Popular, but untrue

It didn’t happen: 10 history myths that are regarded as true

A big part of history is dependent on who’s telling it, but some facts are indisputable. However, some stories have become so widespread —be it because of popular legend or by honest mistake— that most would assure them to be true. Some have even been transmitted for generations, but they happened in a different way or not at all. Let’s revise 10 historic "facts" that are just myths.

The idea that Viking helmets had horns is consistent with their fame as frightening warriors, but it is simply not true. This misconception is a result of 19th-century artists, such as Richard Wagner, and their interest in the Middle Ages, which, in many cases, involved inventing facts when reliable information was lacking. We now know that Vikings wore cap-like helmets with nose guards, and without any protruding elements.

The French Revolution and its rejection of the monarchy led to Marie Antoinette having a tarnished reputation, with many accusing her of not caring about her subjects and living an extravagant life while the French people suffered. The phrase ‘let them eat cake’, attributed to her, is a big part of this, but no matter how she actually behaved, we know as a fact that she never said it. This phrase was attributed to an unnamed princess by philosopher Jean Jacques Rousseau, but at that time, Marie Antoinette was 9 years old and still lived in Austria.

While the father of the nation did wear dentures, the widespread belief that these were made out of wood is not true. Historians have confirmed that his dentures were made from a mix of different materials, including ivory, human teeth, animal teeth, and metallic pieces. The idea that these were wooden is most likely a result of the brownish appearance of stained ivory.

Roman emperor Nero has a well-deserved reputation as a tyrant. He habitually murdered opponents, persecuted thousands of Christians, and was known to enjoy animal cruelty. However, there is no solid proof that he intentionally started the fire of Rome, although we know that he did nothing to stop it, and played music as he watched the city burn. The fire was most likely an accident, and Nero took advantage of it to rebuild Rome in grandeur.

Scholars have known the Earth is a sphere since classical antiquity, and medievals inherited that knowledge from the ancient Greeks. Why did they not travel to the West then? Is not that they thought they would reach the end of the world, but that they were unsure of the dangers of such a travel. The idea of medieval people as flat-earthers is a result of 19th-century writers' concept of the Middle Ages as a ‘dark time’ of ignorance.

To the surprise of many, the Continental Congress declared independence from Great Britain on July 2nd. But why is Independence Day not celebrated on that date? Founding Father John Adams asked the same question. While the voting was done on the 2nd, the document was finalized and distributed on the 4th, and most delegates adopted that date. John Adams wrote extensively about the importance of July 2nd, and he reportedly declined invitations to 4th of July celebrations in protest.

The Salem witch trials were undoubtedly outrageous, and modern historians believe that the result was mass hysteria. However, the idea that convicted individuals were burned at the stake is just a popular myth. 19 people were executed by hanging, and one other died during interrogation due to torture. In the years after, it was proven that evidence of witchery was fabricated, and the trials were declared unlawful.

While historians and chroniclers have several theories about Julius Caesar’s dying words, we know for a fact that he never said ‘_Et tu, Brute?’ (You too, Brutus?) to his adoptive son. This phrase was coined by Elizabethan playwright Richard Edes and later popularized by William Shakespeare. What did Caesar say instead? We don’t know, but the prevailing theories are that he remained silent or that he spoke in Greek and said ‘_καὶ σύ, τέκνον?" (‘You too, child?’).

When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, she knew she was making a political statement. However, contrary to what many believe, she was sitting on a part of the bus that African Americans were allowed to use. Why was she asked to give up the seat, then? She was sitting in a section that was for everyone, but where white people had priority. When the white section became full, she was asked to give up her spot. She refused, and the rest is history.

The story of Galileo Galilei’s trial is one of the most widespread historical myths, and most people are certain that he was tortured because of his beliefs and then executed. Galileo was indeed tried by the Church, but it was not the simplistic case of science vs. faith most believe it to be. In reality, it was a scientific debate and, while Galileo was ultimately right in defending Heliocentrism, he failed to prove it. After the trial, he received house arrest in a villa, where he died of natural causes.

The truth about your brain

You won’t believe what happens in your brain while you sleep

Image: Milad Fakurian

Your brain is one of the most powerful and mysterious organs in your body. It controls everything from your thoughts to your emotions and even processes information at lightning speed. But how much do you really know about it? Some long-believed myths about the brain have been debunked, while other surprising facts reveal just how incredible this organ truly is. Get ready to be amazed by these fascinating brain facts!

Image: Natasha Connell

You’ve probably heard this one before, but it’s completely false! While it’s true that not all parts of the brain fire at the same time, imaging studies show that most regions are active throughout the day, even when we sleep.

