10 Popular Facts People Still Believe Today

Think you’ve got the world all figured out? Well, think again, because half the “facts” you’ve been learning since primary school are about as legit as a cow flying in the air. Camels carrying water in their humps? Total garbage. Breakfast being the be-all and end-all of your day? Not so much. Basically, we’ve all been fooled by stuff that sounds smart but falls apart faster than a one ringgit pasar malam (night market in Malaysia) T-shirt.

It's bonkers how these so-called facts always keep popping up in our day-to day lives. Your grandma drops them over dinner, teacher toss them around like it's their slogan and even by that one friend who swears they know everything because they “read it online.” And after hearing them so often, it’s easy to accept them as fact without a second thought.

In this post, i am going to debunk 10 popular “facts” people still believe today. Some will make you crack up, others will make you groan, and, you might even have the urge to DM your secondary school science teacher say, “Oops, my bad.”

Ready? Let’s bust these myths one by one.

1. Camels Store Water in Their Humps

For some reason, camels got stuck with the reputation of being walking water tanks. People imagine their humps sloshing around like giant water balloons. Newsflash: camel humps don’t hold water, they actually store fat. That lumpy back bump is basically a built-in energy reserve, not a desert hydration system. The fat allows camels to survive long periods without food, while their real water-saving ability comes from how efficiently their bodies squeeze every drop of water they drink.

So where did this rumor come from? Probably because camels can survive long stretches without a sip of water and then down alcohol like  typical 20s in a night club—finishing a whole bottle in one go, no problem. Watch that happen once and yeah, suddenly the “hump = water tank” thing sounds right. In reality, the secret lies in their blood cells, body temperature control, and fat reserves, which allow them to handle the brutal desert heat.

2. Mice Like Cheese

Tom & Jerry totally lied to us about mice and cheese. Thanks to those cartoons, we all grew up picturing every mouse in history are drooling over a piece of cheddar, like it’s some sort of rodent holy grail. On the contrary, most cheeses have strong odors that mice actively avoid. Cheese usually reeks to them. What do they actually want? Sugar and carbs. We’re talking grains, fruit, a smear of peanut butter—basically, the same stuff that disappears from your kitchen at 3 a.m.

So why do we still believe this "cheesy" nonsense? Back in the old days, cheese was one of the few foods stored out in the open, making it an easy reach for hungry rodents. That image held on, and later cartoons made it iconic. Fast-forward to today, and your nosy neighbour is still baiting traps with cheddar like it’s some kind of 5-star buffet for mice.

Here’s the real tip: ditch the cheese, opt for peanut butter instead, and watch your mouse trap actually 'trap' Sorry, Jerry, looks like you have been acting all these years for the wrong treat.

3. Peeing on a Jellyfish Sting Actually Helps

Alright, let’s set the record straight: if you’ve ever watched too many survival shows or taken "useful" tips from your weird uncle at the reunion dinner, you’ve probably heard that classic phrase—“Just pee on the jellyfish sting and you will be alright.” Yeah, sure, because nothing screams “medical emergency” like public urination. 

Urine doesn’t neutralize the venom, and in some cases, it can actually make the sting worse by triggering more of those nasty stingers to fire. So if you were planning on asking your beach buddy for a 'pee shower', you might want to reconsider.

Here’s what you actually wanna do: get some vinegar or salt water and rinse that sting. Then, use something (not your bare hands) to carefully remove the tentacles.

Vinegar helps neutralize the venom, while fresh water or urine? That's just asking for more trouble. So next time you’re at the beach and someone suggests the pee solution, feel free to laugh it off. Your dignity (and your skin) will thank you.

4. Skipping Breakfast is Bad

I've been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as if skipping it automatically puts you to poor health, bad mood or flopping at your first date. Despite skipping breakfast for quite a long time, I have yet to see any negative effects on my body and mind.

Skipping breakfast isn’t harmful at all. In fact, many people practice intermittent fasting or simply don’t feel hungry in the morning, and they do just fine. The “breakfast is essential” mantra actually gained popularity thanks to some clever 20th-century marketing by cereal companies — not because of proven science.

At the end of the day, what actually matters is the overall quality of your diet, not whether you stuff down 5 boiled eggs at sunrise. If you’re hungry in the morning, eat. If not, it’s totally fine to wait until later in the day. Your brain isn’t gonna short-circuit and your metabolism won’t just tap out because you skipped some hash browns. Relax.

5. Fruit Juice is Healthy

Oh shoot, fruit juice really pulled off the ultimate con job, huh? Everyone’s out there chugging orange juice thinking they’re basically drinking liquid health. But it’s kinda just sugar water with a fancy label. Seriously, once you squeeze the juice outta fruit, you’re tossing all that good fiber in the trash and keeping the sweet and "dopamine" stuff. Your blood sugar? Shooting up faster than grocery and crypto prices.

Look, I get it. Saying you had “a glass of freshly prepared orange juice” for breakfast sounds way more virtuous than admitting you grabbed a Coke. Newsflash: Nutritionally, there’s not a big difference. Yeah, that kinda sucks ass.

Not saying you should blacklist fruit juices altogether; it just means to have them in moderation. Whole fruits give you vitamins, minerals, and fiber that keep you content, while juice mostly gives you a sugar rush and the illusion of "I am healthy". If you really want to drink your fruits, smoothies (with the fiber blended in) are a much smarter choice.

