Did you know that there are quite a few things within the world of science that may seem like they are true facts but are actually false misunderstandings? Here is a list of the top ten science facts that most people around the world today were taught but that are actually false.
10. The Milky Way galaxy is in the shape of a simple spiral.
Actual Truth: The Spitzer Space Telescope confirmed in 2005 that the Milky Way galaxy is truthfully a barred spiral galaxy. The basic image that is in most science textbooks and in the minds of millions of people is not accurate. Instead, a huge bar is seen across the middle and the galaxy’s arms branch out from each end.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dkZYPz31aYE[/youtube]
9. The tallest mountain in the world is Mount Everest.
Actual Truth: While Mount Everest is the highest mountain above sea level, the tallest mountain has to be measured from the base to the summit. When you consider the full mountain (including the part that is under the sea), Mauna Kea is truly the tallest mountain – reaching a complete height of 33,465 feet.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vKXf8ox4sRM[/youtube]
8. Most of your body heat dissipates through your head.
Actual Truth: You lose just as much heat through your head as you do through any other part of your body. The reason why your head gets colder than the rest of your body is in the winter is because it is the only part of your body that is not fully clothed, but just because you wear a hat does not mean that you are not going to get sick.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39tsnLou8iU[/youtube]
7. The only man-made object that you can see from outer space is the Great Wall of China.
Actual Truth: With the right lighting, you can see many different things from outer space but you cannot isolate the Great Wall of China even from a low-Earth orbit. Even the most precise camera lens cannot clearly identify the Great Wall. This is actually a myth that dates back hundreds of years, because it was a common belief that the mere size of the Great Wall should cause it to stick out even from outer space.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqBQ8YEx_PU[/youtube]
