Classic Monsters And Their Origins—part 2of2

With Halloween this month, what better topic for my October blogs starts with scary monsters,  a 2-parter featuring classic monsters. On last week's blog, we looked at the first 7 of the list of 15 monsters. This week we'll take a look at the remaining 8.

8. Ghoul

Another undead, flesh-eating monster is the ghoul, but the ghoul is not a picky eater. They will eat the living or the dead. They look similar to their original human form but much more demonic. A ghoul's favorite place to be is a graveyard—it's like their own personal underground buffet. Since they will attempt lure the living in to try and feast on them, watch your step if you're ever in a graveyard! According to ancient Arabic lore, the curse of the ghoul is the result brought about on a human that has eaten flesh— living or dead. Some lore states that ghouls can shapeshift and will appear as the last thing they ate. For protection from a ghoul, the best thing to do is to decapitate them.

9. Goblin

The goblin dates back to the Middle Ages and is a mischievous creature that is usually small and often described as very gross. Thought to be the counterpart to fairies, goblins have similar magical abilities. Some lore even states that they can shapeshift. There are many different types of goblins, mostly popular in Scottish, Irish, and English folklore. Goblin is a term used to describe any sort of evil or mischievous creature. In some legends, goblins are born from spores  germinated underground. Others suggest they reproduce in a manner similar to humans. Goblins live in temperate climates, either in fields or preferably small caverns or caves. They are known to attach themselves to a human's home and cause a similar disturbance to poltergeists.

10. The Headless Horseman

The most popular Headless Horseman legend is from 1776 and 1820 America. In 1776, a trooper in the Battle of the White Plains was decapitated by a cannonball and his fellow soldiers carried his body away while leaving his head on the battlefield. In 1820 author Washington Irving wrote The Legend of Sleepy Hollow based on that incident. This is the version of the story that is widely popular today. The legends state that the ghost of the Headless Horseman rises from his grave in Sleepy Hollow every night in search of his head. If he is unable to find his own, any head will do. Until he is successful, he uses a menacingly lit jack-o-lantern in place of his missing head—the jack-o-lantern being one of the symbols associated with Halloween.

11. Troll

Trolls originated in Norse mythology. They are built similar to humans but are much stronger and generally much uglier. In Nordic folklore, trolls simply live in isolation in the mountains, caves, or rocky areas. They live together as families and are not helpful to humans. In Scandinavian folklore, trolls are much more troublesome. These trolls can either appear to be the same as humans and simply live in isolation (much like Norse trolls), or be extremely old and strong but equally dumb and dim-witted. These strong and dumb trolls are man-eaters who turn to stone in the sunlight.

12. Swamp Monster

A swamp monster is a creature that lives and haunts a body of water, primarily swamp or marshlands. They resemble humans but have traits of aquatic animals such as webbed hands and feet, gills and large yellow eyes. In Cajun folklore, swamp monsters are called the rougarou. This creature is thought to have the body of a human, but the head of either a wolf or a dog and wanders the swamps of Louisiana looking for misbehaving children to eat. Whoever kills a rougarou could become infected with the curse if they were exposed to the monster's blood. For this reason, fire would actually be the best defense.

13. Ghost

A ghost is the spirit of a once-living being that was left behind trapped in the realm of the living. Ghosts resemble their once physical form but are transparent and do not adhere to the laws of physics in the same way that humans do—adding to their spooky factor. They can float through solid objects and walls at will. Many believe that the reason ghosts choose a path that goes through walls instead of around them is that the walls they go through did not exist while they were alive. Most ghosts haunt places that they were familiar with, even if that structure has been changed. There are ghosts that don't mean any harm and simply make their presence known by continuing their once-daily activities, then there are vengeful ghosts. Many stories say that the reason the spirit does not follow the now-deceased being is that it still has business to finish on this side of life. Some of the first mentions of ghosts date back to the 16^th century. Salt and iron can allegedly offer protection from these ghosts, but the way to rid their spirit from this world is to find their bodily remains, salt them, and burn them.

