✗ The myth everyone repeats
If you cut an earthworm in half, both pieces will regenerate and become two complete worms.
✓ What is actually true
When an earthworm is cut, only the head end (with the brain and major organs) can regenerate, growing a new tail. The tail end cannot regenerate a head and dies. Some worms have remarkable regenerative abilities, but earthworms specifically don't become two worms from one cut.
Reception
The receipts 2 sources
- Smithsonian Magazine: Worm RegenerationREFERENCE
- Scientific American: RegenerationREFERENCE