Fact or Fiction: Science Tackles 58 Popular Myths

by Scientific American

Did NASA really spend millions creating a pen that would write in space? Is chocolate poisonous to dogs? Does stress cause gray hair?

These questions are a sample of the urban lore investigated in this audiobook, Fact or Fiction: Science Tackles 58 Popular Myths. Drawing from Scientific American's "Fact or Fiction" and "Strange But True" columns, we've selected fifty-eight of the most surprising, fascinating, useful, and just plain wacky topics confronted by our writers over the years.

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Audiobook, History

215 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2013

About the author

Scientific American , as an institutional author, is a popular science magazine founded by Rufus M. Porter and controlled by Nature Publishing Group since autumn, 2008. Mariette DiChristina has been editor-in-chief since December, 2009.

Reviews

[tricia larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really interesting always happy when I learned something new

[Alex Shrugged · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a collection of science articles either confirming or busting various myths. Here is a list...
Opening Credits (00:17)
Introduction-Stranger Than Fiction by Hannah Schmidt (03:51)

Section 01-The Animal Kingdom (00:05)
o Chocolate Is Poisonous to Dogs by Alison Snyder (03:54)
o Komodo Dragons Showed that Virgin Births Are Possible by Philip Yam (06:22)
o A Cockroach Can Live Without Its Head by Charles Q. Choi (04:50)
o UV Light Put Spiders in the Mood by John Matson (05:46)
o Cats Cannot Taste Sweets by David Biello (05:02)
o Elephants Never Forget by James Ritchie (06:47)
o Whale Waste Is Extremely Valuable by Cynthia Graber (06:11)
o For Baby Birds and Other Critters, Human Touch Is Taboo by Robynne Boyd (05:34)
o Pets Protect Children Against Allergies by Melinda Wenner (06:12)
o Mushroom Outsizes Blue Whale as World's Largest Organism by Anne Casselman (07:02)
o Dogs Can Talk by Tina Adler (06:02)
o Squid Can Fly by Ferris Jabr (08:32)

Section 02-Babies and Parents (00:06)
o Babies Resemble Their Fathers More Than Their Mothers by John Matson (04:40)
o Artificial Reproduction Leads to Sickly Children by Katie Cottingham (08:10)
o Fathers Can Get Postpartum Depression by Katherine Harmon (11:48)
o Males Can Lactate by Nikhil Swaminathan (05:49)
o Babies Exposed to Classical Music End Up Smarter by Nikhil Swaminathan (06:03)
o Men Have a Biological Clock by Anne Casselman (05:52)

Section 03-The Environment-Earth and Space (00:07)
o If the Sky Is Green, Run for Cover - a Tornado Is Coming by Meredith Knight (05:21)
o Smog Creates Beautiful Sunsets by Coco Ballantyne (06:33)
o South of the Equator, Toilets Flush and Tornadoes Spin Clockwise by Robynne Boyd (05:04)
o The Earth Is Not Round by Charles Q. Choi (04:26)
o Black Holes Sing by John Matson (06:59)
o Liven Up Your Flowers with Vodka and Citrus Sodas by Ciara Curtin (04:47)
o Living People Outnumber the Dead by Ciara Curtin (04:59)

Section 04-Technology (00:05)
o NASA Created a Million-Dollar Space Pen by Ciara Curtin (05:12)
o White Computer Screens Consume More Energy Than Black Ones by Larry Greenemeier (07:04)
o Leaving Fluorescent Lights On Saves Energy by John Matson (03:50)
o Helmets Are Car Magnets for Cyclists by Nikhil Swaminathan (05:53)
o Premium Gasoline Delivers Premium Benefits to Your Car by David Biello (05:37)

Section 05-Health Habits (00:05)
o Raw Veggies Are Healthier Than Cooked Ones by Sushma Subramanian (07:19)
o Greasy Foods Equals Bad Skin by Cynthia Graber (06:15)
o Water, Part 1-You Must Drink 8 Glasses of Water Daily by Karen Bellenir (06:23)
o Water, Part 2-Too Much Can Kill You by Coco Ballantyne (07:48)
o Antioxidant Supplement Help You Live Longer by Jonathan Scheff (06:05)
o Vitamin Supplements Improve Your Health by Coco Ballantyne (06:45)
o Generic Drugs Are Bad for You by Molly Webster (08:00)
o Antiperspirants Do More Than Block Sweat by S. M. Kramer (06:07)
o Antibacterial Products May Do More Harm Than Good by Coco Ballantyne (07:16)

Section 06-The Body (00:05)
o Urinating on a Jellyfish Sting Will Ease the Pain by Ciara Curtin (04:47)
o It's No Tall Tale, Height Matters by Fran Hawthorne (06:32)
o Circumcision Helps Prevent HIV Infection by Barbara Juncosa (08:29)
o Underwire Bras Can Cause Cancer by S. M. Kramer (04:19)
o Cell Phones Can Cause Brain Cancer by Melinda Wenner (10:30)
o No Bit Toe, No Go by Corey Binns (04:49)
o Stress Causes Gray Hair by Coco Ballantyne (06:22)
o Chewing Gum Takes Seven Years to Digest by John Matson (05:44)
o Opera Singers Can Shatter Glass by Karen Schrock (06:19)

