swallowed gum would linger undigested for seven years was a common scare tactic. This assertion turns out to be a fabrication intended to dissuade classroom gum consumption. Contrary to the misinformation, stomach emptying occurs within 30 to 120 minutes after eating, as per Duke Health. Consequently, any ingested gum swiftly exits the body shortly after entering, dispelling the unfounded belief in its prolonged residence.
Abraham Lincoln Abolished Slavery
While U.S. history commonly attributes the abolition of slavery to Abraham Lincoln, the reality is more intricate. History.com notes that Lincoln wasn’t a staunch advocate for equal rights, and his Emancipation Proclamation didn’t technically emancipate all slaves. The Virginia Museum of History & Culture highlights that contemporary perspectives have shifted, with some historians suggesting enslaved individuals played a significant role in their own liberation, thereby diminishing Lincoln’s attributed role in the abolitionist movement. This nuanced view challenges the conventional narrative surrounding Lincoln and the emancipation of enslaved people.
You Can Never Start a Sentence With a Conjunction
Indeed, there might be professors with reservations about sentences commencing with conjunctions. Still, such usage is perfectly acceptable concerning grammatical accuracy. “There is a widespread belief—one with no historical or grammatical foundation—that it is an error to begin a sentence with a conjunction such as and, but, or so,” as outlined in the Chicago Manual of Style. And, contrary to misconceptions, a significant percentage, sometimes up to 10 percent, of sentences in high-quality writing indeed initiate with conjunctions. This practice has endured for centuries, embraced even by the most conservative grammarians.
Raindrops Are All Tear-Shaped
Contrary to the notion that raindrops resemble teardrops, NASA informs us that they actually take on a shape more akin to halves of hamburger buns. Raindrops undergo transformations as they descend towards Earth, challenging the conventional tear-shaped perception. This revelation provides a different perspective on raindrops’ dynamic and evolving nature during their journey through the atmosphere.
Christopher Columbus Discovered America in 1492
Indeed, it’s becoming widely acknowledged that the information we received about Columbus may only be somewhat reliable. A case in point: despite the narrative we were taught, the explorer didn’t actually “discover” America in 1492; Native Americans had been residing there for centuries. Furthermore, a growing body of scholarly thought suggests that explorers from Europe, Asia, and Africa potentially reached American shores well before Columbus, challenging the traditional narrative we’ve long been acquainted with in our educational journey.
Benjamin Franklin Discovered Electricity When He Was Struck by Lightning
History teachers likely explained that Benjamin Franklin stumbled upon electricity while flying a kite in a rainstorm. However, historians debate the veracity of this account, primarily because the electric shock from such an experiment could have proven fatal. Additionally, The Franklin Institute highlights that “Franklin wasn’t the first to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning.” Essentially, Franklin neither endured a lightning strike nor was he the inaugural discoverer of electricity. Nevertheless, he holds historical significance for closely and attentively observing its nature.
Your Blood Is Blue When It’s Deoxygenated
In body knowledge, it’s common to hear the misconception that deoxygenated blood appears blue. Nevertheless, the fact remains that blood is inherently red, irrespective of its oxygenation status. As per Live Science, the apparent bluish tint of veins within your body is intricately linked to how your eyes absorb and perceive color, debunking the widely held belief about the coloration of deoxygenated blood.
Sir Isaac Newton Discovered Gravity When an Apple Fell on His Head
Educators often share the engaging tale of Sir Isaac Newton’s gravity revelation, attributing it to an apple falling on his head, a narrative designed to captivate students. While historical records confirm Newton’s presence in an orchard where an apple descended, there’s no substantiated evidence that it directly struck him on the head. Moreover, this event didn’t constitute how the scientist “discovered” gravity; instead, it triggered contemplation and laid the groundwork for his eventual formulation of the law of universal gravitation.
Thomas Edison Invented the Light Bulb
In the realm of invention education, it’s common to attribute the creation of the light bulb solely to Thomas Edison. However, preceding Edison’s work, there were earlier iterations of the light bulb. Time clarifies this historical context by stating that “his light bulb was the first that proved practical, affordable, for home illumination.” Therefore, while Edison may not have been the absolute originator, his contribution marked a pivotal moment in making the light bulb a practical and economical choice for residential lighting.
