The 1940s
23 entries on file
Things people believed and taught during the 1940s.
World War II accelerated genuinely good science (penicillin, radar, jet engines, the hard maths behind early computing) alongside genuinely bad science (race-based blood storage in the US military, asbestos as a wonder material, leaded petrol still in every tank). The post-war years brought the food pyramid wrong-shaped, the eight-glasses-a-day water rule based on a misread footnote, and the start of the cigarette industry's deliberate disinformation campaigns. The decade made antibiotics. It also made the modern infrastructure of preventable disease.
The Tongue Has Separate Taste Zones
All taste buds detect all flavors equally
Curious George Has a Tail
George is a monkey without a tail; tailless apes (like humans) are what he resembles
You Need Eight Glasses of Water a Day
There is no scientific basis for the number; it appears to be a 1945 footnote that nobody followed up on
If You Cross Your Eyes They'll Get Stuck That Way (Permanent Version)
You can't hold a cross-eyed position indefinitely due to muscle fatigue
Bogart Says 'Play It Again, Sam' in Casablanca
Bogart never says this exact phrase in the 1942 film
Carrots Give You Perfect Vision
Carrots improve vision only if you're deficient in vitamin A
Ozzy Osbourne Drank the Blood of a Live Bat
Ozzy bit a bat on stage; whether blood was consumed is disputed
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day
Meal timing's importance varies by individual; total daily nutrition matters more
Dilophosaurus had a frill and could spit venom
No evidence for frills or venom, a Jurassic Park invention
America Single-Handedly Won World War II
WWII was a truly allied victory; Soviet and British contributions were equally or more significant than American efforts
Mice Love Cheese More Than Any Other Food
Mice prefer grains and sweets; cheese is mediocre bait
The Universe Is in a Steady State
Big Bang theory supported by cosmic microwave background radiation
Eating Carrots Significantly Improves Night Vision
Carrots help normal vision but don't enhance beyond baseline
Bruce Lee Died From a Dim Mak Touch
Lee died from complications of cerebral edema; dim mak rumours are unfounded
Jimi Hendrix Choked on His Own Vomit
This is an oversimplified version; official cause was asphyxiation but details are disputed
Antibiotics effectively treat viral infections like colds and flu
Antibiotics only kill bacteria; viral infections require supportive care
Microwaves produce dangerous radiation in food
Non-ionizing radiation is safe; properly sealed ovens safe
A 'Tip' Stands for 'To Insure Promptness'
The acronym arrived long after the word, and the grammar is wrong too
Orson Welles' 'War of the Worlds' Broadcast Caused Nationwide Panic
Few people actually heard it; newspapers inflated the hysteria to bash radio
Bob Marley's Last Words Were 'Money Can't Buy Life'
His actual last words were 'Money can't buy life' to his son - this is accurately remembered
Dolly Parton Never Married and Has No Children
Dolly married Carl Dean in 1966 and has a long marriage
Penicillin is a miracle cure with no side effects
Penicillin is highly effective but carries allergy risks
Billy Joel Never Learned to Read Music
Joel learned music but gained prominence through rock; classical training details vary