Section 07-Mind and Brain (00:06)
o Half a Brain Is Sometimes Better Than a Whole One by Charles Q. Choi (05:32)
o The Bigger the Brain, The Smarter You Are by Kayt Sukel (07:36)
o Spring Fever Is a Real Phenomenon by Christie Nicholson (06:21)
o Testosterone Alone Does Not Cause Violence by Christopher Mims (07:12)
o Less Sleep Means More Dreams by Christie Nicholson (07:08)
o Waking a Sleepwalker Could Kill Them by Robynne Boyd (04:46)

Section 08-Miscellany (00:04)
o Archimedes Coined the Term Eureka! in the Bath by David Biello (05:04)
o Turning a Wobbly Table Will Make It Steady by J. R. Minkel (04:44)
o Infinity Comes in Different Sizes by John Matson (06:46)
o A Spoon in the Bottle Keeps Champagne Bubbly by John Matson (04:14)

End Credits (01:14)

[Barb · Rating 3 out of 5]

We needed something to listen to on our recent trip home -- something we were both interested in, and something not too long so we could finish it before reaching our destination -- and this was our choice.

As usual in a collection like this, some of the subjects were more interesting than others, and some were much longer than they needed to be. We learned a bit about a lot of things, and it was a good way to pass the time on our drive.

[Nada Al-Karmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting. It provided interesting pieces of information and corrected some misconceptions I had. For example, I did believe that antiperspirants cause breast cancer. Knowing that they don't is such a relief.

Not a bad read to enrich one's mind.

[Jared · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were a few interesting articles in this and they were reasonably well researched, but any book that advocates for the irreversible genital mutilation of unconsenting children is not going to get a good review.

[Masoud · Rating 3 out of 5]

An entertaining collection of columns from Scientific American that denies or proves some of the popular myths that we often believe or assume that are true or probably true without knowing. Some of them are trivial and the others seems serious cases.

[eLle · Rating 4 out of 5]

quick read for facts thirsty or just to feed your obsession for random facts

[Perry Romanowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting collection of columns but some of them felt dated and poorly researched. It could probably use an update.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh...it's ok.
Good for a walk or a short drive...

[Sydne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice enough read, yet there were only about 3-4 facts I didn't know about before

[Emma O’Doherty · Rating 4 out of 5]

The literature regarding the statement is so well explained and is really clear and easy to understand. Condenses complicated topics and research into really palatable, succinct explanations

[Jenish Patel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun to know about the simple things, assumption and its realities.

[Sana · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25

[Pam · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is very dated, about 20 to 15 years ago. so I knew most of the information. Interesting anyway.

[CavyNomes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Extremely general, and Ameri-centric.

[Steven · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly good info, but there were a few pieces of information that were outdated.

[Paul Triller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Audible version. Great walking book.

Reality can be very interesting.

[Ben · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good explanation of why the myths about swallowing chewing gum, waking a sleep walker and other things we've been told aren't correct. It's small chapters, so easy to read when you only have a few minutes.

[Book Shark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fact or Fiction: Science Tackles 58 Popular Myths by Scientific American

"Fact or Fiction: Science Tackles 58 Popular Myths" is a light compendium of columns collected by Scientific American. This eBook uncovers the truth behind 58 common myths broken out by eight categories. It's a fun light read that can be read in any particular order at any time. This curious 215-page eBook contains 58 articles mainly from 2007 and is broken out into the following eight sections: 1. The Animal Kingdom, 2. Babies and Parents, 3. The Environment: Earth and Space, 4. Technology, 5. Health Habits, 6. The Body, 7. Mind and Brain, and 8. Miscellany.

Positives:
1. Well-written, accessible and varied selection of short articles on popular myths.
2. Interesting and fun topics for everyone. Fun to read at any time and in any order.
3. Scientific American has a good reputation for being an honest truth searcher.
4. The animal kingdom is full of fascinating myths. Spoiler alert. "These "virgin births" raised eyebrows because this asexual method of reproduction, called parthenogenesis, is rare among vertebrates: only about 70 backboned species can do it (that's about 0.1 percent of all vertebrates)."
5. Insects have their idiosyncrasies too.
6. So do pets keep children from developing allergies? Find out.
7. So do babies really resemble their dads more than their mothers? Find out.
8. Myth will obviously vary in interest...consider the following, can males lactate? It sucks not to know, find out.
9. Music and how it relates to babies. Spoiler alert, "I would simply say that there is no compelling evidence that children who listen to classical music are going to have any improvement in cognitive abilities," adds Rauscher."
10. Some of my favorite articles have to do with astronomy.
11. So what causes those beautiful sunsets?
12. Singing black holes...ok if that doesn't get your attention.
13. So what is healthier for you? Raw or cooked veggies?
14. Some interesting myths on water. I'm all wet you say?
15. Is it time to stop using antiperspirants? Find out.
16. Here's a popular myth, does urinating on a jellyfish sting really ease the pain?
17. Hear all about it...cell phones and cancer.
18. Myths involving the brain are among my favorites. Sleepwalking, lack of sleep, and half a brain...
19. Does testosterone cause violence?
20. And some miscellaneous myths to close out the book.

