Hey there! I’m Elliot, and welcome to Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, we’re going to clear up some common misconceptions you might have learned in school. Let’s dive in!
You might have heard that there were 13 original colonies in America. However, Delaware wasn’t actually its own colony. It was the first state to ratify the Constitution, but before that, it was a disputed area between Pennsylvania and Maryland until 1776. Delaware did have its own assembly in the early 1700s, but it was still under Pennsylvania’s control.
Many people think Thomas Edison invented the light bulb, but that’s not entirely true. Several inventors, like Humphrey Davy, Joseph Swan, and Charles Steinmetz, contributed to its development. Edison did create a version that could stay lit for hours and successfully marketed it, which is why he often gets the credit.
There’s a myth that toilet water flushes differently in different hemispheres because of the Coriolis effect. In reality, the direction of the water is mostly influenced by the shape of the toilet or sink. The Coriolis effect affects large-scale movements like weather patterns, not small things like toilets.
It’s often said that thousands panicked when they heard the radio broadcast of “The War of the Worlds” by Orson Welles. While some reports claimed millions were listening, studies show only about 2% of 5,000 households tuned in, and many knew it was just a play. Newspapers at the time exaggerated the hysteria.
Many believe diamonds are made from coal, but that’s not true. Most diamonds have been on Earth much longer than coal. They form deep underground from carbon and eventually make their way to jewelry stores.
There’s a myth that Christopher Columbus thought the Earth was flat. In fact, Columbus knew the Earth was round, and this was common knowledge in Europe for at least 200 years before his voyage. The flat Earth story came from an exaggerated biography.
The story of George Washington chopping down his father’s cherry tree is a myth. It originated from a biography written seven years after Washington’s death, which isn’t considered reliable. The tale has changed over time.
Some people say “irregardless” isn’t a word, but it actually is! While it’s not standard English, it’s in the dictionary because it’s widely used. It first appeared in American dialect in the early 20th century.
It’s a common belief that you’re born with all the brain cells you’ll ever have. While most brain cells form before birth, some are created during infancy. Scientists now know we produce about 1,400 new brain cells every day.
People often think sunflowers follow the sun. While sunflower buds do this, once the flower blooms, it usually faces east. This might help protect the seeds from getting too hot during the day.
Thanks for joining me on this journey through misconceptions on Mental Floss on YouTube! If you have any ideas for future episodes, leave them in the comments. See you next time! Goodbye!
Research the history of the 13 original colonies and create a timeline that includes key events and dates. Highlight Delaware’s unique status and its journey to becoming a state. Present your timeline to the class and discuss any surprising facts you discovered.
Choose one of the inventors involved in the development of the light bulb, such as Humphrey Davy, Joseph Swan, or Charles Steinmetz. Research their contributions and create a short presentation or poster to share with the class. Explain how their work influenced Thomas Edison’s version of the light bulb.
Conduct a simple experiment to observe the Coriolis effect using a rotating platform and a ball. Record your observations and discuss how the Coriolis effect influences large-scale phenomena like weather patterns, rather than small-scale events like toilet flushing.
Recreate a segment of the “War of the Worlds” radio broadcast in groups. Discuss how media can influence public perception and the role of exaggeration in the original broadcast’s reported panic. Reflect on how media impacts society today.
Choose one of the misconceptions from the article and prepare a debate arguing for or against its validity. Use research to support your arguments and present your case to the class. Engage in a discussion about why certain myths persist over time.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Hi, I’m Elliot, and this is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today, I’m going to talk about some misconceptions that you may have learned in school.
**Misconception number one:** There were 13 original colonies. Actually, Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, but it was never its own colony. The area was disputed between Pennsylvania and Maryland until 1776. It did have its own assembly in the early 1700s, but it was still governed by Pennsylvania.
**Misconception number two:** Thomas Edison invented the light bulb. Many inventors contributed to what would eventually become the light bulb, including Humphrey Davy, Joseph Swan, and Charles Steinmetz. Edison did create an incandescent light bulb that would stay lit for multiple hours, and he patented it and successfully marketed it, which is why many people credit him with the invention.
**Misconception number three:** Toilet water flushes differently in different hemispheres because of the Coriolis effect. In fact, the direction of water going down the drain is primarily affected by the shape of the toilet or sink, not the Coriolis effect. This effect describes how objects move on a rotating surface like the Earth, but it does not apply to small things like toilets.
**Misconception number four:** Thousands panicked when they heard the War of the Worlds on the radio. While some documentaries and textbooks report that millions were listening to Orson Welles’ radio version of H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds, studies show that only about 2% of 5,000 households were even listening, and many of those knew it was just a radio play. Still, hysteria was reported in many newspapers.
**Misconception number five:** Diamonds are made from coal. Most diamonds have actually been on Earth for much longer than coal. They are formed around 100 miles below ground out of carbon and later appear in jewelry stores.
**Misconception number six:** Christopher Columbus believed that the Earth was flat. In reality, Columbus knew that the Earth was round, and this was common knowledge in Europe for at least 200 years before he set sail. This myth originated from a biography that exaggerated the story.
**Misconception number seven:** George Washington chopped down his father’s cherry tree. This story also came from a biography published seven years after Washington died. The book is not considered a credible source, and the story has evolved over time.
**Misconception number eight:** “Irregardless” is not a word. While it may not be standard, it can be found in the dictionary due to its widespread use. It originated in American dialect in the early 20th century.
**Misconception number nine:** You’re born with all the brain cells you’ll ever have. While most brain cells are formed before birth, some are created during infancy, and scientists now know that we create around 1,400 new brain cells a day.
**Misconception number ten:** Sunflowers follow the sun. Sunflower buds do this, but once the flower opens, it typically faces east. This may be a defensive response to prevent seed scalding during hot days.
Thanks for watching misconceptions on Mental Floss on YouTube! If you have a topic for an upcoming episode that you’d like to see, leave it in the comments, and I will see you next week. Goodbye!
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Let me know if you need any further modifications!
Colonies – Settlements established by a country in a foreign land, often for the purpose of expanding territory and resources. – The British colonies in America eventually sought independence, leading to the Revolutionary War.
Edison – Referring to Thomas Edison, an American inventor known for developing the electric light bulb and many other innovations. – Thomas Edison held over 1,000 patents for his inventions, which greatly impacted modern technology.
Effect – A change that is a result or consequence of an action or other cause. – The invention of the printing press had a profound effect on the spread of knowledge during the Renaissance.
Panic – A sudden, overwhelming fear that can spread quickly through a group of people. – The stock market crash of 1929 led to widespread panic and the beginning of the Great Depression.
Diamonds – Precious stones made of carbon, known for their hardness and brilliance, often used in jewelry. – The discovery of diamonds in South Africa in the 19th century led to a rush of miners seeking fortune.
Columbus – Referring to Christopher Columbus, an explorer who completed four voyages across the Atlantic Ocean, opening the way for the widespread European exploration of the Americas. – In 1492, Columbus set sail from Spain, eventually reaching the islands of the Caribbean.
Washington – Referring to George Washington, the first President of the United States and a key leader during the American Revolutionary War. – George Washington is often called the “Father of His Country” for his leadership in the founding of the United States.
Brain – The organ in the body that controls thought, memory, emotion, and sensory processing. – Scientists study the brain to understand how it processes information and controls behavior.
Sunflowers – Tall plants with large yellow flowers, known for turning their heads to follow the sun. – Sunflowers were cultivated by Native Americans for their seeds, which provided food and oil.
Carbon – A chemical element that is the basis of all known life, found in many different forms such as diamonds and graphite. – Carbon is a key component of organic molecules, making it essential for life on Earth.
