Written by We’re now on part 4 in our popular misconception series. If you haven’t read the other parts yet and want to catch up, you can read parts 1, 2, and 3 on KidzNet.
I have gathered some of the most popular myths and misconceptions again. And without further ado, we’ll unpack them one by one, so read on to uncover the truth behind them.
Peanuts are Nuts
Remember the popular food misconception I shared with you in my Five Popular Misconceptions: Part 1, that bananas are actually berries?
Well, I will drop another truth bomb with you.
Did you know that peanuts are not nuts?
Peanuts are actually legumes.
Totally nutty, right? (pun intended)
Peanuts, botanically speaking, are legumes or plants that produce fruit or many seeds that are encased in pods. They are edible seeds that belong to the Leguminosae family, along with peas, soybeans, lentils, and other legumes.
A true nut, on the other hand, is a dry fruit with a single seed inside enclosed in a hard shell and has a protective husk. Examples of botanical nuts are hazelnuts, acorns, and chestnuts.
Additional trivia:
Almonds, cashews, pistachios, and walnuts are not true nuts either! They’re classified as drupes, which are fleshy fruits with a hard shell covering a seed inside.
Dairy Milk is Good for Cats
It’s a popular misconception that your pet cat needs to drink milk and that it’s okay to give them dairy milk.
In reality, dairy milk (especially cow’s milk) is unhealthy for cats to drink, and vets have already debunked this popular myth.
The majority of cats are lactose-intolerant, meaning they can’t fully digest lactose or the sugar commonly found in milk or milk products. It is because they lack lactase or the enzyme that enables them to digest lactose.
If given dairy milk or cow’s milk, cats can suffer from problems like upset stomach or severe diarrhea, and can actually have serious health issues. In some cases it can even be fatal to them.
Coffee Comes from Beans
If you’re a fan of coffee, you probably believe that coffee comes from coffee beans. But have you ever stopped and wondered for a moment if this concept is a fact?
Contrary to popular belief, coffee doesn’t come from beans. The coffee beans we see and commonly refer to aren’t technically beans. They are actually seeds inside the coffee cherries, which are fruits or berries produced by the coffee plant.
These coffee cherries grow in the branches of coffee plants in different bunches and sizes like grapes. Once they are ripe and ready for picking, they will turn from green to red.
After harvesting, the coffee cherries undergo a process using a pulping machine that separates the coffee cherries’ skins and pulp from the seed.
Cats and Dogs are Colorblind
Many people believe that cats and dogs are colorblind and that they can only see in black and white, but this is entirely a myth.
In reality, cats and dogs can see colors, but they’re only limited when compared to us humans.
Cats and dogs are dichromates, meaning they only have two cones or color sensing cells. They just have blue and green cones and can only see in shades and combinations of yellow-green and blue. Colors just look different to them compared to us.
We Only Use 10 Percent of Our Brains
It has always been a popular belief that we only use 10% of our brains, but did you know that this is not true?
In reality, we use all of our brains, and the majority of the parts of our brain are always active.
Neurologists have debunked the “10% brain use myth” using brain scans and other any similar brain imaging techniques, which measures and shows our brain activity while performing various tasks.
Studies have shown that we use most of our brains even while performing simple actions or tasks. Almost all of our brains are also active when we are sleeping, talking, resting, or listening to music.
Moreover, studies have shown that parts of the brain that are unused are usually those destroyed by disease or brain damage.