Negatives:
1. No links to original sources.
2. No formal bibliography.
3. Lacks scientific rigor or depth.
4. Most of the articles seem to be from 2007.
5. Not in the same league as John Brockman's series of books from the Edge just a fun, and light alternative.
6. There are much better scientific myths out there. Myths involving planes, cars, the human body, etc...

In summary, these types of books are always fun to read. You are bound to be surprised at popular myths you thought were true only to be debunked. Easy to read and jump around to your favorite myths. It lacks scientific rigor and provides no original sources. This book is intended for the masses and those looking for water-cooler material.

Further recommendations: "This Will Make You Smarter: New Scientific Concepts to Improve Your Thinking" and "This Explains Everything: Deep, Beautiful, and Elegant Theories of How the World Works" edited by John Brockman, "Tales of the Rational : Skeptical Essays About Nature and Science" by Massimo Pigliucci, "Voodoo Science: The Road from Foolishness to Fraud" by Robert Park, "Science Matters: Achieving Scientific Literacy" by Robert M. Hazen "Fool Me Twice: Fighting the Assault on Science in America" by Shawn Lawrence, "Lies, Damned Lies, and Science: How to Sort Through the Noise Around Global Warming, the Latest Health Claims, and Other Scientific Controversies (FT Press Science)" by Sherry Seethaler, "For the Love of Physics: From the End of the Rainbow to the Edge of Time - A Journey Through the Wonders of Physics" by Walter Lewin, and "Science Under Siege: Defending Science, Exposing Pseudoscience" by Kendrick Frazier.

[Marsha · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was much more than I thought it would be. I expected that it would be basically a list of old wives tales with descriptions of why they were true and why anyone who believed them was really silly. You know, just the fluff book for me to play with. It really is so much more than that! There were some old wives tales, but the descriptions were not nearly as offhand negative as I kind of expected. What was more interesting when there were several things that were kind of questionable, or not even considered by me, and there are full descriptions of what is happening and why people may or may not think particular conclusions can be drawn. I learned a lot from it, despite the fact that I really didn't expect to. My one negative thing that I have to say is that a couple of topics going way too much into the depth! Seriously, if I were that interested in some of this, I would have studied it in college. Something more than just a once over instant is desirable, but seriously. I didn't go into g because I really don't need to know all of the details of DNA. Really. Just a few. I found myself skimming up to you of the overly excessive descriptions. But overall, it was really a pleasant surprise (although it really wasn't the easy read that I already knew all along anyway :-))

[Roger · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good book to dip into. Fifty eight myths are objectively examined to determine whether they carry some truth, starting with the toxic effects of chocolate on dogs (it is, depending on the weight of the dog and the amount and the type of the chocolate) and finishing with whether a spoon can keep champagne bubbly (it's not necessary - just keep it cold). The myths are a mixture of the trivial and the serious and whilst it refers to them as "popular myths" there are some I'd never heard of, such as that males can lactate (it can happen under some exceptional circumstances, such as if there is a pituitary tumour produces prolactin).

All of the information in the book has been previously published in Scientific American, in many cases in 2007 or 2008, but, whilst it doesn't say so, in at least one instance the information has been updated because an article on the necessity or otherwise for a big toe, originally published in 2007, makes reference to Oscar Pistorius competing in the 2012 Olympics.

Overall, this is an entertaining collection of articles which lays some ghosts to rest.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of columns gathered from Scientific American--mostly, I think, 2007 issues. This made a great book to have on my Kindle app for those times when time hung a little heavy but there wasn't quite enough of it to start a whole big novel or monograph--like a short subway or bus ride.

Here's the whole collection's money line:

"Moreover, the human body cannot eat without the head, ensuring a swift death from starvation should it survive the other ill effects of head loss."

Also picked up some useful vocab: "poikilothermic" = cold blooded. "suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)" = the mammalian brain's biological clock. "pycnometer" = an instrument used to measure displacement.

[Steve Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically a collection of articles from Scientific American that either backs up or refutes many of the facts we all know and often take for granted. It makes a nice little read to dip into every now and then

[Jo Golding · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable little read - some interesting myths about science thoughtfulyl covered in a few pages each.

[Dean · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick fun read for any science buff. I believe the ebook was a couple dollars online from B&N. If you like Myth Busters, give it a try.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun quick read, with explanations that can be understood by the general public.