Look out!

Everybody should be able to recognize these 10 warning signs. Do you?

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Warning signs are designed to communicate important information in the simplest and most universally understandable way possible. But, sometimes, what is obvious to one person may not be as clear to others. Read on and find out what these 10 warning signs mean and why knowing and understanding them is important.

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You see these everywhere, in public places. Safety instruction signs usually have the same basic design: green background with white text, or sometimes, no text at all.

These signs provide basic information rather than warnings. For example, a sign that tells people where to find and use basic first aid supplies.

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If these signs look especially serious is because the dangers described are equally serious, indicating life-threatening hazards. Anyone viewing these should take special precautions to avoid injury or even death.

Hazardous chemicals, high-voltage, falling objects, and other dangerous situations are warned in these signs, which are red, black, and white, easily recognizable as essential and immediate.

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Every sign on this list is a warning sign, but these are the only ones referred to as such, officially, at least. Warning signs are a step down from the strictness of danger signs.

Written in black text with an orange background, warning signs are used in situations where ignoring the sign's information could result in injury or death.

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Food handling in commercial environments has many regulations to ensure its safety. Danger signs throughout the food world, include high-temperature areas, slippery floors, "Wash Your Hands" signs, as well as safety signs reminding workers to sanitize areas, use different cutting boards, and cook food to the proper temperature.

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These signs are usually present on the side of roads or streets where construction work is being carried out. Safety zone signs are necessary to inform the public about safety risks resulting from construction, road repairs, and infrastructure projects.

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No matter where, fire can always be an unpredictable risk, and as such, fire safety signs are always printed in bright red colors, with white lettering, to ensure good visibility and a color that represents the nature of the hazard implied. Fire safety signs also highlight where fire extinguishers are located and where flammable liquids are stored.

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Many industries pose a risk to workers’ vision, and in such cases, their employees are required to use safety glasses. These mandatory signs are usually blue and square, with a clear picture of the eyeglasses.

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This one is one of the most commonly seen warning signs, and it can be used to communicate actions or activities that are strictly prohibited within a specified zone. These signs have black text on a white background and a red circle with a diagonal line through a symbol or image, indicating prohibition.

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Hazardous materials signs provide information about the presence of dangerous materials and the precautions that should be taken. They are usually diamond-shaped with a white background and red or yellow text or symbols, but can be found in many different shapes. These signs warn about the presence of flammable, radioactive, or corrosive materials, among others.

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Traffic management signs are usually present in warehouses as these communications inform of the presence of vehicles and people working closely together. Traffic management signs include indications of separate pedestrian and vehicle routes, speed limits, blind corners, forklifts in use, and crossings.

That’s not true!

15 myths about the human body you should stop believing

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Think you know your body? Think again. Many "facts" we hear about the human body are actually just popular myths that have been long debunked by science. From the color of your blood to the capacity of your brain, join us as we separate truth from fiction.

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Myth: We only use 10% of our brains.

Truth: Brain scans show that most areas of the brain are active even during simple tasks. Modern advanced imaging reveals that nearly all parts of the brain have specific roles. This is why damage to any area can lead to severe impairments. Come on, this one was fairly obvious, evolution wouldn’t keep an organ with 90% redundancy.

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Myth: Swallowed gum stays in your stomach for seven years.

Truth: Gum passes through your digestive system just like any other non-digestible materials. This means that, while it’s true that it cannot be broken down, it will simply exit your body within a few days, along with waste. There’s really no evidence of gum lingering in your stomach for years after swallowing.

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Myth: Cracking knuckles causes arthritis.

Truth: Studies show no link between knuckle cracking and arthritis. The sound it makes might make you cringe a bit, but it actually comes from minuscule gas bubbles collapsing in joint fluid, not bone damage. In fact, knuckle cracking indicates normal joint function. Arthritis is caused by other factors like age, genetics, and injuries.

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Myth: Shaving makes hair grow back thicker.

Truth: Who hasn’t heard this one? A very popular myth, it has long been debunked. The truth is that shaving can make hair appear thicker because unshaven hair ends in fine points, while shaving cuts it at the surface, leaving a blunt edge that feels coarser. However, hair regrowth is determined solely by genetics and hormones, not by how it’s trimmed.

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Myth: Blood is blue in your veins and red when exposed to air.

Truth: Blood is always red, though it can appear blue under the skin due to an optical effect caused by light diffraction. However, the oxygen level in blood can actually affect its hue, that goes from a bright red (oxygen-rich) to a darker red (oxygen-poor).

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Myth: Sugar makes kids hyperactive.

Truth: Research consistently shows no direct link between sugar consumption and hyperactivity. If you are a parent, you might be convinced otherwise, but data suggests that this is often a case of self-fulfilling prophecy. Parents' expectations (as well as children’s awareness of the myth) can influence perceived—or very real—behavior changes, but sugar itself is not the culprit here.

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Myth: You lose most body heat through your head.

Truth: Mothers may cringe at this, but no, the head is not the heat sink many believe it to be. Heat loss simply depends on the exposed area. If your head is uncovered while the rest of your body is insulated, it might feel like most heat escapes from your head—but it’s not necessarily the primary heat-loss site.

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Myth: Drinking alcohol kills brain cells.

Truth: Alcohol is far from being good for you, but it doesn’t literally kill brain cells as many believe. Instead, it can impair the communication between them. Among other things, long-term excessive drinking can damage dendrites, leading to cognitive and behavioral changes, but the cells themselves remain intact. Moreover, with a healthy lifestyle and given enough time, the brain can actually repair itself to some extent.

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Myth: Different parts of your tongue taste specific flavors.

Truth: Ever seen a taste map showing specific areas of the tongue associated with certain flavors? Well, forget it. It turns out that taste receptors for sweet, salty, sour, and bitter are actually distributed evenly across the tongue. The "tongue map" was a misinterpretation of early research.

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Myth: Reading in dim light damages your eyes.

Truth: Another parental favorite. While dim lighting can temporarily strain your eyes, it doesn’t cause any permanent damage. Your eyes adapt to low light but may need time to adjust back.

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Myth: Sweating removes toxins.

Truth: Sweat is mostly water and salts, not toxins. The liver and kidneys handle detoxification, while sweat’s primary role is regulating body temperature.

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Myth: Hair and nails keep growing after death.

Truth: After death, the skin dehydrates and retracts, giving the appearance of growth. Hair and nail cells require living tissue to grow, which ceases after death.

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Myth: Humans only have five senses.

Truth: In addition to sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing, we have other important senses like balance (vestibular), temperature (thermoception), and body position (proprioception). Some scientists count up to 33 senses in total! Bet this one caught you off guard.

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Myth: Sweating leads to fat loss.

Truth: Just like the "sweat = toxins" myth, this is simply not true. Sweat loss reflects water weight, not fat loss. While you might weigh slightly less after intense exercise, you’ll regain that weight after rehydrating. Fat is burned through metabolic processes, not perspiration.

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Myth: The phases of the moon influence hair growth.

Truth: There is no scientific evidence linking moon phases to hair growth. This myth likely originated from agricultural practices that encourage planting seeds according to the moon's phases (also not scientifically proven). Studies show that hair growth is primarily determined by genetics, nutrition, and overall health, not lunar cycles. As long as you are healthy, hair grows at a consistent rate, regardless of the moon's phase.