Don’t go around poking bears

Did you know that these animal facts are not true?

Certain animal facts are just a given: Everyone knows that bats are blind, bulls hate the color red, and that touching a toad will give you warts. But are these things really true, or are they just wives' tales that have been passed down through generations? Let’s have a look at some of these myths and see if they have some truth in them, or if they are just a folkloric invention.

The first misconception here is the meaning of ‘hibernation’ —a state where an animal drastically lowers its body temperature, appearing lifeless, and sleeps through the cold season. While most bears are less active through the Winter, they don’t hibernate. They enter a state called ‘torpor’, where they reduce their temperature and drop their heart rate, but they are lethargic, not sleeping. They will react to external stimuli, meaning you can still come across these furry fellows during a winter hike.

In popular tradition, the color red is associated with anger, but this has nothing to do with bulls, as they are partially colorblind and, as such, unable to see red. This common misconception stems from bullfighting, where the matador uses a brightly colored—usually red—muleta (a cloth hanging from a stick) to provoke the bull. What angers the bull is the whipping of the muleta, not its color. Why do they use a red cloth? To disguise blood spatters.

"If you don’t wash your hair, you will catch lice.": You must have heard this old wives’ tale. Another popular belief claims that lice actually prefer clean heads, as they can move more freely in a clean scalp. As a matter of fact, lice don't care about your personal hygiene, nor about your hair type; they just want a warm scalp and blood to feed on. Your chances of catching pediculosis are tied to close contact with an infested person, nothing else.

Another myth, most likely popularized by the anti-bat lobby. A bat’s vision can vary according to their species, but no bat is 100% blind, though some do better in low-light conditions. Some of them actually have excellent eyesight! The myth of the blind bat comes from their use of echolocation for hunting in the dark, and their sometimes erratic movements when following insects.

This one is a partial truth: dogs can’t see the same color spectrum as humans, but this doesn’t mean their world is black and white. While the human eye has three color-detecting cone cells, dogs have only two, which would make them ‘partially colorblind’. They are unable to distinguish shades of red, green, and orange, which they perceive as yellowish-brown or grayish, but they see other colors, such as blue and yellow.

Toads might not have the loveliest appearance, but they have nothing to do with any wart you might have. Warts in humans are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is transmitted from person to person. What looks like warts on a toad’s skin are actually glands, used to secrete a toxin that deters predators. This toxin might irritate human skin, so remember to wash your hands if you touch a toad.

Penguins have the reputation of being one of the most faithful animals in the world, even when their partner dies. While some penguin species have a high fidelity rate compared to other animals, none of them mate for life. Some penguin species are known to form long-term bonds with their mates, while others are serial monogamists, but they can actually change partners if they have an unsuccessful mating season.

Ostriches and their alleged head-burying behavior have become a symbol of ignoring one’s problems, but this is based on a myth. This confusion, which some said dates back to Ancient Rome, stems from the ostrich’s shallow nests. When they turn the eggs with their beak, it might look like they are burying their heads in the ground from a distance. When an ostrich feels threatened, they either run away or completely flatten their body to the ground.

Most birds have a weaker sense of smell compared with other animals, so they rely on their vision and hearing to recognize their young. In addition to this, they tend to have strong parental instincts, so human touch and scent are not enough to make them reject their offspring. But, as a rule of thumb, it is always advisable to leave baby birds alone, unless they are injured or in immediate danger.

Camels are able to go for weeks without water, and sometimes even months. This has led to the belief that they store water somewhere in their bodies, mainly in their hump, but this is mainly a myth. What they do store in the hump is fat, which works as an energy reserve when food is scarce, and that can, in certain situations, be metabolized into water. Storing fat in their hump instead of in the rest of their bodies also allows them to keep cool in warmer climates.

Breezy English

A doddle, a breeze, and a bed of roses. How easy can language get?

Image: Pablo Arroyo

According to the saying, "easy come, easy go," but today, we won’t be focusing on the last part. Instead, we’ll explore the many ways to say something is easy in English. These expressions range from playful rhymes like "easy-peasy, lemon squeezy" to more metaphorical ones like "a piece of cake." But one thing is certain—some things in life are so simple and effortless that they deserve their own colorful descriptions. Don’t worry, understanding these 10 expressions is definitely not rocket science!

Image: Sabri Tuzcu

We all have that one recipe we know by heart—the one we turn to whenever we want to impress someone because we know we’ll nail it, right? In fact, we’ve made it so many times that we could do it in our sleep! That’s the essence of this expression.

The origins of this idiom are unclear, and it doesn’t necessarily mean that something was easy from the start. Instead, it highlights the idea that after repeating the same action over and over, it becomes almost automatic and effortless.

