Mental Floss

MISCONCEPTIONS

Leaving a phone to charge all day long? Probably best to avoid it.

Discover the truth behind some of the biggest smartphone battery myths, like whether charging your phone fully—or overnight—is actually as bad as some tech experts suggest.

Chris Wheatley




Our closest evolutionary cousin, the chimpanzee.

‘Survival of the fittest’ is Darwin 101. But did you know that Charles Darwin didn’t actually coin that phrase? Let’s explore some common myths and misconceptions about evolution.

Michele Debczak


Stenciled human hands in a cave near Rio Pinturas, Argentina, dating from the last ice age.

We break down some common myths about our early human ancestors—and what makes our species, ‘Homo sapiens,’ so different from them.

Kat Long


Those famous white statues weren’t originally white—and that’s just one myth about Ancient Greece we’re covering in the latest episode of Misconceptions.

Bethel Afful








Someone tell this architect that he isn't actually required to draw. / Hinterhaus Productions / Getty

Most people only work a handful of different jobs in their lifetime, which means they might get their knowledge of other careers from TV and movies. That opens the door to a lot of misconceptions about a lot of different professions.

Ellen Gutoskey, Jake Rossen
U.S. Capitol in Washington.

Do members of Congress get free health insurance? And do they all live in Washington, D.C.? We’re tackling those questions and more in the latest episode of Misconceptions.

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'OCD' and 'Type A' aren't synonyms.

Having an intrusive thought doesn’t mean you have OCD. Let’s break down some myths about obsessive compulsive disorder.

Kerry Wolfe


“Print is dead?!”

In the latest episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd is investigating some enduring myths about journalism, from its alleged bias to premature reports of its death.

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Black sunglasses not required.

From funeral homes only using hearses to transport bodies to having to wear black to a memorial service, we’re laying some common myths about funerals to rest in the latest episode of ‘Misconceptions.’

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Blue balls? Broken hymens? Popping your cherry? We’re covering all the topics you’ve always wondered about but were too embarrassed to ask.

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College isn't all about partying.

On this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd breaks down some higher-level myths. If your professor is 15 minutes late, are you really allowed to leave? How important is picking the right major in college?

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Who said disco sucks? A lot of people, apparently. / Image Source: McHugh via Getty

Were the '70s really the height of disco, punk, and the sexual revolution? Host Justin Dodd investigates in this episode of “Misconceptions."

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