Science Forums 2

[Jay-qu]

I had to refrain from calling this thread 'mythbusting' but that is essentially the idea

In day to day life I often here people happily sprout (regurgitate) interesting facts or statistics, without checking their validity first. When I hear one I know to be false I like to point it out (sometimes this can be quite the conversation killer if the story is been told to a group.. ).

Two of these common misconceptions come to mind, though there are many more.

1. Americans spent millions of dollars on developing a space pen, while the Russians simply took a pencil.

This one is so far off the mark in so many ways. Firstly NASA did send pencils into space but because of the danger of the tip snapping and getting lodged in an instrument coupled with the fact the pencil is quite a good combustion fuel, led them to seeking an alternate writing implement. It turns out a space pen was developed, but totally independent of any NASA funding. Finally it turns out ball point pens work in zero-g after all

2. Daddy long legs are the most venomous spiders, but because of their tiny fangs cant do any harm to humans.

Again this one is wrong on both fronts - The Brazilian Wandering spider is credited to been the worlds most venomous spider and daddy long legs can actually bite humans, but deliver a very very mild sting that leaves almost instantaneously.

So who else would like to help rid a bit of ignorance and bust a myth wide open? Feel free to share, I'll add some more as I come across them

J