5 Old Wives' Tales Debunked

This is a little something I did for fun, and thought someone might actually learn something from it. So, without further ado...

MOM SAID:
"Sticking your finger in the foam of a freshly-poured soda breaks the bubbles because of the oil on your finger."
Not true. Although your finger does make the foaming stop, it's not from naturally secreted oils—your finger is just popping the bubbles!

MOM SAID:
"Putting your glow-sticks in the freezer helps them glow longer."
True. Putting a glow-stick in the freezer does lengthen it's lifespan. I believe this is because the cold temperatures 'freeze' (or at least slow down) time in the mortal chemical mix in the glow-stick, so when you take it out it glows for days, which it wouldn't normally do.

MOM SAID:
"Going outside in the cold without a coat causes pneumonia."
Not true. Pneumonia is a virus that infects your lungs. It has nothing to do with exposure to sub-freezing temperatures. This also goes for the common cold. Going swimming in cold water or just getting wet does not cause the common cold.

MOM SAID:
"Eating lots of carrots will improve your eyesight/night vision."
Not true. Although carrots do contain notable amounts of vitamin A, it's not significant enough to make a difference in your vision.

MOM SAID:
"If you touch a toad, you'll get warts."
Not true. Warts are caused by a virus, which are usually species specific. Almost all viruses that infect frogs and toads do not have the correct receptors to infect humans as well.