14. Poltergeist

A poltergeist is literally a noisy ghost. It translates from the German poltern which means to make noise or to rumble and geist which means ghost or spirit. Their appearance is much like a ghost although poltergeists can at times be invisible. Poltergeists are said to haunt a specific person and not a place, which is different from regular ghosts. Stories of poltergeists gained popularity around the 17th century and continue today. They cause disturbances by throwing objects, moving furniture, or making any number of loud noises.

15. Aliens

Aliens, also known as extraterrestrials, refer to any being that did not originate on Earth. The first mention of aliens in modern science fiction was in the 1950s when the flying saucer phenomenon gained popularity because of the incident in Roswell, New Mexico, creating a plethora of outer space invader movies. Aliens can range in appearance from tall, skinny humanoid-like creatures with pointed faces and large eyes to giant squid monsters. The theory that we are not the only lifeform in the universe has been around for a very long time. Mentions of aliens and UFOs can be dated back as early as the 4th century in China. The motivation of aliens is unclear. There are plenty of invasion stories where aliens will try and take over whatever planet they see fit, kill off its inhabitants, and occupy that planet for themselves. It is also theorized that they are peaceful beings and simply wish to coexist with others in the universe. 

In defiance of the concept that modern science fiction came about in the 1950s, we need to mention two writers responsible for popularizing modern science fiction in the late 1800s: H. G. Wells and Jules Verne. Both men were referred to as the father of science fiction, with Verne often called the father of modern science fiction due to his scientifically grounded works. H. G. Wells gave us THE TIME MACHINE 1895, THE ISLAND OF DR. MOREAU 1896, THE INVISIBLE MAN 1897, WAR OF THE WORLDS 1898. Jules Verne gave us JOURNEY TO THE CENTER OF THE EARTH 1864,  20,000 LEAGUES UNDER THE SEA 1870, and AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS 1873.

Classic Monsters and Their Origins—part 1 of 2

Halloween is almost here! And nothing says Halloween quite like creepy, scary monsters. Many of the traditions surrounding Halloween that have been passed down through the years involve some of the most gruesome monsters and creatures. Ghosts, goblins, ghouls and witches are just some of those beings that are more active around the time of Halloween.

Stories and legends of different types of monsters date back to some of the earliest known recorded times in history. These stories range from ancient China and Greece to more modern times, some as recent of the 1950s. There is one thing for certain. These legends aren't going to stop being repeated any time soon.

Werewolves, mummies, vampires and witches are some of the first things that come to mind when anyone mentions Halloween. These monsters are widely known as the classics for Halloween, but where did they originate?

I have a list of 15 monsters. We'll look at 7 of them this week and the remaining 8 next week.

1. Vampire

There are stories of vampire-like creatures from as early as ancient Greece. This centuries-old monster is said to be undead, meaning they are animated and act similar to a living human. They survive by draining the living of their bodily fluid, primarily blood, by way of biting their victims with sharp fangs. Sunlight will burn a vampire's skin, so they are active mostly at night. They can occasionally be active during the day if the weather permits. This is why storms, mist and cloudy days contain a sense of foreboding. According to folklore, a vampire's downfalls are crosses, silver, and garlic. They can also be extinguished by stabbing them in the heart with a wooden stake. To be safe, it would work best to decapitate them.

2. Zombie

Stories of zombies date back to 17th-century Haiti. Zombies are said to be the result of voodoo. A voodoo practitioner would utilize a mixture of herbs, bones, shells and other animal parts as part of their practice. This mixture could cause symptoms such as confusion, difficulty walking, trouble with breathing, and sometimes even resulting in a coma for the victim. These instances resulting in a coma seem to be the basis for believing that a zombie is raised from the dead. These undead corpse monsters are known for feeding on human flesh (focusing mostly on brains).

3. Mummy

Mummification began in ancient Egypt. It was a special method for preserving the body used in burial rituals. References to the mummy as an undead monster gained popularity after King Tut's tomb was found in 1922. This resulted in many classic horror films such as the 1932 Boris Karloff movie, The Mummy. Similar to zombies, mummies are reanimated corpses. The main objective of the mummy is to get revenge. Mummies, especially royalty, were buried with riches that lured treasure hunters. As movies have shown us, many of those who looted tombs ended up with much more than they bargained for. A mummy's greatest weakness is fire. If a fire can't be produced easily, decapitation is an option for protection.

