Old Wives' Tale
30 entries on file
Cracking Your Knuckles Causes Arthritis
Research shows no connection to joint damage
You Must Wait 30 Minutes After Eating Before Swimming
The risk of cramping from swimming after eating is minimal
Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever
Both conditions benefit from proper nutrition
Hair Grows Back Thicker After Shaving
Shaving has no effect on hair thickness or growth rate
Sitting Too Close to the TV Damages Your Eyes
Proximity to screens causes strain, not permanent damage
A Dog's Mouth Is Cleaner Than a Human's
It is just differently dirty; the bacteria are mostly different, not fewer
You Lose Most of Your Body Heat Through Your Head
Your head loses heat in proportion to its size, like any bare patch of skin
You Should Pee on a Jellyfish Sting
Urine can make it worse; rinse and treat it properly instead
Going Outside with Wet Hair Causes Colds
Wet hair doesn't cause colds, viruses do
Reading in Dim Light Ruins Your Eyesight
Poor lighting causes eye strain, not permanent damage
Eating Carrots Significantly Improves Night Vision
Carrots help normal vision but don't enhance beyond baseline
Turkey Makes You Sleepy Because of Tryptophan
Turkey's tryptophan levels aren't unusually high
Eating Spicy Food Causes Ulcers
Bacteria and acid, not spice, cause ulcers
Touching Baby Birds Causes Parental Rejection
Most birds have a poor sense of smell
Nails and Hair Continue Growing After Death
Skin shrinkage creates the illusion of growth
Waking a Sleepwalker Is Dangerous or Harmful
Waking sleepwalkers is safe and often advisable
Goldfish Only Grow to the Size of Their Tank
A small bowl stunts them through stress and bad water, not natural sizing
A Shot of Whisky Warms You Up in the Cold
It makes you feel warm while actually dropping your core temperature
Beer Before Liquor, Never Sicker
The order of your drinks does not change how drunk or hungover you get
'Hair of the Dog' Cures a Hangover
Another drink only postpones the hangover; it does not cure it
Put Butter on a Burn to Soothe It
Butter traps heat and invites infection; use cool running water
Eating Peanuts Causes Acne and Pimples
No scientific link between peanuts and acne
Chocolate Causes More Tooth Decay Than Other Candy
Dark chocolate may actually protect teeth
Caffeine Stunts Children's Growth
No scientific evidence for this connection
Hair Grows Faster During Full Moons
Moon phases don't affect hair growth rates
Itching Palms Means Money Is Coming
Itching is usually caused by dermatological conditions
Holding Your Breath Cures Hiccups
This might work due to distraction or breathing control
Contagious Yawning Shows Empathy
The mechanism is neurological, not specifically empathic
A Vein in the Ring Finger Runs Straight to the Heart
Every finger has similar blood vessels; the 'vein of love' is a romantic myth
Drinking Cold Water with Meals Prevents Digestion
Water temperature doesn't significantly affect digestion