Lifestyle
Facts and Myths: True or false?
A hot shower is good for dry skin.
Hot water strips away natural oils and can damage your skin barrier. It’s better to opt for lukewarm water and use a gentle, soap-free cleanser.
Sleeping on your side causes wrinkles.
Prolonged pressure and creases in the skin, such as from your pillow, can eventually lead to fine lines. A silk pillowcase or sleeping on your back can help reduce this.
You need to let your skin breathe by not wearing makeup.
Your skin doesn’t breathe like your lungs do. However, it’s wise to cleanse your skin thoroughly and occasionally give it a break from heavy products.
Swallowing gum means it stays in your stomach for seven years.
Gum isn’t digested, but it’s expelled within a few days just like other indigestible substances. Still, that’s no excuse to start swallowing it.
Alcohol warms your body.
Drinking alcohol may give a warm sensation, but it dilates your blood vessels and causes more heat to escape, making your body cooler.
Plants grow better when you talk to them.
Studies suggest that sound waves, including human voices, can influence the growth of certain plants. So don’t be surprised if your colleague chats with the office fern.
Honey never spoils.
Thanks to its low moisture content and high acidity, honey is indefinitely shelf stable. In fact, edible honey has been found in ancient Egyptian tombs.
Older siblings are smarter.
Studies show that older children tend to have slightly higher intelligence scores, possibly due to receiving more attention in early childhood. Let the debates begin.
You shouldn’t wake sleepwalkers.
Although they may be confused when awakened, it’s usually safer to wake them than to let them continue wandering.
Shaving makes hair thicker and darker.
That’s a myth, and a persistent one. Hair feels coarser after shaving because of the blunt edge, but its thickness and color remain unchanged.
The Great Wall of China is visible from space.
Astronauts confirm that the wall is not visible to the naked eye from space, not even from the moon. Despite its impressive length, it’s too narrow and blends in too much with its surroundings to be seen from orbit.
Lightning never strikes the same place twice.
False. In fact, some tall buildings are struck multiple times a year.
A full moon causes strange behavior.
Believe it or not, this one’s true. Studies suggest a slight increase in insomnia and even hospital admissions during a full moon, though the exact cause remains unclear