4. Werewolf

Werewolves are cursed humans who turn into large, strong wolf-like monsters during each full moon. The curse is the result of being bitten by a werewolf while it's in its monster form. Some legends say the monster looks like a human/wolf hybrid while others say they are all wolf. While they're in this wolf state, their hunger for human flesh is unquenchable. One of the first mentions of the werewolf is in the world's oldest known Western prose, the epic poem Gilgamesh, written approximately 1400 BCE. Another early mention of werewolves is from Greek mythology and the legend of Lycaon. Werewolves are also mentioned in early Nordic legends. Werewolves are exceptionally strong beasts, their weakness is silver. They can still be harmed in many of the same ways that humans can, but silver will do the job much more efficiently.

5. Frankenstein's Monster

English author Mary Shelley published Frankenstein in 1818. The novel is about Victor Frankenstein, an alchemist/scientist…and madman. He seeks to create the perfect being. He is successful in building a sentient humanoid creature by way of connecting many different human parts that he scavenged from graveyards. Rather than pleasing him, what he created frightens him to the point of abandoning that creation. What is left behind is a scared but hideous monster that no one wants anything to do with. Frankenstein's monster is strong but can be annihilated in much the same ways as a normal human.

6. The Grim Reaper

The idea of the Grim Reaper originated in 14^th-century Europe following the black plague. The Grim Reaper is often thought to literally be death itself. However, that's not quite so. After passing over into the realm of the dead, the Grim Reaper is the being that guides those into the afterlife. While its only duty is to gather departed souls to make sure they go to the correct place, the Grim Reaper is an intimidating creature. There are stories of seeing the reaper before death has occurred. Speculation suggests that the Grim Reaper resembles the skeleton of a human covered in a cloak and carrying a scythe.

7. Witch

Witches are traditionally women who harness the power of magic. Largely thought to be sinister, many women were accused of witchcraft in the Salem Witch Trials in 1692-1693 in Massachusetts and hanged (in France witches were burned at the stake, in England they were hanged. Since those who settled in what is now Massachusetts came to the new world from England, they were hanged rather than burned). While many of the powers that witches possess are capable of harm and cursing another being, there are also many harmless practices. The spooky factor of witches lies in the unknown. Magic can be awe-inspiring but equally frightening, especially if a witch chooses to use dark magic. Originally, witches were depicted as nasty, hook-nosed old women who use gross potions and spells to carry out their evil deeds. In more recent times, witches are simply women who possess the ability to harness magic, can be any age and look as normal and beautiful as any other woman.

Check back next week for a look at the remaining 8 monsters on the list of 15.

America's 10 Most Dangerous Bodies Of Water

There's no question that America has many beautiful lakes, rivers, and coastlines. But it's also a fact that an average of 4,000 drownings occur annually in the US, many within these same beautiful waters. Places that appear idyllic can possess an undercurrent of danger that often goes unnoticed.

Following is a list of 10 of the most hazardous waters in the United States.

1. Lake Michigan

Lake Michigan is a captivating body of water that also has sudden and vigorous rip currents, which sadly have led to a series of tragic drowning deaths every year. From 2010 to 2016, Lake Michigan emerged as the site of more drownings and rescue operations than any of the other Great Lakes. The tranquil picture that the lake often presents is in stark contrast with its dangerous undercurrents.

2. Colorado River

While the Colorado River boasts breathtaking beauty, all is not as calm as it looks. The dangerous rapids and currents found there are not to be underestimated; even experienced swimmers and boaters have struggled and the area has seen numerous deaths. Water temperatures can be extremely cold. Underwater hazards such as trees and other debris can pop up out of nowhere, leaving dangerous conditions for even expert-level whitewater rafters. And remember, this is the river whose forces carved the massive Grand Canyon.

3. Potomac River — Great Falls area

The Great Falls area of the Potomac River displays dazzling beauty with water flowing over the steep, jagged rocks. But it's an area that harbors concealed water danger. Treacherous undercurrents, dangerous rocks, and rapids have resulted in several accidents. Swimming is strictly prohibited in this area and if the warnings are ignored, rescue is extremely difficult.

