Some of the things you are most confident about are scientifically wrong.
Not because you’re careless or uninformed — but because the human brain is wired to trust repetition, familiarity, and stories that feel right. Over time, myths become cultural truths, passed along without question.
Science, however, has a habit of quietly dismantling what we think we know.
Here are 20 common myths people still believe today, and what decades of research actually reveal.
The myth: Most of the human brain lies dormant.
What science says: Brain imaging studies using MRI and PET scans show that nearly every part of the brain is active, even during rest.
Why it survives: The idea is motivational — it suggests untapped potential.
Reality: Damage to even small brain regions causes measurable deficits.
We use only 10% of our brains
The myth: Sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch are the only senses.
What science says: Neuroscience identifies more than 20 senses, including balance, proprioception, pain, and internal awareness.
Humans have only 5 senses
The myth: Sugar causes hyperactivity.
What science says: Controlled studies show no causal link between sugar intake and hyperactivity.
What’s really happening: Exciting environments influence behavior.
Sugar makes kids hyperactive is a myth
The myth: Memories are exact recordings.
What science says: Memory is reconstructive and changes each time it’s recalled.
The myth: Cold air causes illness.
What science says: Viruses cause colds, not temperature.
Cold weather causes cold is a myth
The myth: Knuckle cracking damages joints.
What science says: Long-term studies show no connection.
The myth: Multitasking improves efficiency.
What science says: Task switching increases errors and mental fatigue.
Multitasking makes you more productive is a myth
The myth: Eight glasses is universal.
What science says: Hydration needs vary by person, climate, and activity.
The myth: Logic and creativity are separate.
What science says: Both hemispheres work together for most tasks.
The myth: Lightning avoids repeat locations.
What science says: Tall structures are struck repeatedly.
Lightening never strike the same place twice is a big myth
Many myths survive not because they’re true, but because they sound intuitive. Our brains prefer simple explanations over accurate ones.
The myth: Shaving changes hair structure.
What science says: Shaving does not affect thickness or growth rate.
The myth: Most heat escapes from the head.
What science says: Heat loss depends on exposed surface area.
The myth: Vaccines are linked to autism.
What science says: Large-scale studies show no connection.
The myth: Alcohol increases warmth.
What science says: Alcohol increases heat loss.
The myth: You must wait before swimming.
What science says: No strong evidence supports this.
The myth: Teaching must match learning styles.
What science says: Learning styles show no meaningful advantage.
The myth: Cleanses detoxify the body.
What science says: The liver and kidneys already detoxify naturally.
The myth: People eat spiders while sleeping.
What science says: No credible evidence supports this.
The myth: Full moons affect behavior.
What science says: Data shows no consistent correlation.
Full moon causes strange behavior
The myth: Time actually moves faster.
What science says: Time perception changes due to memory and routine.
Myths persist because they feel intuitive, are repeated socially, and reduce uncertainty. The brain prefers coherence over accuracy.
Believing a myth doesn’t mean you lack intelligence — it means you’re human.
Science doesn’t just correct myths. It teaches humility.