Your brain is constantly working, controlling bodily functions and emotions, and processing information. So next time someone says you’re only using 10% of your brain, you can confidently tell them that’s just a myth!

Image: Aarón Blanco Tejedor

Here’s a weird fact: While your brain processes pain signals from the rest of your body, it has no pain receptors of its own. This is why surgeons can perform brain surgery on conscious patients without causing them pain.

However, the membranes and tissues surrounding the brain do have pain receptors, which is why headaches and brain injuries can be so excruciating.

Image: Usman Yousaf

How come we have headaches if the brain has no pain receptors? Well, that’s because headaches are triggered by chemical activity in the brain, changes in nerves and blood vessels, and even fluctuating serotonin levels.

In some cases, hormones like estrogen can also play a role, which explains why migraines are more common in women.

Image: Go to Johannes Plenio's profile Johannes Plenio

Dreams are proof that your brain never rests! (Warning: this fact can make you feel exhausted.) While you sleep, your limbic system, that is, the part of the brain that deals with emotions, becomes especially active, which is why dreams often feel so intense.

On average, humans experience four to seven dreams per night, even if we don’t always remember them. And what about that scary nightmare about falling? Well, you can thank your amygdala, the brain’s fear center, for that one.

Image: Brett Jordan

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly forgotten what you were after? That’s because short-term memory only lasts about 20-30 seconds! That’s not enough!

Your brain holds a limited amount of information in its active state before deciding whether to store it or discard it. Ironically, we can’t really choose what makes the cut, but we do hope these facts stay with you!

Image: BUDDHI Kumar SHRESTHA

That sharp, icy pain when you eat something too cold? It’s your brain’s way of telling you to slow down! Officially called sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia, a brain freeze happens when cold food or drinks rapidly chill the blood vessels in your throat, causing them to constrict and then rapidly expand. This sends pain signals to your brain, warning you of the sudden temperature shift. It’s annoying, but it’s actually your body trying to protect itself!

Image: Josh Riemer

You didn’t need us to tell you, but let’s look at the details: The average person has between 12,000 and 60,000 thoughts per day. What’s even more interesting? 95% of those thoughts are the same ones you had yesterday. Is that not surprising enough? Hear this out: 80% of them tend to be negative. That’s because our brains are wired for survival, constantly analyzing risks and potential dangers.

Image: Terry Vlisidis

Even though it only makes up about 2% of your body weight, your brain employs a major quantity of energy! It consumes 20% of your oxygen and blood supply, making it one of the most demanding organs in your body.

If your brain goes without oxygen for just five minutes, brain cells start dying, leading to irreversible damage. This is why deep breathing and cardiovascular exercise are great for brain health!

Image: Alexander Andrews

Do you know that feeling when you hit the back of your head and see stars? That’s because your occipital lobe, which controls vision, is located at the back of your brain. If you get hit there, your brain momentarily misfires, causing flashes of light.

Interestingly, your brain processes vision on the opposite side; while your right brain controls your left eye, your left brain controls your right eye. It’s one of the many ways the brain operates in a complex way.

Image: Rodion Kutsaiev

Believe it or not, your brain generates between 12 and 25 watts of electricity when you’re awake. If you can’t really grasp how powerful that is, check this out: It’s enough to power a small light bulb! Your brain’s electrical activity is what allows neurons to send signals at speeds of up to 260 miles per hour.

Image: Robina Weermeijer

Your brain may be the fattiest organ in your body, consisting of at least 60% fat! This is why consuming healthy fats, like omega-3s and omega-6s present in fish, for example, is essential for brain health.

Healthy fats stabilize brain cell walls, reduce inflammation, and support cognitive function. So go ahead and enjoy that avocado toast, it’s food for your brain!

Image: Robina Weermeijer

It’s not just your memory that fades over time; the brain itself physically shrinks as one gets older. It continues developing until your late 40s, but after that, it slowly decreases in size.

Now, size doesn’t equal intelligence, so a smaller brain doesn’t necessarily mean a less capable one. Staying mentally active, exercising, and eating brain-boosting foods can help keep it in top shape!

Image: Lisa Yount

We often think of cholesterol as bad, but your brain actually depends on it! In fact, 25% of your body’s cholesterol is stored in your brain, where it helps with learning and memory. However, unlike other organs, the brain can’t absorb cholesterol from the blood, it has to produce its own. So, while too much cholesterol in the body can be harmful, the right amount is vital for brain function. At least you can use that as an excuse to get that burger!