Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

People Share Common 'Facts' That Are Actually Incorrect

Make us preferred on Google

Possessing an intriguing fact can be a trusty dusty ace in the hole when conversation wavers. A tidbit that manages to surprise while it caters to logical intuition is worth its weight in gold.

Many of them, however, despite being interesting, are complete nonsense and they came from God knows where.


This Reddit thread is stocked with the vigilantes of the fun fact. They've adopted the thankless, but important role of setting the record straight.

The result is a list of deflating revelations. But arguably, these corrections carry as much, if not more interest than the original *incorrect* facts themselves.

Ryrylx asked, "What's a common 'fact' that's actually incorrect?"

Bring a Shield and it's Safe and Sound

"It's not dangerous to wake a sleepwalker. They won't have a heart attack or be put into a coma. They'll just be confused and it won't be pleasant for them, that's it." -- calathea1

"And depending on what kind of dream they're in, they might hit you." -- Fantastic-Mrs-Fox

Gotta Cut Corners Somewhere

"The beverage used by Jim Jones to kill all of those people was not Kool-aid, it was another brand called 'Flavor-aid.' " -- FloralBison

"When you're making enough fruit-flavored beverage to serve a thousand people, the savings from using a generic brand can really add up." -- brberg

Better Odds, but Still Bad

"Gladiator games in ancient Rome were not 'two men go in, one comes out.'"

"The figure I've seen in most studies is a chance of 1:9 for a gladiator to die during a munus that he took part in."

"That's huge, of course... but still means that, in most cases, it wasn't a fight to the death."

-- slacker25

Work Smarter, Not Harder

"You most probably weren't the fastest sperm cell. The egg has an outer protective layer that takes several sperm to wear down before fertilization."

"Honestly, you were probably one of the slowest sperm cells who arrived too late to do any work but still won the race of life."

"Also, the egg actually has a number of chemical barriers that select sperm with certain attractive chemical markers. The egg actually chooses which packet of DNA makes it to fertilization."

-- TinCupTan

Don't Flatter Yourselves

"Humans eat 8 spiders a year in their sleep."

"Spiders generally like cool, dry places. The inside of your mouth is not an appealing place for them."

-- VanillaSkittlez

Brian Power--About Three AA Batteries

"'We only use 10% of our brainpower.'"

"You always use 12 watts. That is the total power of the brain." -- DjDisingenius

"More specifically, you use all of your brain, but use different parts at different times, rather than all at once."

"This is why you never hear doctors saying, 'Thank god, he got shot in the 90% of the brain that doesn't do anything.'" -- Kakyoins_Egg

WHAT.

"'Breakfast is the most important meal of the day...'"

"Kelloggs payed researchers to create studies confirming that statement and started using it as a slogan to sell more cereal."

-- ValentinerX

Standard Measurement Strikes Again

"Napoleon wasn't short, he was actually 5'7" which was considered average-to-tall height for the time."

"Apparently the only way we can surmise that the urban legend started that he was short was because of the difference between English and French Imperial units, which led to his height seeming small by British figures."

-- Mayfair_Heir

And How do you Account for the Lungs Hmmmm?

"That the blood in your body is blue until it hits oxygen." -- StrikingWeb3

"I got onto a debate about this last year and dropped the 'blood literally carry's oxygen through your body' and they shut up." -- onionswithrubber

Would Have Run Out of Places a LONG Time Ago

"It's commonly said that 'lightning never strikes twice in the same place. In fact, it does - and frequently.'" -- Back2Bach

"Otherwise lightening rods would not be a thing." -- otter_pickles

"Or the one guy that has about 7 lightning strikes in his medical history." -- redbetweenlines

Do you have something to confess to George? Text "Secrets" or "🤐" to +1 (310) 299-9390 to talk him about it.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Screenshots from @scrambled.megs3's TikTok
@scrambled.megs3/TikTok

TikToker Reveals Why She Hated Fridays The Most While She Was Married—And It's Devastating

The worst thing in a relationship isn't necessarily feeling hated; it can also be feeling like your partner is indifferent toward you.

This can come in a lot of forms, from conversations being shut down, to not speaking, to constantly making plans outside of the home that keep the couple separated as much as possible.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Rob Schmitt and Katie Zacharia
Newsmax

Katie Zacharia Just Tried To Blame 'The Media' For Her Ouster As Press Secretary—And Was Hit With An Instant Reality Check

Katie Zacharia, who lasted just five days as President Donald Trump's White House press secretary, was hit with an instant reality check after claiming in a Newsmax interview that "the media" is responsible for her ouster.

Zacharia opened her debut briefing earlier this month with eight minutes of remarks lauding the "energetic president." She also asserted that "attendance is at record highs" at his rallies before presenting favorable figures on wage growth, prescription drug costs, employment, and energy production.

Keep ReadingShow less
Noah Wyle attends the Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Sunset Soirée at Warner Bros. Studios.
Michael Tullberg/Getty Images

Noah Wyle Has Hilariously Relatable Reaction After Being Named 'Sexiest Man Alive'

Apparently, being named Sexiest Man Alive doesn't automatically mean believing you're the Sexiest Man Alive. Just ask Noah Wyle, who thought People magazine was pulling a prank.

With the competition still alive and breathing, we have a few questions of our own.

Keep ReadingShow less
Sophie Turner
Arnold Jerocki/ST-GERMAIN Elderflower Liqueur/Getty Images

Sophie Turner Just Stepped Out With Much Darker Hair—And Fans Barely Recognize Her

Sophie Turner stepped in front of the camera at 14 years old as Sansa Stark for Game of Thrones and has been a prominent figure ever since, well-known for her switch-ups between voluminous red and platinum blonde hair.

But now, allegedly in preparation for her role as Lara Croft in Amazon Prime's upcoming Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, a revival of the franchise best-known for Angelina Jolie's take on the part, Sophie Turner has embraced dark brunette hair for the first time.

Keep ReadingShow less
Dax Shepard; Justine Lupe
Michael Tullberg/Getty Images; Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty Images

'Succession' Star Reveals Her Husband Has Only Cooked 3 Meals For Her Ever—And Dax Shepard's Reaction Is Brutal

Every now and then someone will share an anecdote about their marriage or relationship and it just doesn't quite land as the funny anecdote it's intended to be. This is one of those times!

Actor Justine Lupe, best known as Willa on Succession, recently revealed that her husband, artist Tyson Mason, has only cooked for her three times in their entire marriage.

Keep ReadingShow less