Dangerous truths

10 dangerously wrong beliefs—from lightning to antibiotics

Image: Lucian Alexe

We all think we know how the world works, but many "common sense" beliefs are flat-out wrong. From everyday health myths to misunderstood science, these misconceptions can mislead you, waste your time, or even put you at risk. Here are 10 things you are dangerously wrong about, backed by real facts.

Image: Michał Mancewicz

Contrary to popular belief, lightning can strike the same place more than once. Since lightning often targets tall, conductive structures, multiple strikes to the same location are not uncommon.

For example, the Empire State Building is hit an average of 23 times per year. The myth persists because rare events seem unique, but statistics show that repeated strikes are common, especially in high-risk areas.

Image: Roberto Sorin

Antibiotics target bacteria, not viruses. Using them for colds or the flu is ineffective and promotes antibiotic resistance.

Prolonged misuse can lead to resistant bacterial strains, making future infections harder to treat. Correct diagnosis is critical for proper treatment.

Image: Gavia

Bulls are actually color-blind to red. Their reactions in bullfighting are triggered by the movement of the cape, not its color.

The bright red (and similarly striking colors) was likely chosen to make the cape more visible to the human audience from a distance, enhancing the spectacle.

Image: Aman Krishna

Cold therapy offers temporary relief but doesn’t accelerate long-term muscle recovery. Overuse can impair adaptation to training.

Inflammation is part of muscle repair; blocking it too aggressively can reduce strength gains over time.

Image: Janosch Lino

Fluid needs vary by body size, activity, and climate. For some, eight glasses is excessive; for others, insufficient.

Relying strictly on this rule can cause dehydration or overhydration. Thirst and urine color are better indicators.

Image: Arturo Rivera

Even a single sunburn increases your lifetime risk of skin cancer, including melanoma. Peeling skin doesn’t undo DNA damage; it’s actually skin cells committing suicide to prevent the spread of harmful mutations.

Sunscreen, protective clothing, and shade are essential. Ignoring sun safety poses a serious health risk.

Image: Alexey Demidov

Waking a sleepwalker is safe. They may be disoriented or confused, but letting them roam unattended is far more dangerous.

The only real risk is injury from falls or collisions, not the act of waking them.

Image: Myriam Zilles

Fructose in fruit is healthier than processed sugar, but overconsumption still strains the liver and metabolism.

Even "natural" sugars can contribute to obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes if intake is excessive.

Image: Kelly Sikkema

Sanitizers can’t safely remove all pathogens, especially dirt and chemicals. Washing with soap and water is always more effective.

Over-reliance on sanitizers can actually increase infection risk, particularly during gastrointestinal or respiratory outbreaks.

Image: Precious Plastic Melbourne

Mixing vinegar with bleach, hydrogen peroxide, or other cleaners can create chlorine or peracetic acid fumes—both highly toxic.

Even small amounts can irritate eyes, lungs, and skin. Believing vinegar universally "boosts" cleaning power is dangerous; always read labels and avoid mixing chemicals.

Time is of the essence

Are words getting shorter? Take a look a these 12 everyday examples!

Image: Markus Winkler

Blame it on the faster pace of modern life, practicality, or whatever else you can think of, but the tendency to optimize time has seeped into our everyday lives and even into our language. Many formal words have been trimmed into shorter versions of themselves, often starting as slang and then becoming standard speech. Did you ever use any of the following words in their longer form?

Image: Jonathan Borba

In the nineteenth century, public coaches were called omnibuses, a Latin term suggesting transport "for all." Passengers soon favored the shorter, quicker "bus" in daily talk.

The shortened word spread rapidly across cities and timetables. Today, omnibus survives mainly in legal texts or historical descriptions.

Image: CDC

During early epidemics, newspapers shortened influenza to "flu" for speed and space, helping the clipped form spread rapidly.

Today, flu is the everyday name for the illness, while influenza persists in medical and scientific writing. Both remain correct, but only one feels familiar.

Image: Kristen Plastique

The French-derived brassiere was common in early 20th-century catalogs, but shoppers quickly favored the brisk, modern "bra."

After mid-century marketing shifts, the clipped form became universal. Today, brassiere sounds dated outside historical writing.

Image: Ann Ann

We might think otherwise today, but a facsimile transmission was once cutting-edge technology. Soon enough, office workers favored the short, punchy "fax."

As machines spread, the clipped form took over press releases and everyday conversation alike. The original term is now largely historical.

Image: Daniel Guerra

Early films were described as moving pictures, but audiences soon began calling them "movies" because, well, it was shorter and catchier.

Hollywood’s rise helped seal the popularity of the shorter form. Today, the longer phrase survives mainly in historical analysis or nostalgic usage.

Image: Waldemar Brandt

Passengers on city streets once hired a taximeter cab, later shortened to taxicab, but everyday speech eventually clipped it to the more convenient and expeditious "taxi."

The shorter word spread globally, becoming the universal name for hired cars. The long form persists mainly in regulations.

Image: Kenny Eliason

Originally coined as weblog, a portmanteau of web and log, the term was later jokingly split as we blog, inspiring the now-standard "blog."

The clipped form quickly overtook its parent. Today, it refers both to the site and to the act of publishing online posts.

Image: Eugene Chystiakov

Retailers once promoted hooded sweatshirts, but youth culture shortened the name to "hoodie," giving it a modern identity.

The clipped form became mainstream across fashion and sportswear. The longer phrase now appears mainly in catalogs or formal product descriptions.

Image: Manny Becerra

The elegant Italian word violoncello entered English intact before musicians clipped it to the smoother, more practical "cello."

The shortened form became the everyday name of the instrument. The longer term survives mostly in formal scores, academic contexts, and archival writing.

Image: Ebuen Clemente Jr

The original pianoforte highlighted the instrument’s ability to play softly and loudly, but speakers quickly favored the simpler and more universal "piano."

As the instrument spread through homes and concert halls, the shorter term dominated. Pianoforte remains in scholarly texts and classical sheet music.

Image: Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu

The Latin-derived word dormitory described shared student housing, but campus life quickly adopted the brisker, more casual "dorm."

The clipped form feels friendly and familiar, reflecting college culture. The full term appears mainly in brochures and official policies.

Image: BBiDDac

In the nineteenth century, men wore pantaloons, a somewhat funny term that later evolved into "pants" as fashion and language changed.

The shorter form became the everyday American generic term for trousers. Pantaloons now survives almost exclusively in costume history, literature, and theater.