Lauren Glen

Vote up the modern-day myths you were once guilty of believing.

It’s often difficult to trace where, how, or why a false rumor began. Yet somehow, whether it’s spread over time and passed down through generations or quickly shared through a viral social media post, it becomes a commonly accepted truth.

Always on the hunt for new knowledge and insight, we dove deep into researching and dispelling some of the most common myths this year. Whether believers initially attained the bogus information from believing an old superstition, a movie they once saw, or just never thought to question the factoids, many were stunned to realize that some of their most deeply ingrained truths were actually false.

Though some of these legends may seem harmless, others are so serious that they could lead to an untimely demise. This list features some of the biggest myths we busted in 2022.

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• Photo: DejaVu Sans 2.20 / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Myth: You Have To Wait 24 Hours Before Reporting Someone Missing

There is a common misconception that a person isn’t considered missing until they’ve been gone for at least 24 hours. This belief is not only wrong, but also dangerous and harmful if someone is actually missing.

For the best odds of finding someone, authorities should be notified as soon as you realize they are missing. There is no 24-hour waiting period, or any mandatory waiting period at all. Whether it’s a child or an adult, you can notify police that someone is missing at any time.

• Believed the myth?

• • • Photo: DJM Photos / Flickr / CC-BY 2.0

Myth: Escaping From Prison Is Always A Crime

In America, escaping prison can add five years to a convict’s sentence. While it may seem logical to believe that those imprisoned would be punished for leaving their confines, it’s not a crime in Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Belgium, Germany, or the Netherlands.

In Scandanavian countries like Sweden, Denmark, and Finland, even criminals with murder charges enter the “open” prison system, where there are no bars or narrow cells to contain them from the outside world. Prisoners live in rooms that resemble college dorms, complete with their own bathrooms, showers, and flat screen TVs. The law also allows Scandanavian inmates to leave facilities during the day to attend work and visit family.

Though prisoners in Belgium and Germany don’t enjoy the luxury of the open prison system, there are no laws that punish inmates who escape prison grounds. In these countries, prisoners are only punished further if they commit a crime – like assault or property damage – while executing their escape plans.

While prisoners who escape in the Netherlands don’t acquire any extra incarceration time, any prisoner who is caught aiding the escapees can experience further sentencing of up to four years.

• Believed the myth?

• • Photo: Wilfredor / Wikimedia Commons / CC0

Myth: Bananas Are They Best Way To Get Your Daily Intake Of Potassium

Though they might be delicious, bananas are not nearly as rich in potassium as people believe. On average, a banana has about 9% of the daily recommended amount.

There are, in fact, a number of other foods with more of this vital mineral, including avocados, sweet potatoes, spinach, and watermelon.

• Believed the myth?

• • Photo: Udo J. Keppler / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain

Myth: Mice Love Cheese

Pop culture tells us that mice are the original cheeseheads. Leave out a crumb of cheese, and they just can’t help themselves – they’ll gobble it up or carry it back to their mouse-hole to share with friends.

It’s a charming myth, but it’s still just a myth. Mice are not uniquely obsessed with cheese. In fact, according to rodent expert Robert Corrigan, cheese likely doesn’t rank among mice’s favorite snacks. Although they are unfussy eaters, mice would probably choose fruits or nuts over cheese, if given the choice.

Believed the myth?

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