Movies are a great way to escape reality, but sometimes they teach us things that aren’t exactly true. Let’s explore some common myths from films and uncover the real facts behind them!
Remember the scary T-Rex from Jurassic Park? The movie suggests that if you stand still, the T-Rex can’t see you. However, scientists have found that a T-Rex probably had excellent vision, much better than ours. So, standing still wouldn’t really help if you were face-to-face with one!
In action movies, heroes often walk away from explosions without a scratch. In reality, explosions create a powerful blast of wind that can knock you over. To be safe from a small bomb, you’d need to be at least 1,200 feet away. For bigger explosions, like from a truck, you’d need to be even farther!
In Star Wars, when the Death Star explodes, we hear a big boom. But in space, there isn’t enough air to carry sound waves, so it would actually be silent. Space is mostly quiet, except for sounds inside spaceships or astronaut helmets.
Movies often show astronaut helmets glowing from the inside. In reality, this would create a glare, making it hard to see. Real helmets have a special coating to protect astronauts from the sun while allowing them to see clearly.
Movies often use the majestic cry of a red-tailed hawk for bald eagles. In real life, bald eagles have a less impressive, cackling call. Filmmakers use the hawk’s cry to make scenes more dramatic.
In films, silencers make guns almost silent. In reality, they are called suppressors because they only reduce the noise by 20 to 35 decibels. It’s like wearing earmuffs; the sound is quieter but not gone.
Movies often show arrested people demanding their “one phone call.” In real life, the rules vary. For example, in California, you can make at least three calls within three hours of being arrested.
Some movies claim we only use 10% of our brains. This isn’t true! Brain scans show that we use much more than that, even for simple tasks. Our brains are always active and working hard.
Crime shows often say you have to wait 24 or 48 hours to report someone missing. In reality, you can report someone missing right away. The sooner you do, the better the chances of finding them.
If someone is bitten by a venomous snake, movies might show characters cutting the wound and sucking out the venom. This is a bad idea and can cause infections. Instead, call 911 for help.
Movies show chloroform knocking people out instantly. In real life, it takes a few minutes and a lot of chloroform to make someone unconscious. It’s not as quick or easy as films suggest.
Some movies say the human head weighs 8 pounds. Actually, it usually weighs around 11 pounds. It’s a small difference, but it’s good to know the truth!
Thanks for reading! Movies are fun, but it’s important to know the facts. Keep exploring and learning!
Choose one of the myths from the article and research the real facts behind it. Create a short presentation to share with the class, explaining why the movie portrayal is inaccurate and what the truth is. Use visuals and examples to make your presentation engaging.
Draw a comic strip that humorously depicts one of the movie myths being debunked in a real-life scenario. Use your creativity to show what would actually happen if someone tried to follow the movie’s advice.
Participate in a class debate where you argue either for or against the accuracy of movie portrayals. Use evidence from the article and additional research to support your points. This will help you develop critical thinking and public speaking skills.
Write a short story where a character believes a movie myth and faces unexpected consequences. Use this opportunity to explore creative writing and demonstrate your understanding of why the myth is incorrect.
Create a poster that highlights one of the myths and the real facts behind it. Use images, facts, and catchy slogans to make your poster informative and eye-catching. Display it in the classroom to educate others.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript, removing any inappropriate language and ensuring clarity:
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Jurassic Park instilled in countless kids the fear of coming face to face with a T-Rex, but it also taught them what to do if that actually happened. As Dr. Alan Grant says to Lex in the film, “Don’t move. It can’t see us if we don’t move.” However, a T-Rex could almost definitely still see you if you didn’t move. According to a 2006 study, the prehistoric predator’s visual acuity may have been as much as 13 times better than a human’s. This rationale was offered in Michael Crichton’s original novel but was later debunked in his sequel, The Lost World. So even if you found yourself in the Jurassic Park universe, freezing in front of a T-Rex wouldn’t guarantee your survival.
The idea that the T-Rex can’t detect stillness isn’t the only misconception that movies have led us to believe. In this episode of The List Show, I’m covering some of the most memorable ones, from how easy it is to walk away from an explosion unscathed to how quickly chloroform can actually knock you out. Let’s get started.
In the 2010 action comedy The Other Guys, Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg’s characters are knocked to the ground when a building is bombed some yards away. As Ferrell writhes in agony, he comments on how action heroes just walk away from explosions without flinching. However, slowly strolling away from an explosion wouldn’t just require audacity; you’d also need to defy physics. People get knocked over when a bomb detonates because the rapid expansion of gas and change in pressure generate a blast of wind. According to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, you need to be at least 1,200 feet away from the blast of a pipe bomb to avoid potential death. That distance doubles if the vehicle in question is an SUV or van filled with explosives, and if it’s a semi-trailer, you better be at least 9,300 feet away.
