5 urban myths that turned out to be true
One of the most interesting peculiarities we notice when we live with children is their tireless curiosity. They constantly ask us questions that range from wanting to know how electrical appliances work or why it rains, to deeper issues that perhaps we ourselves can not solve. However, once we grow up we lose that spirit of looking for the answer to each one of the questions that come to mind, either because they are considered absurd doubts or because we do not have time to investigate.
Nature is full of phenomena so incredible that they may seem like something out of a fantasy or a science fiction book. Although they seem urban myths, many of these phenomena have a scientific explanation. Perhaps the magical and fantasy element disappears, but it is no less fascinating to know these answers.
- Is it true that yawns are contagious?
yawn
Yawning is a semiautomatic reflex that originates in the brainstem and marks transitions in the state of the brain. It is not related to sleep, but to wakefulness. Yawning helps us cool the brain and keep us alert. Being social animals, many of our actions (consciously or unconsciously) are a reflection of what we see in our fellow human beings, and yawning is no exception. Think of the lions, when one of them yawns all his clan does at the same time, so that its form of transmission is no more than simple involuntary reflexes that demonstrate empathy and a state of socialization.
- Why do women feel colder than men?
cold woman
Women have a more even distribution of body fat than men, which means they have a higher body fat and muscle mass index, which protects them from the cold more efficiently. In addition, through physiological studies it has been observed that women retain more heat in the central organs, causing the extremities to lower their temperature and produce a cold sensation throughout the body.
- Is it true that there are stars that have celebrity names? Who names the bodies that are discovered in Space?
woman watching stars
The celestial bodies that are discovered are named after the scientist who discovered them. Generally, the stars are named with numeral systems; however, there are exceptions. For example, James Gibson baptized an asteroid with the name of his pet, Mr. Spock. In addition, there are institutions that sell the certificate of appointment of the stars. The International Star Registry is an institution that has almost 500,000 luminous points discovered to date, and allows you to buy the right to name any of them. An example of the celebrities who have baptized the firmament is Tom Cruise. The star is called Forever Tom and it was a gift from his ex-wife Nicole Kidman.
- Why do the stars blink?
lights
The stars do not blink as such, but because of the refraction that reaches your eyes they seem to suddenly turn off and on. When light travels from the star to the eye, it passes through the turbulent upper layer of the atmosphere. In it, air currents flow in all directions constantly changing temperatures and densities; therefore, they refract light in different ways. Your eyes register all these movements, and a twinkling or flickering effect is produced, as well as variations in the color you perceive of the stars.
- Is it true that frogs have rained?
rain umbrella
Although it might seem like a biblical myth or a fantasy from a fairy tale, it happens and more often than you imagine. The sky overflows endless objects that rush to the surface of the earth; not only frogs have rained, but also worms, crabs and even cattle. In 1950, a Japanese ship sank as a result of a cow that fell from the sky. But what is the cause of such madness? In most cases, it is the fault of a water tornado or tornado that has sucked the animals, hoisting them into the atmosphere and freezing them before returning them to the earth's surface along with the rain. In 1882, in the state of Iowa, a piece of hail was found containing two small frogs, which came out of the ice somewhat dizzy but alive. Therefore, yes, although it may sound absurd, it is possible that frogs rain.