4. Hanakapiai Beach

Hanakapiai Beach is one of many breathtaking beach areas in Hawaii. It's a beautiful place to hike, but the waters command the utmost respect. The hidden currents are incredibly strong—and dangerous. The reason? There are no offshore reefs in this area to provide a barrier against water swells. The beach may look peaceful, but the waters can pull someone far away from shore and into danger in an instant, and there are no lifeguards.

5. Lake Tahoe

Straddling the border of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is an inviting area of crystal-clear waters, an enticement to anyone. The surface may look tranquil, but the strong currents and sudden depths require caution. The maximum water depth is 1,645 feet (501 meters) with unexpected drop-offs that can startle even the most experienced swimmers. Adding to the complexity, the cold water temperatures pose challenges, potentially catching those off guard who dare to take the plunge. The area has seen numerous drownings over the years.

6. Yukon River

Amid the rugged splendor of Alaska's wilderness, its rivers reveal a landscape of both beauty and challenges. Cold water temperatures, swift currents, and floating debris create a dangerous environment, demanding extreme care from both boaters and swimmers. One prime example is the Yukon River, which snakes its way through Alaska. It's renowned for its icy waters, potent currents, and difficult conditions that increase the risk of accidents, leading to boater deaths.

7. Delaware River

The Delaware River has a level of danger that has played a role in numerous boating and swimming accidents over the years. Its deceptively strong undercurrents can lead to trouble if you haven't taken proper precautions. Always wear a life jacket in the waters, don't overestimate your swimming ability, and be aware of changing water conditions.

8. San Francisco Bay

San Francisco Bay might look inviting, but don't be fooled by its appearance. This picturesque body of water comes with its fair share of challenges, including chilly temperatures, robust rip currents, and gusty winds. The bay has a history of accidents and even fatalities involving swimmers and boaters. There's also the potential added danger of Great White Sharks lurking in the waters. These are some of the reasons Alcatraz, located in San Francisco Bay and a federal prison as early as the Civil Way, was considered escape proof. Alcatraz, now part of the National Park system, is no longer a prison.

9. Lake Lanier

Lake Lanier in Georgia might seem like a slice of paradise, but there's more than meets the eye. Concealed obstacles, unpredictable currents, and a steady crowd create a challenging scene for swimmers and boaters. And the outcome of these challenges is that Lake Lanier has witnessed numerous unfortunate incidents, including fatalities and accidents. The manmade lake was formed over an old cemetery, leading to spooky stories and an air of mystery surrounding the waters.

10. New River, West Virginia

West Virginia's New River is a waterway that's far from ordinary. The currents and volume of flowing water should not be underestimated. This river has a reputation for being unpredictable, especially if you aren't familiar with the hidden dangers it holds. The river's water level can change daily, making what was once safe an entirely different situation the next day. In addition,  there are deep holes, rocky bottoms, and swift currents. 

28 Incorrect 'Facts' You May Have Learned In School—part 2 of 2

Last week I shared 14 of the 28 Incorrect Facts with you in part 1 of my 2-part blog. This week I'm sharing the other 14. Like many myths, these stories often have their roots planted in truth, it just isn't what you learned in school.

MYTH: Bats are blind

If this were true, would Bruce Wayne really model his superhero identity of Batman after an animal that can't see? You've probably heard someone use the phrase blind as a bat to describe a person. Contrary to this widespread belief, bats are not blind. Large bats are said to see three times better than humans. In addition to a normal sense of sight, bats rely on a technique at night known as echolocation. In low-light environments, as the term echolocation suggests, they are able to locate the source of sounds based on echoes that are produced. This is particularly helpful when trying to find prey and other food sources.

MYTH: Tilting your head back will stop a nosebleed

As a child, you might have been taught to tilt your head back in order to stop a nosebleed. Doctors agree this is not the solution. In the case of a nosebleed, you should tilt your head forward and pinch right below the bridge of your nose to stop the flow of blood rushing out of your nostrils. Tilting your head back might actually lead to more damage. It can cause blood to enter your throat which leads to your stomach and further unpleasant complications.

