Science Myths, Busted
Plenty of things we learned as kids turn out to be wrong, or only half right. Here are the common science myths we checked, each answered in plain English. Bats are not blind. Lightning really is hotter than the surface of the Sun. You cannot see the Great Wall of China from the Moon. Every answer links to its source, usually NASA, NOAA, the U.S. Geological Survey or the Smithsonian.
Everyday Science, Decoded
Does lightning strike the same place twice?
Lightning often hits the same spot again and again. A spot that was struck once is not safe. Tall, isolated things attract repeat strikes.
Source: Lightning Myths and Facts — National Weather Service (NOAA). Read the full card
Is lightning hotter than the Sun?
A lightning bolt is about five times hotter than the Sun's surface. Thunder is the sound of air heated hotter than the Sun's surface in an instant.
Source: Understanding Lightning: Overview — National Weather Service (NOAA). Read the full card
What is heat lightning?
"Heat lightning" is just lightning from a storm too far to hear. Silent flashes mean a real storm is out there, and it may be heading your way.
Source: Heat Lightning — National Weather Service (NOAA). Read the full card
What shape are raindrops?
Falling raindrops look like hamburger buns, not teardrops. Next time you draw rain, round it off and flatten the bottom.
Source: Are Raindrops Shaped Like Teardrops? — U.S. Geological Survey. Read the full card
Is old window glass thicker at the bottom because glass flows?
Old windows aren't thicker at the bottom because glass flows. Uneven antique panes tell you about the glassmaker, not about glass melting.
Source: Researcher uses Westminster Abbey windows to shine light on glass myth — Penn State University. Read the full card
Does water boil at a lower temperature at high altitude?
Water boils at a lower temperature the higher up you go. In the mountains, boiling water is cooler, so add cooking time.
Source: Facts About Water — U.S. Geological Survey. Read the full card
Are rainbows actually full circles?
Every rainbow is really a full circle. Window seat on a rainy-day flight? Look for a complete circular rainbow.
Source: APOD: A Full Circle Rainbow over Norway (2022 Dec 27) — NASA Science (Astronomy Picture of the Day). Read the full card
Do microwaves cook food from the inside out?
Microwaves don't cook food from the inside out. Stir halfway and let food stand a minute so heat can spread to the middle.
Source: Microwave Ovens — U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Read the full card
Space and Earth, Myths Busted
Can you see the Great Wall of China from the Moon?
You can't see the Great Wall of China from the Moon. Long isn't the same as visible: width and contrast matter from far away.
Source: Great Wall — NASA. Read the full card
What causes the seasons on Earth?
Seasons come from Earth's tilt, not its distance from the Sun. Earth is closest to the Sun in early January, during northern winter.
Source: What Causes the Seasons? — NASA Space Place. Read the full card
Is there a dark side of the Moon?
The Moon's far side gets as much sunlight as the near side. "Far side" is the accurate term; "dark side" is just a nickname.
Source: Top Moon Questions — NASA Science. Read the full card
Why do astronauts float in space?
Astronauts float because they're falling, not because gravity vanished. Orbiting is just falling around the planet fast enough to keep missing it.
Source: What Is Microgravity? (Grades 5-8) — NASA. Read the full card
Is a day on Venus longer than a year?
Venus takes longer to spin once than to go around the Sun. On Venus, one rotation lasts longer than a whole year.
Would Saturn float in water?
Saturn is less dense than water. Big doesn't mean heavy for its size: Saturn is mostly light gas.
Is Mauna Kea taller than Mount Everest?
Measured from base to peak, Mauna Kea is taller than Everest. "Tallest mountain" depends on whether you measure from sea level or the base.
Source: How big are the Hawaiian volcanoes? — U.S. Geological Survey. Read the full card
What is the longest mountain range on Earth?
Earth's longest mountain range is almost entirely underwater. The planet's biggest mountain range is one almost nobody has ever seen.
Source: What is a mid-ocean ridge? — NOAA Ocean Exploration. Read the full card
Animals Are Stranger Than You Think
Are bats blind?
Bats aren't blind, and many see well in near darkness. Many bats see well in dim light, and some fruit bats see well in daylight too.
Source: Are bats blind? — U.S. Geological Survey. Read the full card
Do ostriches bury their heads in the sand?
Ostriches don't bury their heads in the sand. "Head in the sand" is a human habit, not an ostrich one.
Source: Ostriches and their heads in the sand — McGill University Office for Science and Society. Read the full card
Are daddy longlegs the most venomous animals?
Harvestmen ('daddy longlegs' in the US) are not secretly deadly. Whatever your local 'daddy longlegs' is, it isn't dangerous to you.
Source: Myth: Daddy-longlegs would be deadly — Burke Museum, University of Washington. Read the full card
Can porcupines shoot their quills?
Porcupines can't shoot their quills. Porcupines defend by contact, so keeping distance keeps you quill-free.
Source: North American porcupine — Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. Read the full card
How old can Greenland sharks get?
Greenland sharks can live for more than 250 years. Some sharks swimming today were likely born before the United States existed.
Source: How long do Greenland sharks live? — NOAA National Ocean Service. Read the full card
Why do wombats poop cubes?
Wombats produce cube-shaped poop, shaped inside their intestines. A soft, round tube can still make cubes if its walls stretch unevenly.
Source: Why wombats have cubed-shaped poop — Georgia Institute of Technology. Read the full card
How many hearts does an octopus have?
An octopus has three hearts. Great trivia comeback: an octopus has two hearts just for breathing.
Source: Undersea creatures for Valentine's Day — NOAA National Ocean Service. Read the full card
Which animal has the densest fur?
Sea otters have the densest fur of any mammal. A patch of sea otter fur the size of a large postage stamp holds up to a million hairs.
Source: Sea Otter - Channel Islands National Park — U.S. National Park Service. Read the full card
Play the decks and guess the numbers
How Many? How Long?
Lightning on a skyscraper, a Roman wall and a famous statue. Get within 15% for three stars.
Space and Sea by the Numbers
How far, how big, how deep? Three numbers that are hard to guess.
Everyday Science, Decoded
Lightning, rainbows, raindrops and your microwave: eight things that work differently than you think.
Space and Earth, Myths Busted
Why seasons happen, what the 'dark side' of the Moon really is, and a planet that would float.
Animals Are Stranger Than You Think
Cube-shaped poop, 250-year-old sharks and why bats aren't blind.