The Tongue Is Divided Into Taste Bud Zones
That familiar map from biology class delineating taste bud zones on the tongue? It’s time to bid farewell to it, as it doesn’t align with scientific reality. The widely circulated notion that specific tastes are limited to particular tongue regions is debunked by the fact that, on average, humans possess up to 8,000 taste buds dispersed across their tongues. Each taste bud houses a blend of receptor cells capable of discerning all five tastes, rendering the concept of taste zones inaccurate and simplifying our understanding of taste perception.
We Only Use 10 Percent of Our Brains
The perpetuation of this myth, fueled by popular movies such as Lucy and Limitless, implies that humans only use a fraction of their brains. Contrary to this notion, research indicates that the brain consumes about 20 percent of the body’s energy. Dr. Barry Gordon, a neurology professor at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, emphasized in a Scientific American interview that humans engage virtually every part of their brain, challenging the prevailing misconception about the untapped potential of the human brain perpetuated by certain cinematic narratives.
The Original Thanksgiving Was a Peaceful Gathering
During our school days, pre-Thanksgiving often involved crafting hand turkeys and expressing gratitude. However, the notion that Thanksgiving has a historical foundation in peace and thankfulness is entirely misguided. Following the massacre of 700 Pequot individuals by colonial soldiers, Massachusetts colony governor John Winthrop orchestrated a celebratory event to honor the soldiers. Evidently, the initial Thanksgiving starkly contradicts the prevailing narrative of peace and unity, shedding light on the more complex and less idyllic historical reality.
Camels Store Water in Their Humps
Opposite to the common teaching about thirsty camels use their humps to store water in the desert, The Library of Congress debunks this notion. Instead, it clarifies that camels’ humps are reservoirs filled with fat, allowing them to endure days of travel through arid landscapes without the need for food. This revelation provides a corrected understanding of the purpose behind camel humps, emphasizing their role in energy storage rather than water retention, as conventionally believed.
The Great Wall of China Is Visible From Space
Teachers often emphasize that the Great Wall of China is the sole human creation visible from space, but this assertion needs to be revised. In reality, the Great Wall is typically not discernible “to the unaided eye in low Earth orbit. It certainly isn’t visible from the Moon,” clarifies NASA. This correction dispels the popular misconception, highlighting the need for precision when conveying information about the visibility of artificial structures from various vantage points in space.
Eating Carrots Will Help Your Vision
Carrots boast a wealth of beta carotene, a nutrient that, as the University of California, Berkeley highlights, the body transforms into vision-boosting vitamin A, known as “retinal.” It’s crucial to note, however, that this vision-enhancing advantage is only pertinent for individuals facing vitamin A deficiency resulting from inadequate dietary intake, malabsorption challenges, or alcoholism. Given that most Americans already incorporate sufficient beta carotene and vitamin A into their diets, there’s no need to stress about incorporating carrots into every meal solely for the upkeep of 20/20 vision.
There Is No Gravity in Space
As indicated by NASA, a minimal but omnipresent gravitational force is at play even in the vast expanse of space. The organization emphasizes that “gravity holds the moon in orbit around Earth. Gravity causes Earth to orbit the sun.” This underscores the pervasive influence of gravity, playing a pivotal role in celestial mechanics by governing the gravitational relationships between heavenly bodies and ensuring the stability of orbits within the cosmic dance of celestial objects.
Listening to Classical Music Can Make You Smarter
Have you ever encountered a teacher advocating the listening of classical music during silent reading for a purported boost in brainpower? While this practice may have enriched your musical appreciation, there needs to be more scientific evidence supporting the idea that it enhances overall intelligence. Dr. Alfred A. Tomatis’s “Mozart effect” theory, positing that listening to Mozart makes you smarter, was later scrutinized in a meta-analysis of 16 studies, revealing that music merely offers a temporary improvement in mental skills rather than a lasting enhancement in intelligence.
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