6. Goldfish Have a 3-Second Memory

It's almost tragic that goldfish have been the go-to target of bad memory jokes for years. Somewhere along the way, people started roasting these little swimmers could only remember things for three seconds. On the contrary, goldfish are way sharper than we think. 

Research shows they can remember things for weeks, even months. I mean, they can spot colors, shapes, and yeah, they totally know you’re the weirdo busting out dance moves when you think nobody’s watching. Sorry, your goldfish saw everything.

So where did the “goldfish are clueless” BS come from? Maybe it’s because they don’t wag their tails or purr or whatever. They just kinda vibe in their tank. But don’t let that blank stare fool you—these fish can learn tricks, solve mazes, and they’ll straight-up swim to the top when it’s chow time. Goldfish: secretly plotting and remembering more than your last three exes combined.

7. Being Cold Will Make You Sick

How many times have I heard mother yell to their kids, “Put on a jacket, or you’ll catch a cold”? It’s like a universal law of parenting or something. Makes sense on the surface, right? Except cold weather isn’t actually out here handing out viruses like candies. You could be out in the freezing rain, shivering, and still be totally fine—unless some sneaky virus decides to tag along.

What really happens in colder months or rainy season is that everyone’s packed inside, windows sealed tight, breathing the same air. That’s a germ’s dream come true, not the chilly wind. But hey, the myth sticks around because, let’s be real, everyone and their grandma seems to get sick when it’s cold. Feels like cause and effect, but nope.

If you’re sniffling after being out in the cold, that’s just your nose throwing a bit of a tantrum—you know, like a child crying when her mommy refuses to buy her ice cream. So yeah, pile on the scarves if you want to feel comfortable, but don’t expect them to be some unbreakable shield. If you want to stay healthy, your best play is still good hygiene, not blaming the winter air.

8. Fat in Your Diet Becomes Your Body Fat

Fat’s been treated like main villain for ages, kinda like how everyone panicked when Thanos destroyed The Avengers. Remember those “low-fat” stickers slapped on everything? People started eyeing butter like it was radioactive waste. But honestly? Fat alone isn’t the main culprit here. The whole “eat fat, get fat” thing is way oversimplified. What actually affects the numbers on the weighing scale is the type food you eat and how long you go without eating. 

And here’s the kicker: your body actually needs fat—the good stuff, anyway. We’re talking avocados, nuts, that fancy sunflower oil you bought to impress your friend. Fats maintain a homeostatic homorne balance, power up your brain, and give you plenty of energy so you don’t crash in the middle of a client meeting.

So why’d fat get the bad rap? Well, it’s super calorie-dense—more than twice as much per gram as carbs or protein. People freaked out. But that doesn’t mean you have to stop eating all fats. In fact, eating the right ones can make you feel satisfied and not raid the fridge every hour. Stop thinking about banning fat and think balance instead. Your body literally needs fat to work right. Just maybe skip the deep-fried everything—your arteries will thank you in your 50s.

9. Sharks Can Smell a Drop of Blood From Miles Away

Now let's talk about sharks. Gosh, people act like they’re swimming horror movie villains just waiting for a whiff of blood. That whole myth about a single drop turning the ocean into a shark fest? Yeah, that’s pure Hollywood nonsense. Sure, sharks have a killer sense of smell (pun not intended, but I’m not sorry), but it’s not like they’re sniffing you out across the ocean. So unless you’re bleeding in the shark’s territory, you’re not instantly on their dinner radar.

Blame it on movies like The Meg or whatever new shark flick is out. Those things have people convinced sharks are just lurking out there, waiting for someone to get a paper cut. But most of the time, they’re way more interested in fish than checking out what’s on the human menu. They're hunters, not blood-sniffing detectives with magical noses. So unless you’re basically bleeding right in their face, you’re not suddenly starring in your own survival thriller. Relax, go for a swim—just maybe skip the open wound part.  

10. Waking Up a Sleepwalker is Dangerous

Movies, man—they love to dial up the drama. You’d think waking up a sleepwalker would make them explode or something, the way Hollywood tells it. Truth? It’s not half that wild. Sure, shake ‘em awake and they’ll probably stare at you like you’re a three-headed giraffe, maybe get a little grumpy or freaked out, but they’re not gonna keel over from shock. Nobody’s dying here.

Honestly, the sketchiest part is what they’re doing while they’re still half-zonked. I mean, nobody wants to find Uncle Tan halfway out the window or making a sandwich with a chef’s knife at 3 a.m. That’s where things can get dicey—stairs, sharp stuff, or, God forbid, sleep-driving (which, yes, actually happens).

If you catch a sleepwalker mid-stumble, don’t go angry sergeant on them. Just gently herd them back to bed, like you’re guiding your tipsy friend away from karaoke disaster. Quiet, chill, and back under the covers—no need for a dramatic scene. So if you spot someone walking around in their PJs in the middle of the night, don’t freak out. Just nudge them in the right direction and maybe snap a photo for tomorrow's laugh.

Wrapping Up

Alright, we just went through 10 of the wildest myths people keep falling for—odds are, you’ve probably repeated a couple without even realizing it. Hey, I have been there too. Everybody gets caught up in these nonsense sometimes. 

But now you know the truth and ready to dispel the misconception. So if you enjoyed this myth-busting session, spread the word—tell your friends, or your grandma, or even that guy at work who insists on sharing “fun facts.” You might just stop someone from whipping out the ol’ jellyfish sting pee cure.