When Luke Skywalker torpedoes the Death Star in Star Wars: A New Hope, it blows up with a satisfying boom. However, sound as we know it doesn’t exist in space. Sound travels by vibrating through adjacent molecules in a medium like air or water. Space isn’t a perfect vacuum, but its atoms are so few and far between that they can’t really conduct sound waves in a way humans can understand. Some sci-fi fans argue that in the case of something like the Death Star, the expanding atmosphere carries the sound waves with it, but in general, space action sequences should be pretty quiet, except for what’s happening inside a spacecraft or an astronaut’s helmet.
Real astronaut helmets aren’t lit from within like those in many space movies. If they were, the glow would create a glare similar to the one on your car windshield when the interior lights are turned on, which isn’t ideal for visibility during real space missions. The visor of a real space helmet typically has a reflective gold coating that protects the astronaut from sun radiation while still allowing them to see out of it.
Hollywood sound editors also take creative liberties for dramatic effect. If your knowledge of bald eagles mostly comes from movies, you might think their calls are commanding and majestic. In reality, the bald eagle has a cackling type of laugh that’s not very impressive. Filmmakers often use the cry of a red-tailed hawk instead.
We’ve also been misled by Hollywood’s version of gun silencers. A real one won’t silence a gunshot completely, nor will it make it as quiet as the discharge of a Nerf dart. It’s more accurate to call them suppressors, as they suppress the impulsive sound of gunfire rather than eliminate it. The typical silencer decreases gunshot noise by an average of 20 to 35 decibels, making it about as effective as wearing earmuffs or earplugs.
In movies, characters often demand their one phone call after being arrested, but in real life, laws about making phone calls from jail vary by state. For example, California’s penal code states that an arrested person has the right to make at least three completed telephone calls within three hours of their arrest. In Tennessee, they can’t even book you in the system until you’ve successfully completed a call to an attorney or relative.
Another common myth is that humans only use a small percentage of their brains. This idea is popularized in movies like Limitless and Lucy, but it’s false. If 90% of your brain were useless, brain injuries wouldn’t have much impact on people’s lives. Advanced brain imaging shows that even simple tasks require much more than 10% of your brain.
In crime dramas, it’s often depicted that police can’t file a missing person’s report if the person hasn’t been missing for at least 24 or even 48 hours. However, many government websites state that there’s no waiting period before you can report someone missing. The sooner you inform the authorities, the better.
If you see someone bitten by a venomous snake, you might be inclined to mimic what a character does in a movie and cut the wound open to suck out the venom. This is a bad idea, as it increases the risk of infection and is unlikely to be effective. Instead, you should call 911.
Chloroform is often depicted in movies as a quick way to knock someone out, but in reality, it takes a good two to five minutes for a person to slip into unconsciousness, and that’s only with a high dosage. This misconception has persisted for a long time.
Lastly, contrary to what some movies suggest, the human head doesn’t weigh 8 pounds; it usually weighs around 11 pounds.
Thanks for watching! If you have a nomination for a fantastic feline from real life, drop it in the comments below.
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Myth – A widely held but false belief or idea, often used to explain natural phenomena before scientific understanding. – In ancient times, people believed the myth that thunder was the sound of gods fighting in the sky.
Sound – A form of energy that travels through air, water, or other materials as vibrations that can be heard when they reach a person’s or animal’s ear. – The sound of the bell ringing in the lab signaled the end of the physics experiment.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse that exists beyond the Earth’s atmosphere, where stars, planets, and other celestial bodies are found. – Scientists use telescopes to study the stars and galaxies in space.
Astronaut – A person who is trained to travel and perform tasks in space. – The astronaut conducted experiments on the International Space Station to learn more about how plants grow in microgravity.
Helmet – A protective headgear worn by astronauts to safeguard against impacts and provide life support in space. – The astronaut carefully secured her helmet before stepping out of the spacecraft for a spacewalk.
Brain – The organ in the body that serves as the center of the nervous system, responsible for processing sensory information and controlling behavior. – The brain processes the signals from our ears to help us understand the sounds we hear.
Snake – A legless reptile that can be found in various environments, some of which produce venom used for hunting and defense. – Scientists study the movement of a snake to understand how it can slither so efficiently without legs.
Venom – A toxic substance produced by certain animals, such as snakes, used to immobilize prey or defend against threats. – Researchers are studying snake venom to develop new medicines for treating diseases.
Explosion – A sudden and violent release of energy, often resulting in a loud noise and the rapid expansion of gases. – The explosion in the chemistry lab was carefully controlled to demonstrate the release of energy from a chemical reaction.
Weight – The force exerted on an object due to gravity, often measured in newtons or pounds. – An object’s weight on the Moon is less than on Earth because the Moon’s gravitational pull is weaker.