MYTH: When you swallow gum, it stays in your body for seven years

Gum will stay in your body for some time, but nowhere near seven years. Unlike most food, gum can't be broken down by the body's enzymes and acids. Therefore, that piece of gum goes straight through your system without being dissolved or broken into smaller pieces, and is later expelled. Even though swallowing a wad of gum accidentally or on purpose won't cause it to stay with you for a long period of time, it's probably best to just spit it out when you're finished. There have been rare cases of children having internal issues due to swallowed gum.

MYTH: Camels store water in their humps

You might have been taught that the purpose of a camel's hump is to store water, but this is not true. Some camels have one hump while others have two, but regardless of quantity, they serve the same purpose—to store fat. The stored fat serves as a substitute for food when camels are traveling long distances with limited available resources. According to Animal Planet, a camel can use the fat as an energy source to replace approximately three weeks of food. It's the camel's red blood cells that account for its ability to last one week without water. Unlike other creatures, a camel has oval-shaped blood cells that are more flexible and enable them to store large portions of water.

MYTH: You must drink eight glasses of water a day

The origin of this myth isn't entirely clear, but it is believed that people were convinced of this health rule after the Food and Drug Administration suggested it as a guideline in a 1945 published paper. The truth is that you don't need to drink eight glasses of water each day. Your body will still receive necessary hydration from other fluids and foods. It's probably best to drink a healthy amount of water and indulge in a moderate amount of less healthy beverages (like sugary ones). The most important thing is remembering that your body needs to maintain a balance since fluids are constantly entering and leaving the body. The amount of hydration needed also varies from person to person, since there are factors like age, health conditions, and activity level to consider.

MYTH: There's a five-second rule that applies to food that falls on the floor

If you've ever dropped a piece of food on the floor and quickly picked it up within five seconds, deeming it safe to eat, you have been misguided by a popular health myth. According to the five-second rule, food that falls on the floor is acceptable to consume as long as it hasn't stayed on the unclean surface for more than five seconds. Research has found that the rule is not accurate or applicable. While it's true that the longer dropped food stays on a surface the more germs it attracts, but food will instantly become contaminated as soon as it hits the floor.

MYTH: An apple a day keeps the doctor away

While the nursery rhyme has the laudable goal of getting kids to eat more fruit, it doesn't really work. Apples have vitamin C and fiber, but they are far from containing all the nutrients people need to stay healthy. The best diet you could have is one that consistently gives you a well-rounded group of nutrients. One that uses a lot of vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats is probably ideal.

MYTH: You can catch a cold just by being cold

It makes some kind of intuitive and linguistic sense—if you're cold and uncomfortable, your health will suffer and you'll catch a cold. But that's not quite how it works. In reality, viruses that cause people to catch colds predominate in North America during the winter. Furthermore, people tend to stay indoors when it's cold and in close quarters, enabling viruses to spread more easily. Low indoor humidity, which happens when the heater is on, is also conducive to the flu. So it isn't so much the cold causing colds. It's the cold weather creating conditions where colds spread.

MYTH: You'll get cancer if you stand too close to the microwave

You might have been taught as a child that you shouldn't stand in front of the microwave because of potential effects on your health. This is mainly due to concerns over radiation exposure. Radiation exists on a spectrum, and the radio frequency radiation used by the kitchen appliance is low-energy which is not harmful. According to the American Cancer Society, the energy emitted by microwave ovens is contained within the device and if used correctly "there is no evidence that they pose a health risk to people."

MYTH: If you shave your facial hair, it'll grow back thicker

A biologist who has studied hair for more than 30 years said that has not proven to be true. A razor cleanly cuts the hair, which results in blunt ends. Once the hair grows back, it might feel thicker because of the bluntness.

MYTH: If you eat plenty of carrots, you'll have great eyesight

The exact origin of this myth isn't clear, but it's believed that it became a widespread idea during World War II. When the British issued citywide blackouts in their attempt to defeat the German air forces, one UK soldier, John Cunningham successfully shot down planes. From there, the country started spreading posters and other propaganda that credited carrots as the reason for his exceptional night vision. This was believed to be a myth spread by the government to hide the knowledge of radar from the Germans. The bottom line is that although carrots are high in Vitamin A, you won't have magically superior eyesight or night vision.

