Gen X Was Told These 18 “Facts” in School and Here’s Why They’re False Now
Growing up as part of Generation X, school often felt like a place of certainty, where teachers imparted “facts” that shaped how you saw the world. But time and science have a way of unraveling what we once thought was true.
From debunked health advice to outdated science and questionable history lessons, much of what was taught in classrooms has since been proven wrong. Here are 18 ideas that Gen X kids believed in school that turned out to be myths, misunderstandings, or outright falsehoods.
Pluto Is the Ninth Planet in the Solar System
In the 20th century, school kids learned that our solar system had nine planets, with Pluto being the smallest and furthest from the Sun. However, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union redefined what qualifies as a planet, downgrading Pluto to a “dwarf planet.”
This sparked outrage among space enthusiasts, but it taught us that science evolves with new discoveries.
The Food Pyramid Is the Key to Healthy Eating
The classic food pyramid, with bread and grains as its base, was once a staple in health education. Today, nutritionists argue it’s outdated and misleading, promoting excessive carb consumption and underemphasizing healthy fats.
Modern guidelines focus on balanced portions, nutrient density, and reducing processed foods, leaving the pyramid in the dust.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Humans Have Only Five Senses
Touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell were the sensory pillars taught in school. But scientists now recognize many more senses, including balance, temperature, and proprioception (awareness of body position).
This expanded view of human perception reveals the complexity of how we experience the world.
The Great Wall of China Is Visible from Space
This idea was a popular “fact” in classrooms, but it’s a myth. Astronauts have clarified that the Great Wall is not easily visible from space without aid, as it blends with the landscape.
While it’s an architectural marvel, its visibility from orbit is an exaggerated tale.
Blood Is Blue Before It’s Oxygenated
Remember being told that blood in your veins is blue and turns red upon exposure to oxygen? That’s false. Blood is always red; the blue appearance of veins is due to how light interacts with your skin and tissues.
This myth persists, but science has set the record straight.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Christopher Columbus Discovered America
For decades, schools taught that Christopher Columbus discovered America in 1492. However, Indigenous peoples had been living on the continent for thousands of years, and Norse explorers like Leif Erikson likely arrived centuries earlier.
The oversimplified narrative has since been replaced by a more nuanced history.
Cracking Knuckles Causes Arthritis
Knuckle-cracking was a taboo habit in classrooms, with warnings that it would lead to arthritis. However, research shows no link between cracking your knuckles and developing arthritis. While it might annoy those around you, it’s harmless for your joints.
Chameleons Change Color to Blend In
Kids learned that chameleons change color to camouflage themselves. In reality, their color changes are more about communication, mood, and temperature regulation than blending into the environment.
Nature is more intricate than simple camouflage stories suggest.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Mount Everest Is the Tallest Mountain in the World
While Mount Everest has the highest altitude above sea level, Mauna Kea in Hawaii is taller when measured from base to summit, as much of it is underwater. This clarification changes how we think about Earth’s geography.
Sugar Causes Hyperactivity in Kids
Teachers warned against sugary snacks, blaming them for hyperactive behavior. However, studies have found no solid evidence linking sugar to hyperactivity.
The perception likely stems from situational factors, like exciting environments where sweets are often consumed.
Bats Are Blind
“Bats are blind” was a common classroom refrain, but it’s entirely untrue. Most bats have excellent vision, and some species even rely on their eyesight during the day.
Their famous echolocation complements, rather than replaces, their vision.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Touching a Frog or Toad Will Give You Warts
This old wives’ tale scared kids away from amphibians, but warts are caused by human viruses, not frogs or toads. The bumps on toads’ skin are harmless and have no connection to human skin conditions.
Lightning Never Strikes the Same Place Twice
This myth made lightning sound less intimidating, but it’s completely false. Lightning often strikes tall structures, like skyscrapers or trees, multiple times during a storm.
The Empire State Building, for example, gets hit about 25 times a year.
You’ll Sink Like a Rock in Quicksand
Quicksand was portrayed as a death trap in books and movies, but in reality, it’s far less dramatic. Most people can float in quicksand because it’s denser than the human body.
The danger lies in panic and poor decision-making, not being “sucked under.”
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
The Moon Has a Permanent Dark Side
Kids were often told the Moon has a “dark side” that never sees sunlight. In truth, all sides of the Moon receive sunlight; the so-called “dark side” is just the far side, which is not visible from Earth due to tidal locking.
Napoleon Was Extremely Short
Napoleon Bonaparte was famously described as being very short, but he was of average height for his time, about 5’6” or 5’7”. The myth likely arose from confusion over French and British measurement systems, as well as propaganda by his enemies.
Dinosaurs Were Cold-Blooded Reptiles
Gen X kids learned that dinosaurs were slow, cold-blooded reptiles, but modern research suggests many were warm-blooded and highly active. Some even had feathers, making them closer to birds than lizards.
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
Water Spirals Down Drains Differently in Each Hemisphere
The idea that water drains clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere due to the Coriolis effect is mostly a myth. The direction of water flow in household drains depends on the shape of the sink or toilet, not the hemisphere.
More from IEPMommy
- Younger Workers Refuse to Follow These 15 Outdated Office Rules
- Stop Saying These 18 Overused Phrases That Drive People Up the Wall
- The Harsh Realities Boomers Lived That Millennials Didn’t Have to Face
- 17 Things Kids Had to Follow in the 70s That Sound Unreal Today
- 19 Old-Fashioned Beliefs That Boomers Cling to but Are Harmful Today
Like iepmommy's content? Follow us on MSN.
