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FALSE
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Daddy Longlegs are the most venomous spider in the world, but their fangs can't penetrate human skin An urban legend states that they are the most venomous spider in the world, but that because their fangs are unable to penetrate human skin, they are harmless to humans. However, recent research has shown that pholcid venom has a relatively weak effect on insects. No similar research has been conducted to determine its effects on mammalian ....
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Updated: 2008/12/29 AM 9:06:25 |
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FALSE
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Urine helps jellyfish stings Urban myth states that urine works well against jellyfish stings, although it is at best ineffective and in some cases may make the injury worse.[1][2][3] Human urine is normally relatively free of bacteria, since the bladder itself is normally a sterile environment, and drinking small amounts of one's own urine is unlikely to be harmful.[12] ....
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Updated: 2008/09/26 AM 10:06:30 |
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TRUE
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Some nasal sprays can cause 'rebound congestion' and promote improper habitual use Rhinitis medicamentosa (or RM) is a condition of rebound nasal congestion brought on by extended use of topical decongestants (e.g., oxymetazoline, phenylephrine, and xylometazolinenasal sprays) that work by constricting blood vessels in the lining of the nose. Presentation This condition typically occurs after 5 to 7 days of use of such ....
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Updated: 2008/09/15 PM 6:47:01 |
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TRUE
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We breathe through one nostril at a time In humans, the nasal cycle is the normal ultradian cycle of each nostril's blood vessels becoming engorged in swelling, then shrinking. During the course of a day, they will switch over approximately every four hours or so, meaning that only one nostril is used at any one time.[1] The nasal cycle is the periodic alternation in nasal airflow ....
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Updated: 2008/09/15 PM 6:28:13 |
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TRUE
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Fluoride can actually be bad for teeth in some cases Dental fluorosis is a health condition caused by an overdose of fluoride. In its severe form it is characterized by black and brown stains, as well as cracking and pitting of the teeth. [1] Physiology Dental fluorosis occurs because of the excessive intake of fluoride either through fluoride in the water supply, naturally occurring or added to ....
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Updated: 2008/09/02 PM 12:53:57 |
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PROBABLY TRUE
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The artifical sweetner Aspartame can cause cancer The artificial sweetener aspartame has been the subject of vigorous public controversy regarding its safety and the circumstances around its approval. Many studies have recommended further investigation into the possible connection between aspartame and diseases such as brain tumors, brain lesions, and lymphoma.[1][2][3] These findings, combined ....
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Updated: 2008/10/02 AM 10:18:30 |
 0  1 |
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FALSE
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Breathalyzers can be made to report a false negative by putting something in your mouth before the test Breathalyzer Myths A common myth is that breath testers can be "fooled" (that is, made to generate estimates making one's blood alcohol content appear lower) by using certain substances. An episode of the Discovery Channel's MythBusters tested substances usually recommended in this practice—including breath mints, mouthwash, and ....
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Updated: 2008/08/11 PM 3:59:54 |
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TRUE
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Eating poppy seeds can result in a false positive for opiates in a drug test False positive drug tests Although the drug opium is produced by "milking" latex from the unripe fruits ("seed pods") rather than from the seeds, all parts of the plant can contain or carry the opium alkaloids, especially morphine and codeine. This means that eating foods (e.g., muffins) that contain poppy seeds can result in ....
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Updated: 2008/06/24 AM 9:00:46 |
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MOSTLY FALSE
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The Red Bull energy drink contains an ingredient extracted from bull urine and semen Taurine was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 Taurine is named after the Latin taurus, which means bull, as it was first isolated from ox bile in 1827 by Austrian scientists Friedrich Tiedemann and Leopold Gmelin. It is often called an amino acid, even in scientific literature,[4][5][6] but as it lacks a carboxyl group it is not strictly an ....
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Updated: 2008/06/09 PM 5:13:20 |
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FALSE
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Storing coffee in the refrigerator or freezer keeps it fresh What keeps coffee fresh? Looking at the facts, we learn that the natural enemies of fresh roasted coffee are light, heat and moisture. Storing your coffee away from them will keep it fresher longer. Therefore, an airtight container stored in a cool, dry, dark place is the best environment for your coffee. But why not the freezer, It's cool ....
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Updated: 2008/05/20 PM 6:59:58 |
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FALSE
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Searing meat helps seal in its juices The origin of the "searing" myth The belief that searing meat "seals in the juices" is widespread and still often repeated. This theory was first put forth by Justus von Liebig,[2] a German chemist and food scientist, around 1850. The notion was embraced by contemporary cooks and authors including Auguste ....
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Updated: 2008/08/11 PM 4:10:13 |
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FALSE
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Putting the avocado pits in guacamole keeps it from turning brown Adding a pit will only stop browning where guacamole does not contact oxygen A common misconception is that putting the avocado pits into the guacamole during storage will prevent this browning. This has no basis in fact. Once the avocado fruit has been cut and the contents mashed, an enzyme released from inside the cells of the avocado flesh ....