MYTH: Sharks can smell a drop of blood from miles away

Sharks are known for having an acute sense of smell. Although they have a better sense of smell than many other creatures, they cannot detect a single drop of blood that's miles away. These predators can pick up on small amounts of different chemicals in the water, but there are other factors that should be taken into consideration (like what kind of substance and the speed of the water current). Some shark species can detect a drop in an Olympic-sized swimming pool while others can sense chemicals up to a few hundred meters away.

MYTH: Milk is good for you

Yes, that's right. The proven health benefits of milk are few and far between. It's mostly the product of an enormously successful advertising campaign. But humans are the only mammals to consume milk during adulthood. And while no one disputes that milk contains essential nutrients to help children's bodies grow, study after study shows there's no evidence milk does much good for older children or adults.

MYTH: Coffee stunts children's growth

It's a myth grown-ups use to stop kids from drinking coffee—it will stunt your growth and make you shorter later in life. The idea behind it is that caffeine limits the body's ability to absorb calcium, which is important for the growth of younger children in particular. But the overall idea that caffeine is going to significantly stunt growth is bunk.

28 Incorrect 'Facts' You May Have Learned In School—part 1 of 2

I recently came across a list of 28 things you may have learned in school that have since been proven wrong. I'm going to share 14 of them with you in this blog and the remaining 14 in next week's blog. Like many myths, these stories often have their roots planted in truth, it just isn't what you learned in school.

MYTH: Chameleons change colors to camouflage themselves

Chameleons are thought of as spiky lizards that change the color of their skins to fit in with their surroundings. While their color-changing abilities are real, it's their way of maintaining a certain body temperature and communicating with other chameleons rather than a means of hiding from predators.

MYTH: Christopher Columbus discovered America

The belief that Christopher Columbus discovered America is still widespread. The U.S. even has a federal holiday honoring him. A 2005 survey from the University of Michigan showed that 85% of Americans believed Columbus discovered the continent while 2% of those surveyed answered that Columbus couldn't have discovered the land now known as America because millions of Native Americans already lived here. The first European to land on the North American continent is widely accepted by historians to be the Viking explorer Leif Erikson who sailed from Greenland to Newfoundland in what is now Canada around 1000 A.D., almost 500 years before Columbus set sail. However, Columbus is historically significant because his 1492 voyage (he never reached the North American continent but did land in the Caribbean Islands) paved the way for European imperialism in the Western Hemisphere.

MYTH: You can only taste certain things on certain parts of your tongue

According to the tongue map myth, different parts of your tongue are for different sorts of tastes—the back of your tongue detects bitter tastes, the front takes in sweet tastes, etc. This is wrong. Taste receptors are all over your tongue, and they all detect all kinds of tastes. It's true that some taste buds are more receptive to certain kinds of tastes than others, but the difference is slight, and the locations of those taste buds aren't in accordance with the tongue map.

MYTH: Sir Isaac Newton "discovered" gravity when an apple fell on his head

Newton's apple legend isn't true. But like many urban legends, it's an embellished version of something that actually happened. An apple didn't fall on Newton's head, but Newton did start theorizing about gravity when he saw an apple falling from a tree. Of course, today our account of physics is far more precise than Newton's notion of gravity.

MYTH: Albert Einstein failed math in school and was a terrible student

It's an attractive idea for young kids. Even if you're not a good student, you can still bloom as a genius later in life. Examples of late-blooming talents are everywhere, but Einstein isn't one of them. Not only was he an excellent student in math, he was excellent in everything. The myth that he flunked a math class may be from the time he failed the entrance exam to the Zurich Polytechnic. At that time, he was still a couple of years away from high school graduation and he only spoke a little bit of French—the language used on the exam. He did pass the mathematics section, but failed the language, botany, and zoology sections.

