Science Fictions
There was an interesting little article in the December 2006 issue of Wired about Fiction vs Fact for several things you’ve heard of before. Check out these excerpts from the article by Aria Pearson:
Fiction: If you fall into quicksand you’ll be sucked under and die.
Fact: You’ll only sink up to your waist.
Fiction: Sitting too close to the TV will ruin your eyes.
Fact: It causes fatigue but no permanent damage.
Fiction: Benjamin Franklin’s kite was struck by lightning.
Fact: The kite picked up electricity from the air, causing an arc between Franklin’s hand and a key tied to his end of the string.
Fiction: A penny dropped from the top of a skyscraper can kill someone.
Fact: It could never pick up enough velocity to kill, just to bang you up a little.
Fiction: Swimming after you eat will cause cramps and lead to drowning.
Fact: These is a very slight risk of cramps, but only for vigorous swimmers.
Fiction: There’s a dark side of the moon.
Fact: The entire lunar surface receives sunlight during the moon’s monthly orbit around Earth.
Fiction: Swallowed chewing gum takes seven years to digest.
Fact: Gum is not digested. It passes through the gastrointestinal system, usually within 24 hours.
Technorati Tags: science debunked,fallacies,fictions,gum,quicksand
April 24th, 2008 at 3:15 pm
Nice post. Just one comment on one of them: there sort of “is” a dark side of the moon in the sense that the moon’s orbital period around the earth is matched to its rotation, such that the same side always faces the earth. that’s what they mean by the dark side of the moon. not literally dark, just never visible. The reason why is fascinating in its own right, and I believe it has to do with tides on earth locking the rotation of the moon.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:32 pm
Thanks, and good point! I think since people never see part of the moon, they assume it never gets any light, which is of course incorrect. Your clarification should help set the record straight…thanks!