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Updated: 2008/05/16 AM 8:58:56 |
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TRUE
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Cutting lettuce with a metal knife causes it to brown faster than tearing the leaves or using a plastic knife Tearing lettuce leaves into pieces prevents browning "Tear lettuce leaves into pieces. If practical, do not cut or slice lettuce leaves in advance. Damaged cut lettuce leaves release an ascorbic acid oxidase, which destroys vitamin C. Cut edges also discolor quickly." ....
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Updated: 2008/05/15 PM 10:46:38 |
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TRUE
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Coconut water can be used as a replacement for blood as an intravenous fluid Coconut water has the same level of electrolytic balance as we have in our blood Coconut water is known to have been used in emergency cases as an intravenous hydration fluid, when there is a lack of standard IV fluid. Researchers report that coconut water is high in potassium, chloride, and calcium, and might be indicated in situations calling ....
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Updated: 2008/03/23 PM 10:12:30 |
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TRUE
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Many lip balms contain ingredients that peel lips and promote habitual use Figure 1. Salicylic acid crystals from diethyl ether. Salicylic acid is an exfoliant found in many lip balms. Many lip balms contain exfoliants (but not fiberglass!) "Dr. Monte Meltzer is the ....
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Updated: 2008/03/05 PM 1:05:39 |
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FALSE
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Eating before you sleep will make you gain weight faster You gain weight when you consume more energy than you expend "Some people say eating just before going to bed makes you fat because the body doesn't need the energy while you're asleep. [But this is false.] What counts is how many kilojoules you eat in a day — you put on weight when you consume more energy than you ....
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Updated: 2008/02/22 AM 8:17:58 |
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FALSE
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Some routine childhood vaccines in the U.S. contain mercury Thiomersal Contains Mercury Thiomersal, also spelled thimerosal and , is an organomercury preservative used in vaccines since the 1930s to prevent bacterialfungal contamination.[1] In July 1999, following a review of mercury-containing food and drugs, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) asked ....
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Updated: 2008/02/11 PM 2:33:29 |
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FALSE
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Shaved hair grows back faster, coarser and darker The Blunt Edge Gets Worn So it May Seem Thicker "Fact: A 1928 clinical trial compared hair growth in shaved patches to growth in non-shaved patches. The hair which replaced the shaved hair was no darker or thicker, and did not grow in faster. More recent studies have confirmed that one. Here's the deal: When hair first comes in after ....
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Updated: 2008/02/10 PM 10:34:27 |
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FALSE
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You should drink at least eight glasses of water a day Figure Included Food Sources of Water The "fact" that a person should consume eight glasses of water per day cannot be traced back to a scientific source.[1] There are other myths such as the effect of water on weight loss and constipation that have been dispelled.[2] Original recommendation for water intake in 1945 by the Food ....
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Updated: 2008/02/10 PM 9:36:30 |
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FALSE
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Adult brains brian cells do not keep growing, they only die as one ages Adult Neurogenesis In fact, new neurons can grow within the mature adult brain; this process is known as neurogenesis. Regardless of neuron growth or death, brain function and capabilities can be learned and developed throughout life. "The apocryphal tale that you can't grow new brain cells just isn't true. Neurons continue to grow ....
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Updated: 2008/02/07 PM 5:53:24 |
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FALSE
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Humans use only 10% of their brains We Use All of Our Brains Even though many mysteries of brain function persist, every part of the brain has a known function.[1][2][3] Possible Origins for the 10% Myth This misconception most likely arose from a misunderstanding (or misrepresentation in an advertisement) of neurological research in the late 1800s or early 1900s when ....
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Updated: 2008/02/07 PM 2:58:24 |
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TRUE
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The 'two snakes' symbol used in medicine is a symbol of theft and money-making Symbol's Mistaken Identity The caduceus is sometimes inaccurately used as a symbol for medicine, especially in North America, but the traditional medical symbol is the rod of Asclepius with only a single snake and no wings. Confusion with the rod of Asclepius The caduceus is sometimes used as a symbol for medicine or doctors (instead of ....
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Updated: 2008/02/13 PM 12:37:47 |
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MOSTLY TRUE
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Hitler was a vegetarian Was Hitler a vegetarian? In addition to being a teetotaler and a non-smoker, many scholars believe that Adolf Hitler practiced some form of vegetarianism. [1][2][3] The vegetarianism of Adolf Hitler is thought to have been based on Richard Wagner's which connected the future of Germany with vegetarianism. Hitler believed ....
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Updated: 2008/01/18 AM 11:55:28 |
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FALSE
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Turkey makes you sleepy on Thanksgiving (tryptophan causes the sleepiness) Does turkey make you sleepy? One widely-held belief is that heavy consumption of turkey meat (as for example in a Thanksgiving feast) results in drowsiness, which has been attributed to high levels of tryptophan contained in turkey. Tryptophan is indeed an essential amino acid with a documented sleep inducing ....
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Updated: 2008/11/28 AM 9:35:20 |
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FALSE
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Spinach is high in iron A Popular Myth The idea that spinach is a great source of iron has been instilled in many of us from a young age. The creators of the cartoon character "Popeye" chose spinach as the source for Popeye's power because of this nutritional myth. Popeye in turn helped instill this impression in every child who watched ....
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Updated: 2008/02/10 PM 10:55:40 |
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