Image: Markus Freise

You’re sitting at home, in need of some fresh air (and a little exercise), so you put on your trainers and take a walk through the nearest park. You return home feeling refreshed, with a clear mind, and happier than before. How easy was that? According to the saying—very!

This expression carries two meanings. First, the reason it made it into this article—it refers to things that are effortless and flow naturally. But beyond that, it also conveys a sense of enjoyment because it requires minimal effort. Who doesn’t love that combination?

Image: SpaceX

Maybe you’re a rocket science aficionado, and these concepts come naturally to you. But for most of us, rocket science is nearly impossible to understand (even if it’s fascinating) and can be quite frustrating. So, when we say something is not rocket science, we mean the exact opposite!

This colloquial expression is often used to encourage someone to try something new by assuring them that it will be easy. Take a father teaching his child how to drive—it’s really not rocket science! Now, between us, we’re grateful for automatic cars, aren’t we?

Image: Markus Spiske

We’ll give you ten seconds to think of things you start or set in motion at the push of a button. Go! How many did you come up with? TV remotes, air conditioners, coffee makers, answering a call—even starting a car! If pushing a button is all it takes to get something working, well, that’s certainly quite easy, don’t you think?

This idiom naturally emerged from the household appliance revolution of the 1920s. Before that, machines and similar devices were often complicated to understand and operate. But as appliances became easier to use, they eventually reached a point where all one had to do was push a button. Voilà!

Image: Sarah Elizabeth

Probably the hardest thing about this phrase is saying it quickly a few times in a row. Other than that, this expression playfully describes something that is extremely easy to do or perform.

Now, can you guess where this expression comes from? Of British origin, easy-peasy was first recorded in a 1940s movie, but it actually stems from children’s slang or colloquialisms. The full phrase was later expanded upon in a British commercial for a lemon-scented dish soap called Sqezy. While it would be fun if the brand had used this as a catchphrase, there’s no evidence that they did. If they didn’t—we will!

Image: Osman Rana

Take a trip back to your childhood—you’re on holiday, walking through a forest or maybe along a beach when you spot a fallen tree log just sitting there, waiting for you to walk on it. You climb on and take a step, only to realize that balancing is quite tricky—and falling off is the easiest part. See where we’re going with this?

This expression, which has been around since the 1830s, describes a task that requires no effort and comes naturally to everyone—just like falling off a log when you try to walk on it.

Image: Mick Haupt

Have you ever put off a task for so long that it felt like climbing a mountain, only to finally tackle it and realize it took just a few minutes? The British might call such a task a doddle—an unexpectedly simple job.

The term doddle means "something easy to do or fix" and is a British colloquialism with a somewhat mysterious origin. Some believe it comes from the Scottish word doddle, referring to "a small lump of toffee"—something both tempting and easy to snatch. Others suggest it’s linked to dawdle (meaning "to waste time" or "idle") or even toddle (describing the unsteady steps of a toddler).

Regardless of its roots, doddle entered the English language in the early 20th century, bringing with it a touch of whimsy for life’s simplest challenges.

Image: Sigmund

Think back to the earliest lessons of childhood—learning a few words, identifying colors, counting numbers, and eventually mastering the alphabet. The ABCs are both fundamental and, let’s be honest, pretty easy to pick up.

The phrase "easy as ABC" reflects this simplicity, describing tasks that are intuitive and foundational.

An older version of the idiom, "plain as ABC," dates back to the late 1600s, while "easy as ABC" emerged by the mid-1800s. Both versions compare simplicity to learning the first three letters of the alphabet—a universal starting point for literacy.

Image: Jonathan Meyer

Imagine this: a bed made of roses—a sight you can see, feel, and even smell. Sounds luxurious, don’t you think? Now, picture what it would be like to lie down on such a soft, fragrant bed (as long as we remove the thorns first, of course!).

The idiom "a bed of roses" describes an experience that is both effortless and pleasant. It’s often used to highlight ease or comfort in contrast to more challenging circumstances. For example, someone might say, "My life isn’t exactly a bed of roses," to emphasize their struggles.

This expression originated in the mid-1500s, drawing on the long-standing association of roses with beauty and positive symbolism. Given the rich history of flowers as metaphors, it’s no surprise that the image of a rose garden came to represent an idealized experience.

Image: Joshua Olsen

When something is described as "no muss, no fuss," you can count on it being quick, easy, and hassle-free. And let’s be honest—we all appreciate that, don’t we? Whether it’s an appliance, a recipe, or a task, this idiom highlights the appeal of simplicity and minimal effort.

The phrase originated in American English in the early 20th century and naturally became a common colloquial expression. "Muss" refers to mess or disorder, while "fuss" suggests unnecessary worry or complication. Together, they emphasize an experience that is smooth, tidy, and efficient. Even the way the phrase sounds reinforces its meaning, don’t you think?