MYTH: Diamonds are made from ultra-pressurized coal

Both coal and diamonds are formed from carbon under the surface of the Earth, which is the origin of this myth. However, the carbon that forms diamonds is much more pure, and the process requires a lot more heat and pressure.

MYTH: According to laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly

According to the myth, its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think. This is, of course, wrong. Bumblebees can fly. The idea may have developed because bumblebees are pretty big and their wings are pretty small. There's a difference between a real-life biological being and a mathematical model of that being. Honeybees fly by flapping their wings really fast.

MYTH: Convicted witches in America were burned at the stake

While convicted witches in France were burned, witches in England were hanged instead. The English tradition made its way to the American colonies during the Salem Witch Trials and other places of anti-witch hysteria. All the convicted witches in Salem who went to their death were hanged, with one exception. That sole exception is Giles Corey, who was pressed under large stones.

MYTH: Pluto is no longer considered a planet

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) originally classified Pluto as the ninth planet that orbits the sun. In 2005, Eris, another really big space rock 27% larger than Pluto that also orbits the sun, was discovered. The IAU re-evaluated what a planet actually is and ended up with criteria that neither Pluto nor Eris met. So neither could be one of the major planets that go around the sun. Instead, the two are considered dwarf planets. Pluto is still a planet, it's now just a dwarf planet.

MYTH: The Great Wall of China is the only man-made structure that can be seen from space

This depends on your definition of space. It's worth noting that while man-made structures like the Great Wall are visible from satellites orbiting Earth, they're not visible at all from the moon. Secondly, the structures you can see largely depend on the weather and how high the orbit is. Given the proper conditions, astronauts in the International Space Station can see major cities, the Great Pyramids of Giza, and some big bridges from their orbits.

MYTH: Raindrops are tear-shaped

According to the United States Geographical Survey website, raindrops are shaped more like hamburger buns or beans. When they get really large, they split in two. Only then do they turn into a teardrop shape but quickly become burger buns again.

MYTH: You can't start a sentence with a conjunction

You've probably been taught in school that you can't start sentences with but or and. But, as anyone who writes fiction will tell you, you most certainly can. Some grammar rules in the English language are unbreakable yet are broken anyway. The important thing to remember is that different publishers have different house styles. Each publisher will set its own rules about grammar, like deciding whether to permit starting sentences with conjunctions or allowing sentences to end with a preposition.

MYTH: Deoxygenated blood is blue

A common myth is that oxygenated blood is red and deoxygenated blood is blue, but this belief is inaccurate. While glancing at your skin, you may be lead to think that the veins below the surface are carrying blood that is a different color than red. This is actually the result of how you perceive light and the way body tissues are absorbed. Blood that leaves the heart is full of oxygen and bright red, while blood that travels to the heart is dark red. So, even though your veins might appear blue, green, or purple, the blood that flows in them is red (unless you are an extra-terrestrial being, then all bets are off).

MYTH: Humans only use 10% of their brains

The origin of this myth is unclear, but the idea that humans are storing approximately 90 percent untapped abilities in the brain is not true. Scientists have repeatedly been outspoken about this false claim, which has also been perpetuated by movies. All the neurons in your brain may not be firing at the same time, but that doesn't mean that parts of your brain are totally inactive. According to a neurologist at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. "Let's put it this way: The brain represents 3% of the body's weight and uses 20% of the body's energy."

Stop by next week for part 2 of my 2-part blog about Incorrect Facts You May Have Learned In School.

Antarctica’s Blood Red Waterfall

A few years ago, I saw a photograph somewhere (probably in a magazine) showing a red waterfall flowing out of an Antarctic glacier. It grabbed my curiosity and I eventually looked into what it really was with the results coming as a surprise.

One of the world's most extreme deserts is probably the last place anyone would expect to find a waterfall. However, in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valley, a five-story waterfall pours slowly out of the Taylor Glacier into Lake Bonney. And it's not just the idea of a flowing waterfall in the frozen world of Antarctica that's strange. The waterfall is bright red, resembling blood running from a cut in the glacier.

