Myth Busting

The flag of North Carolina includes the dates traditionally associated with the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and the 1776 Declaration of Independence.

The First Declaration of Independence Drafted in the 13 Colonies Was (Probably) a Hoax

Although some are still very invested in the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence, the scholarly community maintains it was never real

Stay back! A beached Portuguese man o’war

Urine Luck: Vinegar Is the Best Treatment for a Man O' War Sting

A new study suggests urine, sea water and lemon juice all do more harm than good on painful stings

The Ryuguji temple

How 13th-Century “Mermaid Bones” Came to Be Displayed in a Japanese Temple

According to legend, the ningyo washed ashore on the Japanese island of Kyushu in 1222

Think human dating is hard? Try being a panda.

Why Panda Sex Isn't Black and White

Reproductive experts weigh in on panda porn, panda Viagra and other biological myths

Fans cheer for Team Korea at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Athletes Rejoice: Study Shows Sex Before Competitions Is Probably Fine

There's no evidence that getting down and dirty before sporting events has negative effects—and it may have benefits

Remains discovered in the village of Lajia, allowing researchers to date the massive earthquake and flood on the Yellow River

Does a Massive Flood Confirm China's Creation Myth?

Evidence shows a cataclysmic flood occurred along the Yellow River 3,200 years ago

Excavations of a Dark Ages palace on the Tintagel Peninsula in Cornwall

A Palace Was Unearthed Where Legend Places King Arthur's Birthplace

Archaeologists at Tintagel uncover walls and artifacts from a Dark Ages complex likely used by local kings

Microbe Cells Don't Outnumber Your Own

For years people have cited the ten-to-one ratio, with microbes dominating human cells, but that number is probably wrong, according to recent research

Mysterious “Vampire Squirrel” Finally Caught on Camera

The newly discovered squirrel has the fluffiest tail of any animal, may also disembowel deer

A satirical 16th-century print showing a chastity belt

Medieval Chastity Belts Are a Myth

People probably chuckled just as much then about the idea as they do today

A mermaid as depicted in Sea Fables Explained by Henry Lee, published in 1883.

The Murky Tale of John Smith and the Mermaid

Alexander Dumas probably just made it up

'Presidents’ Day' Doesn't Actually Exist

Despite what furniture stores and car dealerships tell you, officially, we’re really just celebrating George Washington’s birthday

European immigrants arrive in America.

Ellis Island Isn’t to Blame for Your Family’s Name Change

A long-standing myth obscures the truth behind the Americanization of some European names

Even A/C Can't Keep Our Economies From Slacking Off on Hot Days

As global warming turns up the temperature on the planet, it's going to be tougher to get anything done

Scientists Figured Out How to Make People "Feel" an Otherworldly Presence

Feeling like a ghost or an angel is near is likely caused by a blip in how our brain processes self awareness and our sense of place in space

Humans Outnumber Rats in NYC

There's actually about one rat for every four people

Did this piece of debris come from Amelia Earhart's plane? Some think so; others disagree.

Aircraft Hunters Think They’ve Found a Scrap of Amelia Earhart’s Plane

This isn't the first time a seemingly game-changing piece of evidence about Earhart's disappearance has arisen, however

One Human Year Does Not Equal Seven Dog Years

No one knows where the dog years myth came from, but experts agree that it's simply not true

Not so mysterious: This is not a realistic depiction of a T. rex dinner.

The Ten Biggest Dinosaur Mysteries We Have Yet to Solve

Which one was the first, the biggest, the fuzziest? These puzzles continue to perplex paleontologists

Roman Forum

Ancient Walls Show That Rome Is Older Than Legend

Romulus and Remus were 100 years late to the party

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