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35 Mythbusting Moments Because We’re Overcome With Mythbusting Madness

February 03, 2024

We have no doubt that after you read these busted myths, you’ll want to get out there and bust some myths of your own. That’s how it happened for us. One list and we hopped aboard the truth train. Now we're hooked. Any time there’s a lie out there disguised as a fact, we just need to right its wrongs. So join us. Heed the call. Seek the truth.

35

CRACKED The Gettysburg Address was scribbled down in a rush. Abraham Lincoln took a lot of time to write the Gettysburg Address, talking it over with people he knew. There are five copies of the speech still around, and none of them are written on envelopes. — Source

34

Christopher Columbus proved the Earth wasn't flat. People have long believed that people at Christopher Columbus' time thought the Earth was flat, but this isn't true. They actually knew the Earth was round. CRACKED — Source

33

CRACKED The Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4 It's commonly thought that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, but it wasn't. Congress gave the go-ahead on that day, but the actual signing didn't happen until August 2. — Source

32

CRACKED You-had- -to-be- borna knight. It's a common misconception that knights were born into their title. In reality, knighthood was a privilege that was earned through brave acts or service, and could even be bought or granted as a reward. — Source

31

Iron Maidens

CRACKED Iron-maidens were-used in the Middle Ages. People in the Middle Ages weren't as barbaric as people think. The idea that they used iron maidens was made up in the 18th century. — Source

30

CRACKED Old people used to be rare. Contrary to popular belief, people in the past could live to be quite old. Archaeological evidence and records show that humans have been able to reach their 70s, 80s, and even 90s for the past 160,000 years. — Source

29

CRACKED The Pyramids of Giza were built by slaves. It's not true that slaves built the Great Pyramids of Giza. Archaeological research has shown that the people who constructed them were paid workers, not slaves. — Source

28

CRACKED Ancient Greek- statues-were-white. Ancient Greek statues weren't just white marble. They were actually painted in bright colors and designs, which just vanished over time. — Source

27

Women-were-burned at the stake-in the Salem Witch-Trials. No one who was accused of being a witch during the Salem Witch Trials was burned alive. Now, they were killed, in several different ways ... but not by burning CRACKED — Source

26

Cheerios

CRACKED MYTH Cheerios can help x lower cholesterol. FACT Utilizing Cheerios soluble fiber, the thing that would help lower cholesterol, it would still take 10 daily bowls to have any effect. — Source

25

MYTH Diamond engagement rings have been the proposal standard for x hundreds of years. FACT Diamond engagement rings were essentially a marketing invention of the DeBeers company after they over purchased diamond mines in the 1930s. CRACKED — Source

24

MYTH Store-bought foods should be x thrown out after the expiration date on the packaging. FACT The FDA doesn't require expiration dates, except for baby formula. The date on most food is an estimate, and is often put on food to encourage consumers to throw it out and buy a new one. X0 LP245 18:53 R1 EC2 31/12/2019 CRACKED — Source

23

MYTH Foods labeled x fat free are TEAR HER healthier for you. FACT As scientists began to learn about cholesterol, they estl urged Americans to move away from fatty foods and towards whole grains and vegetables-but the snack food industry took the fat-free label and slapped it on high sugar foods that were naturally low in fat but certainly not healthy. FatFree Yogurt CRACKED — Source

22

Split Ends

MYTH You can repair split ends with the right products. x FACT Once the hair is split, there is no repairing the damage. The only thing you can do is cut them off. Products that advertise fixing split ends are lying. CRACKED — Source

21

Jaywalking

MYTH Jaywalking has always been illegal and immoral. x FACT Jaywalking wasn't a thing until the invention of the car. Prior to that, pedestrians and carriages shared the street with very little issue. The auto industry coined the term jaywalking to shield themselves from lawsuits. CRACKED — Source

20

Mint

MYTH Mint products are the key to a healthy mouth. x FACT In the early 1900s, Pepsodent mint dental products became hugely popular due to a Hollywood studded ad campaign. People began associating mint's tingly sensation with cleanliness, and went on to continue buying the products. CRACKED — Source

19

Nutella

MYTH Nutella is as healthy for x you as peanut butter. FACT Nutella is actually less healthy than chocolate frosting. Nutella pushed the healthy myth so far that they were actually ordered to pay out a class action lawsuit for deceptive advertising. nutella FERRERO ge der - CRACKED — Source

