Misconceptions

Cup of tea with lemon and flowers in it on a wood table

There's a whole lot of false or unverified information about detox juices, cleanses, and supplements.

We're separating fact from fiction when it comes to these deadly diseases.

Ever follow a strategy to try to get free upgrades on a flight? Those “hacks” might not actually work after all.

These common myths continue to spread each winter.

Water is important—that’s not a misconception.

How much water should you really drink a day? Well, it’s complicated.

The inhabitants of the Sunshine State may not be as old or kooky as you think.

Nativity scene by JJT: French painter, 1836- 1902.

The details of the story—both small and big—have been interpreted in different ways, some of which have no evidence at all.

Don’t believe everything you hear while in the kitchen—even if it’s an old trick your grandma swears by.

People get a lot wrong about this secretive government agency.

From blue balls to broken hymens, there’s a lot people don’t understand about sex.

The stories might sound interesting, but they’re not all necessarily the truth. Here are five misconceptions about how popular phrases were invented.

We all remember playing ‘The Oregon Trail’ on our old computers, but how accurate was that game to real life?

There is no universal college experience.

Pop culture gets a fair bit wrong about higher education.

Aging might seem scary, but you probably don’t have all of the facts.

The mountain Mt. Everest with a white cloud on top

Breaking down the truth behind common Mount Everest beliefs.

Were the 1970s a low-tech era? And did everyone actually hate disco?

There are a lot of misconceptions about the Arctic, from the whole concept of the North Pole, to the number of penguins who live there.

The Regency Era was not quite like 'Bridgerton' and Jane Austen novels made it seem.

How accurate are Jane Austen novels in representing the actual Regency Era? Not very, as it turns out.

Do you have to wear black to a funeral? Does a procession always end at a cemetery? We answer all of the burning questions you might have never thought to ask about funerals.

Gargoyles at the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris.

Think you know everything about famous cities like London, New York, and Paris? Think again.

No, print is not dead. And most journalists are certainly not rich.

Gen Z is a lot more socially active than you may assume.

Spoiler alert: Many Gen Zers aren’t kids anymore.

An emperor penguin colony in Antarctica.

We take a look at a handful misconceptions about Antarctica, from its alleged populations of bears to its current ownership.

There are a lot of myths and misunderstandings about menstruation. But it’s important to parse out what’s true and what’s a lie.

8 Misconceptions About Detoxing

8 Myths About Plagues You’ve Probably Heard All Your Life

4 Common Flight Upgrade ‘Hacks,’ Debunked by a Flight Attendant

10 Cold-Weather Misconceptions You’ve Probably Believed Your Whole Life

5 Misconceptions About Health and Wellness You Should Stop Falling For

8 Wild Misconceptions About Florida, Debunked

5 Myths About Jesus’s Birthday, Debunked

6 Common Cooking Myths You Should Stop Falling For

7 Misconceptions About the CIA

6 Major Myths and Misconceptions About Sex, Debunked

5 Misconceptions About How We Got Popular Phrases

6 Things You Probably Get Wrong About the Actual Oregon Trail—Even If You Mastered the Video Game

8 Major Misconceptions About College

9 Things You Probably Get Wrong About Growing Old

5 Misconceptions About Mount Everest, Debunked

4 Wild Misconceptions About the 1970s

5 Things People Often Get Wrong About the Arctic

4 Common Misconceptions About the Regency Era

7 Misconceptions About Funerals

8 Things People Often Get Wrong About Some of the World’s Most Famous Cities

4 Major Misconceptions About Journalism, Debunked

7 Things People Often Get Wrong About Gen Z

5 Misconceptions About Antarctica, Debunked

9 Myths and Misconceptions About Menstruation, Debunked