Common Myths That Have Been Debunked By Science

Sugar Doesn't Cause Hyperactivity in Children

Parents like to think that their children get immediate bursts of crazy energy from eating sugar, but this is not scientifically true. This myth arose in 1974 when a pediatric doctor released the statement, "Only in the past three years have I become aware that sugar ... is a leading cause of hyperactivity," in a letter to the American Academy of Pediatrics. However, now that we have the technology to actually determine children's hyperactivity, it's more likely that they become hyperactive because of the happiness that comes from being given a treat. 

The Moon's Gravitational Pull Does Not Necessarily Cause the Tides on Earth

The Moon's gravity, at its strongest point, is roughly 10 million times weaker than the Earth's gravity. What really causes the tides is the gravitational pull in the space between the Earth and the moon. The Earth's surface is 71% water, so any small pull from the gravitational field between the Earth and the moon will ever so slightly change the tides, but that is not what determines them. 

Next Page →

Advertisement

The More You Know

  • Russia has a larger surface area than Pluto.
  • The glow around the moon is called a "broch."
  • Kids ask about 300 questions a day.
  • The smallest unit of measurement in the universe is the Planck length.
Next Page →

Post originally appeared on Upbeat News.