Myth: Your Hair And Nails Grow After You Die
Myth: Your hair and nails continue to grow after you die.
Fact: They don’t. Your tissue recedes from your hair and nails, making them appear longer.
The Olympic 5-Ring Myth
The Myth: The 5-ring Olympic Symbol is from ancient Greece.
The Truth: The Nazis are responsible for spreading this myth. According to David Young’s book, The Modern Olympics, it was spread in a Nazi propaganda film about the Berlin Games.
Myth: Ancient Greek Olympic Athletes Were Amateurs
The Myth: Athletes who competed in the ancient Greek Olympics were amateurs.
The Truth: Technically, maybe. But in fact, they were handsomely rewarded for their victories. “Contrary to popular belief,” says David Wallechinsky in his Complete Book of the Olympics, “the Ancient Greek athletes were not amateurs. Not only were they fully supported throughout their training, but even though the winner received only an olive wreath at the Games, at home he was amply rewarded and could become quite rich.” Eventually, top athletes demanded cash and appearance fees – even back then.
Can Porcupines Shoot Their Quills?
Myth: When provoked, porcupines can shoot their quills.
Fact: Porcupines tend to run from danger when frightened. If caught or cornered, porcupines do tighten up their skin making their quills stand up which makes them easier to get lodged into anything they touch.
Bat Myths
From the National Geographic:
“There are no blind bats. They see extremely well.”
In fact, Tuttle has tried to make this happen, but bats just won’t tangle. He notes that echolocation, their sophisticated sonar system, allows bats to dodge wires as fine as human hairs—in the dark.
Bats are actually clean, meticulous groomers. They can contract rabies like most mammals, but as Tuttle advises, “you rarely have to worry about a sick bat if you just leave them alone and go about your business.” In 40 years of studying bats, he’s never been attacked or harmed by one.
Most bats are nocturnal and eat insects. Some eat fruit, and a few are predators of small vertebrates. Only three of the one thousand or so bat species ingest blood. They live only in Latin America, and only one feeds on livestock while the others feed on the blood of birds.
Bats are no more related to rodents than humans are. Evolution studies show that bats are more closely related to primates than to rodents.
On this, Tuttle responds: “Realistically, there’s nothing more ugly than an elephant. Its eyes are too small, its nose too long, its ears too big. It’s heavy. But we love them, and that’s because we understand them.” Along those same lines, he mentions that photographing bats as they are most of the time—instead of in defensive, snarling positions—has greatly improved their image. “Many are cute, and all are fascinating,” Tuttle says.
Recycled Paper
Myth: If the label says “recycled paper” it’s been used by a consumer before being sent to a recycling center
Fact: Unless the words “post-consumer” are printed on the label, it may be a case of manufacturers gathering cuttings from the mill floor and dumping them back into the paper pulp. This is something mills would do anyways, as it’s cost-effective, yet can legally be considered ”recycled paper”
