Myth Busting | smithsonianmag.comhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/rss/tag/myth-busting/RSS feed for Myth BustingenWed, 21 Oct 2026 11:45:00 +0000Were Two Ancient Chinese Astronomers Beheaded for Failing to Predict an Eclipse in 2134 B.C.E.? The Story May Be a Myth, but It Underscores the Real Risks of Interpreting Celestial Eventshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/were-two-chinese-astronomers-were-beheaded-for-failing-to-predict-an-eclipse-2134-bce-the-story-may-be-a-myth-but-it-underscores-the-real-risks-of-interpreting-celestial-events-180989715/Experts say that an oft-circulated anecdote about two royal astronomers drunkenly failing to foresee an eclipse thousands of years ago contains hints of truthWed, 21 Oct 2026 11:45:00 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/were-two-chinese-astronomers-were-beheaded-for-failing-to-predict-an-eclipse-2134-bce-the-story-may-be-a-myth-but-it-underscores-the-real-risks-of-interpreting-celestial-events-180989715/Centuries Ago, an Architect Characterized the Parthenon’s Curves as a Clever Optical Illusion. Now, a Mathematician Begs to Differhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/centuries-ago-an-architect-characterized-the-parthenons-curves-as-a-clever-optical-illusion-now-a-mathematician-begs-to-differ-180989520/In the first century B.C.E., Vitruvius wrote that the Acropolis’ largest temple was horizontally bowed so that it didn't seem to sag, and that explanation persisted for millennia. New research suggests a different reasonFri, 18 Sep 2026 17:11:29 +0000https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/centuries-ago-an-architect-characterized-the-parthenons-curves-as-a-clever-optical-illusion-now-a-mathematician-begs-to-differ-180989520/