18

MYTH x The food pyramid promotes healthy food choices. FACT The USDA- regulated Yogurt pyramid was discontinued in 2011. Before then, it demonized fats and promoted carbs, thanks to lobbyists like Nestlé, Coca-Cola, and McDonald's. These days, the federal guidelines are influenced by the agricultural lobby. CRACKED — Source

17

MYTH Women have always shaved their x armpits to appear more lady-like. FACT As far back as ancient Egypt, both hair and hairlessness has gone through the trend cycle for both genders. The latest cycle started in the 1920s, when American razor companies saw women as an untapped market. CRACKED — Source

16

Carrie Fisher

MYTH: Carrie Fisher was a script doctor on The Empire Strikes Back Carrie Fisher was a great script doctor, but she didn't actually rewrite the script for The Empire Strikes Back. The changes were actually made by the movie's director, Irvin Kershner. CRACKED — Source

15

Marilyn Monroe

MYTH: Marilyn Monroe inspired Tinkerbell The popular story that Tinkerbell in Disney's Peter Pan was based on Marilyn Monroe isn't true; the character was actually inspired by actress Margaret Kerry. CRACKED — Source

14

The Wizard of Oz

MYTH: A munchkin killed himself on The Wizard of Oz People often say that a munchkin killed themselves while they were making The Wizard of Oz, but that's not true -- it's just an urban myth. CRACKED — Source

13

MYTH: The girl painted with gold in Goldfinger died In the 1964 James Bond movie Goldfinger, people thought actress Shirley Eaton had died from being covered in gold paint, but she was actually okay and went on to make more movies before she quit acting. CRACKED — Source

12

MYTH: Daniel Craig gets free Aston Martins, forever Some people think that Daniel Craig gets free Aston Martin cars forever because of his role as Bond, but that's not true. It would probably be the best perk ever, though CRACKED — Source

11

10

MYTH: Marilyn Monroe had six toes The rumor that Marilyn Monroe had six toes on each foot isn't true. It started with a photographer who thought they saw an extra toe in a 1946 photo. But when they looked at other photos taken at the same time, they saw she had five toes. CRACKED — Source

9

Ben-Hur

MYTH: Someone was killed on Ben-Hur There's a rumor that a stuntman died while they were filming the chariot race scene in the 1959 version of Ben-Hur, and that it was left in the movie. That's not true at all, actually. CRACKED — Source

8

Chloroform won't instantly knock you out. Rendering someone unconscious with chloroform takes two to three minutes. For this to work, your target would need to be extremely cooperative and refrain from fighting for a good while. CRACKED.COM — Source

7

You can't have a conversation during a gunfight. Gunshots are louder than jackhammers, so forget about cracking wise at your opponents (let alone whispering to your partners) while bullets are flying. You'll be pretty much deaf for a while. CRACKED.COM — Source

6

You can't be easily sedated. Too little sedative, and nothing will happen. Too much, and you will kill your target. And even if you get the dose just right, the effect is never immediate. CRACKED.COM — Source

5

You can't go sniping right after putting your rifle together. Guns that can be taken down to fit in a case need to fire several test shots to properly adjust the scope. Only in recent years has the U.S. Navy built a prototype that doesn't have this issue. CRACKED.COM — Source

4

Kicks are no good. Kicking someone is slow, cumbersome, and leaves you exposed to a counterattack (to your crotch). The effectiveness of kicking for self-defense is debated even in the martial arts community. CRACKED.COM — Source

3

Not being knocked out doesn't mean you didn't get a concussion. In about 90% of concussions, there's no loss of consciousness. You can be awake to go Ouch! and still have your brain shaken like jello, requiring medical attention. CRACKED.COM — Source

2

Fingerprints are very hard to find on guns. EVIDE CHAIR Even if the gun isn't wiped clean, the rough edges and surfaces that allow for a better grip make it difficult for prints to take hold. Only in a small percentage of cases are fingerprints found. CRACKED.COM — Source

1

Gun Safety

A blank can still kill you. Blanks are only safe at a distance. Stand less than a couple feet away, and the expanding gases and wadding can do real harm. Several actors have died this way. CRACKED.COM — Source

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