9 shocking facts that will turn your world upside down

The world around us is amazing and diverse. And some things are so obvious that we are sincerely surprised when we learn about them completely inaccessible facts.

9 PHOTOS

1. Frankenstein is the name of a scientist, not a monster.

What we think: Frankenstein is a character in novels, films, and plays - a monster raised from the dead.

Reality: In the novel by Mary Shelley, Victor Frankenstein is a student who created a living being from non-living matter. The creature is the monster. However, he did not have a name in the original book.

2. Hypothermia is not what causes the common cold.

What we think: You will catch a cold if you are exposed to cold temperatures for too long.

Reality: What we call a “cold” is a viral infection. This means the common cold is caused by a virus, not the weather. Cold weather, however, can be beneficial for the virus, with low temperatures leading to a dramatic decrease in immunity, according to studies. But if the virus doesn't enter your body, you won't catch a cold, even in cold weather.

3. The expression "third world countries" has nothing to do with poverty and backwardness.

What we think: The term "third world" refers to poor developing countries.

Reality: after World War II, the world was divided into 3 large geopolitical blocs. The bloc of democracies in the American sphere of influence became known as the "First World"; The eastern bloc of the socialist states was the "second world". The rest of the countries that did not coincide with one of the two were considered the "third world".

4. Chameleons do not change color to blend in with their surroundings.

What we think: Chameleons change their color when in danger in order to merge with the surrounding objects, becoming invisible.

Reality: The change in skin color of this animal is caused by its emotional and physiological state. It is also an original way of communicating. Light and temperature also play a role in how chameleons look.

5. Deodorant and antiperspirant are not the same things.

We think: "Deodorant" and "antiperspirant" are synonymous. They act the same and have the same purpose.

Reality: Our sweat doesn't smell of its own. Sweat smells due to bacteria that live on our skin. Antiperspirants keep you sweaty, and deodorants only fight odor. A deodorant is classified as a cosmetic product, while an antiperspirant is considered a drug because it temporarily interferes with the function of the skin by suppressing sweat production.

6. Ducks cannot be fed with bread.

What we think: It's so nice to sit by the river on a beautiful sunny day and feed the ducks with bread crumbs.

Reality: This food is unhealthy and even dangerous for ducks. Birds love the taste of bread, but they have no nutritional value in it. They fill their stomachs with crumbs, leaving no room for anything really useful. This diet also causes wing deformation.

7. We all have the perfect 6 abs.

What we think: By doing ab exercises, I can get a perfect belly with 6 cubes.

Reality: We each have abs cubes. The problem is, they are hidden under a layer of fat. And you don't get rid of that fat by rolling - you need diet and cardio.

8. Small indentations on the F and J buttons help you find the optimal hand position.

What do we think: what are these notches on the F and J keys for? Perhaps to help blind people type?

Reality: When we type, our fingers cover the buttons A, S, D, and F (left hand) and J, K, and L (right hand). The combs serve to help you place your hands correctly without looking at the keyboard: F and J are the keys where your index fingers should be.

9. Most cars have an indicator showing which side the gas tank is on. What we think: if we rented a car, we do not always know which side the gas tank is on.

Reality: Most new cars have a small gas station symbol. There is an arrow next to the symbol that points to the side where the fuel cap is located.