Before you start scratching your head and wondering how that's possible—it's obviously not blood that lends Blood Falls its unique red color. Five million years ago, sea levels rose resulting in the formation of a salty lake in East Antarctica. Millions of years later, glaciers formed on top of the lake, cutting it off from the rest of the Antarctic continent, which makes the water in Blood Falls an aqueous time capsule preserved 400 meters (1300 feet) underground. As the glaciers on top of the lake began to freeze, the water below became even saltier. Today, the salt content of the subglacial lake under Blood Falls is three times saltier than seawater which makes it too salty to freeze. The subglacial lake that feeds Blood Falls is trapped beneath a quarter mile of ice.

But in addition to being cut off from the rest of the continent, the water that feeds Blood Falls is completely cut off from the atmosphere—it has never experienced sunlight and is completely devoid of oxygen. It's also extremely rich in iron. And it's that iron, scraped into the water by glaciers sliding across the bedrock below the lake, that's responsible for the red color. When water from the subglacial lake seeps through a fissure in the glacier, the salty water cascades down the Taylor Glacier into Lake Bonney below. When the iron-rich water comes into contact with the air, it rusts which stains the ice a blood red color as it falls.

The color of Blood Falls isn't the only weird thing about it. What lives inside the subglacial lake interests scientists more than the waterfall's creepy color. Millions of years ago, when those glaciers covered the salt lakes, there were microbes living in the water, and those microbes haven't gone anywhere, even though the water is now an extremely salty, oxygen-free bowl of complete darkness buried 400 meters under a glacier. Much like bacteria found living near deep sea thermal vents, the microbes of Blood Falls get their energy from breaking apart sulfates which contain oxygen. After that, something eerily magical happens with the by-products—the iron in the water interacts with the microbes to restore the sulfates, basically recycling the sulfates for the microbes to break down into oxygen over and over again. Possibly a life form to be considered immortal.

If you're thinking about visiting Blood Falls, McMurdo Dry Valley and the Blood Falls can only be reached by helicopter from nearby Antarctic research stations or from cruise ships visiting the Ross Sea.

Phobias For The Twenty-First Century

Phobias…those irrational fears of just about anything you can think of.  Most of them have been out there for centuries (if not longer).  Some of them have been handed down through families.

But like so many other things that have arrived with the twenty-first century, it has also brought us a whole new collection of things to provide irrational fears (after all, you can't have too many irrational fears). Good luck pronouncing some of these.

Nomophobia is the fear of not having cell phone contact, whether it's due to a dead battery or because your network doesn't have coverage where you are.  A fate worse than death?

Vidigameaphobia is the fear of video games.  This can cover everything from simply being afraid of the games to the fear that the games could come to life.  A game coming to life?  Or better yet, the star of that game coming to life? Hmm…maybe I need to buy that new game with the drop dead gorgeous hero after all.

Interphobia is exactly what it sounds like…fear of the world wide web.  Now that's a phobia to avoid at all costs.

Dextrophobia and its counterpart Levophobia offers us a couple of really strange phobias.  Dextrophobia is the fear of everything to the right of your body while Levophobia is the fear of everything to the left of your body.

Coulrophobia has actually been around for a long time and is still going strong.  It's the fear of clowns.  Didn't Stephen King have a clown as one of his evil entities?

Alektorophobia is an extreme fear of live chickens.  Maybe the scope of the fear should be expanded to include people who look like Col. Sanders?

Pupaphobia is related to Coulrophobia.  They might even be first cousins.  It's the fear of puppets.  Not sure what you'd call the fear of a clown puppet.

Sesquipedalophobia, as the length of the word suggests, is the fear of very long words.  Wouldn't a shorter word be more appropriate as the name of the fear of very long words?

Cathisophobia is one that those of us working at computers need to avoid at all costs.  It's the fear of sitting.

Genuphobia is the fear of knees.  That must be really difficult in summer when warm weather clothing means lots of knees sticking out there for anyone to see.

And here's a bonus phobia to carry us through the twenty-first century.  This has to be the ultimate fear:  Phobophobia.  Yep, it's exactly what it sounds like…a fear of fears.

My primary fear is bugs and other creepy crawler things.  Of course, my fear, unlike those listed here, is completely rational.  Do you have any fears (rational or irrational) you'd like to share?