Thanks, Wired Magazine, for clearing up all these common myths. And for streamlining the process by eliminating any kind of supporting evidence or facts. I hate how people are always trying to explain things to me, I mean isn't there some way I can just blindly believe whatever some un-credentialed person writes and puts in the internets? I mean, wow, I've wasted so many hours watching Myth Busters with all their tests, experiments and science.
Quicksand- You won't sink in over your head because 1) quicksand usually isn't that deep and 2) quicksand is more dense than a human body, so you'll float. That's not to say that quicksand isn't deadly. Exposure, starvation and rising water are all dangers.
Youtube- mythbusters: quicksand
Eye Strain - No, the emissions from TVs aren't really going to screw you up any more, and eye strain probably isn't the cause of physical degradation. But its still something to be avoided, unless you enjoy feeling like crap for no articular reason. But maybe your mom was worried about the vacuum tubes imploding and blinding you with glass shards.
Coriolis Effect - While drains and toilets are a mis-attribution of the Coriolis Effect because of their small scale, there are other mainstream examples of the principle these fabrications try to demonstrate. You know, like air travel, artillery, tornadoes, or Foucault's pendulum.
Lightning Rod - No, lightning probably didn't strike Franklin, but more interestingly he only undertook the experiment because he was impatient in this quest to test his lightning rod. Like a lot of great men he chose not to patent this invention.
Mythbusters: Franklin's kite
Terminal Velocity - Pennies don't have enough mass to get the velocity needed to kill someone. I believe Jamie and Adam shot each other with pennies at higher than terminal velocity and didn't even break skin.
Mythbusters: Penny Drop
Digestion - Another wives' tale, no one has ever died from swimming after eating. But hey, mom was always threatening disobedience with death, right. But as usual she's just looking out for your best interests. When you've finished eating blood rushes to your stomach to aid in digestion; but when you're exercising your muscles need blood. Its debatable but don't you think you'd feel better with your organs not competing for resources? Or maybe mom just wanted to spend a little more time with you. You selfish little piece of...
Snopes: Eating and Swimming
Cow Tipping - There are lots of variables to this phenomenon, but most investigators agree that cow tipping isn't physically possible as its usually described. A Canadian university study found the force needed to move a cow, short duration in which to apply it, and biology of human muscles make this task calculably impossible for one person. This doesn't discount the fact that cow tipping is attempted and hilarious. In fact, it probably wouldn't be so amusing if it worked.
Times Online: Cow-tipping Myth
Dark Side of The Moon - The Dark Side of The Moon is a Pink Floyd Album with virtually no other references to the Earth's Moon. The far side of the moon is something though, which is probably where the confusion comes from. The Moon's rotation makes one side permanently face us as the body revolves around the Earth. This phenomenon means that the moon does not face the sun with a constant side, and it does not have a permanent lunographic dark side. There is always a dark side though, the one not facing the sun.
Chewing Gum - Nope, chewing gum isn't digested because its not food. It just tastes that way. Its designed with polymers to resist digestion so that you can chew it for longer than food. So maybe its an adage about only eating food. The same way you're not supposed to eat quarters, but still manage to eliminate them if one slips by. Or perhaps its an estimation of how long stomach acid would take to break down rubber if it stuck around long enough.
Snopes: Eating Gum
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