Medexigence

03/06/2026

Movie deaths that are scientifically impossible - Nr 2
Being eaten alive by piranhas

Piranhas are mean little creatures with very sharp teeth, but the idea that they can kill a human by attacking and eating their body in record time is another Hollywood myth. While piranhas can eat human flesh, records of attacks often show that a piranha will only bite once, and it does so because it feels threatened, not to feast. So, they are nowhere near as vicious or persistent as movies have us believe. In fact, piranhas are more likely to flee in the presence of a human than to attack it. So, piranhas eating a person to the bone is pretty much a myth.

02/06/2026

Movie deaths that are scientifically impossible

Quicksand gets a bad rep in movies. This is not to say it’s not dangerous, but the idea that you can get sucked under the surface and die by quicksand is only a reality in Hollywood. Because of the density of quicksand, you will sink in, but only to a certain extent. The water in it will eventually settle, and you will stop sinking. So, while one might not die swallowed by quicksand, it’s very much possible to become stuck and eventually die of hypothermia, dehydration, and starvation.

01/06/2026

NR 10
Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis

Cracking your joints isn’t going to increase your risk of suffering from arthritis. The noise we hear is created by the popping of bubbles in your synovial fluid, a substance found in your joints that, among other things, reduces friction between the bones.

31/05/2026

NR 9
Green mucus is a sign of infection

Of course, green-looking mucus would seem to signify a more serious illness then yellow or clear mucus. In fact, the colour of your mucus mainly depends on the number of immune-system cells involved in fighting infection and not the severity of your condition. Someone battling a simple cold might, therefore, have green mucus.

30/05/2026

NR 8
You lose 80% of your body heat through your head

“Put on a hat or you’ll lose all your body heat!” We all heard this as children. However, it is actually scientifically impossible to lose 80% of our body heat through our heads. We lose heat through our heads when we go outside in the cold simply because the rest of our body is covered in clothing. The same thing would be true if we went out in winter without shoes and socks.

29/05/2026

NR 7
If you swallow gum it will stay in your stomach for 7 years

We all swallowed gum at some point as kids, after which we were told that it would stay in our bodies for 7 years. For many of us, this was enough to put us off ever swallowing gum again. After all, who wants to have a piece of gum stuck to the inside of their stomach for seven years? In fact, although it does take a bit longer to make its way through our digestive system, gum is expelled pretty quickly. The only reason it might remain stuck in the digestive tract is if it is swallowed along with a foreign body, such as a coin or sunflower seeds.

28/05/2026

28/05/2026

NR 7

Your hair and nails keep growing when you die

When a person dies, their hair and nails do appear to keep growing. However, this is a simple illusion caused by the drying out of the scalp and the skin. Your hair and nails will stop growing as soon as you die.

27/05/2026

NR 6
Eating carrots helps you to see in the dark

This myth can be traced back to World War II. It was initially created by the British government in an effort to prevent the N***s from finding out about a new British radar system. The system had just been invented, and made it easier to locate and eliminate German bombers at night. The British government did not want the N***s to know about their invention, so to keep it secret they rolled out a rather crafty propaganda campaign. Throughout the country, posters were displayed encouraging solders to eat carrots in order to see better in the dark. Once the radar system started operating, the N***s began suffering much greater losses during their night raids. However, rather than suspecting that radar was behind this new development, they believed it was all down to the British soldiers’ “night vision” gained through eating large quantities of the orange vegetable. Unfortunately, although carrots are good for our health, they won’t help you see in the dark. One study even demonstrated that taking a beta-carotene supplement over 12 years does not delay the onset of cataracts.

26/05/2026

NR 5

Sugar causes hyperactivity in children

No scientific proof exists establishing a relationship between sugar consumption and hyperactivity. However, that doesn’t mean that sugar is completely harmless for children. Various studies have shown a link between the consumption of sugary drinks in children and weight gain.