8/28/11

Do Red Cars Get More Tickets Than Other Cars?

No, red cars do not get more speeding tickets than other cars. This myth probably was started because back in the day sports cars were usually colored red. People may ask if this myth is true because the human eye may see the color red move faster. Police use radar guns, not their eyes, so it doesn't matter how fast it looks like it's going- John Baskin

 
Information From: http://www.kcautv.com/story/13077503/myth-or-fact-do-red-cars-get-more-speeding-tickets?redirected=true

8/26/11

Are Peanuts Really Nuts?

No, although it says it in the name, peanuts are not nuts. They are actually legumes. Legumes are plants that grow inside of another pod, or shell. This myth was probably started because of the name peanuts were given. Peanuts do not grow on trees like nuts, they grow underground.- John Baskin


Information from: http://www.misconceptionjunction.com/index.php/2011/06/peanuts-are-not-nuts/ http://www.boston.com/news/science/articles/2006/10/30/
are_peanuts_really_nuts_i_say_theyre_not/

8/24/11

Did Vikings Wear Horned Helmets?

No, there is no evidence ever found of vikings wearing horned helmets. This myth was started in the 1600's, and the 1700's when romantic writers depicted vikings as violent men, with horned helmets inspired by Roman and Greek texts. These works were made popular in the 1800's. Some priests wore winged, and horned helmets. Not vikings, who were adventurers not priests. The Greeks and Romans saw this and probably used that in their literature. They never had any contact with vikings though. They were making this up long before vikings.- John Baskin


Information from http://www.misconceptionjunction.com/index.php/2010/10/vik
ing-warriors-didnt-wear-horned-or-winged-helmets/

8/21/11

Do Ostriches Bury Their Heads In The Sand?

No, lots of people think that ostriches bury their heads in the sand for safety. They do not though. People may think this because when a predator is around ostriches lie on the ground so they look like a bush to predators, and their heads blend in with the sand. Someone probably saw this and thought that the ostrich was sticking its head into the ground.
- John Baskin

Information from http://www.wisegeek.com/do-ostriches-really-bury-their-heads-in-the-sand.htm