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The claim that people swallow several spiders a year in their sleep is a myth. Swallowing one is not strictly impossible, but it would be a rare, random event with no documented case.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
No. Studies comparing habitual knuckle crackers with non-crackers have found no increased arthritis, though forceful cracking can occasionally cause injury.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
No. The head loses heat roughly in proportion to its share of body surface, about 7 to 10 percent. The myth persists because heads are often the only uncovered part in the cold.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
Controlled trials and a major meta-analysis find no effect of sugar on children's behavior. Parental expectation and exciting settings likely explain the belief.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
No. Taste receptors for all basic tastes are spread across the tongue and mouth. Small differences in sensitivity exist, but the classic tongue map is a myth.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
No. Ophthalmologists and optometrists say reading in dim light does not cause lasting harm, though it can tire the eyes and dry them out for a while.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
No. Shaving does not change hair thickness, color or growth rate. Regrowing hair only looks and feels coarser because the cut tip is blunt.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
No. Eight glasses is a memorable goal, not a science-backed requirement. Needs vary by person, climate and activity, and food and other drinks count toward them.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
No. Hair and nails do not keep growing after death. They look longer because the skin dries out and shrinks back, which creates an optical illusion.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
Not as a safety rule. Bacteria can transfer to dropped food in under a second, and moisture and surface type matter at least as much as time, though longer contact does add more bacteria.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
No. Alcohol makes your skin feel warmer by shifting blood to the surface, but this speeds up heat loss and can lower your core temperature, especially in the cold.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
Large reviews, including a 2025 WHO review, find no causal link between vaccines and autism. The claim traces to a retracted 1998 paper. A CDC webpage now words the matter differently.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
At typical dietary levels MSG has not been shown to be harmful. The 'Chinese restaurant syndrome' scare grew from a 1968 letter and weak early studies.
Starter thread · AI-reviewed against its sources
