Science Versus Myth

Are vampires real? What is an out-of-body experience? Are crop circles proof that aliens exist? HowStuffWorks explores what is real and what is urban legend with this collection of Science Versus Myth articles.

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What if Earth lost gravity for five seconds?

Sans gravity, would we all just bounce up and down like astronauts on the moon? No. It would look a little more like a Michael Bay movie.

By Chris Opfer Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if Earth changed its orbit?

Our planet's path around the sun defines life on Earth. What would happen if it changed?

By Chris Opfer Science Vs. Myth / What If

What If the Amazon Rainforest Is Completely Destroyed?

Climate change and industrial activity are wiping out large sections of the world's largest rainforest.

By Chris Opfer Jul 20, 2015 Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if insects disappeared from the planet?

If you've found yourself screeching while a bug scuttled through your kitchen, you're not alone. But we need bugs more than they need us.

By Chris Opfer Science Vs. Myth / What If

Do sailors really watch for red skies?

Even with today's weather-forecasting technologies, some old sailing adages stick around. Does "Red sky in morning, sailor take warning" hold water?

By Kate Kershner Science Vs. Myth / Everyday Myths

Does eating bread crust give you curly hair?

For decades, moms have been threatening that if you don't eat your crust, your hair will fall out, fall limp or somehow fall incorrectly. What's the deal with bread crusts and hairstyles?

By Colleen Cancio Science Vs. Myth / Everyday Myths

Does the full moon affect your sleep?

The full moon gives us the ocean tides. And werewolves. Does it also give us sleep issues? Some say yes. Here's the science.

By Colleen Cancio Science Vs. Myth / Everyday Myths

Is suicide more common around holidays?

For some, the holidays are time of good cheer. For others, they're a season of anxiety and loneliness. Does that translate to a higher suicide rate?

By Colleen Cancio Science Vs. Myth / Everyday Myths

What if cows didn’t exist?

A world without cows would be a world without burgers, right? Yes, and to beef eaters that's bad news, but it would also be a world with less methane. So would losing all cows be worth it?

By Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if a dog eats a chicken bone?

Your dog just swallowed a plate full of chicken bones. Is he really in serious danger? The short answer: yes. Find out why you need to get him to a vet immediately.

By Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if sea levels rose 12 inches?

Figuring out how to deal with rising sea levels isn't some kind of purely academic exercise. It's happening. So how do we deal with it, especially if the sea rises a foot in our lifetime?

By Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if Earth's Magnetic Field Flipped?

Earth's magnetic field has flipped many times before, and scientists say it will flip again (though probably not in our lifetime). While it might not be catastrophic, a major change in the magnetic field would present a special set of problems.

By Patrick J. Kiger & Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if you ate uranium?

You would probably be pretty freaked out if you ate uranium, right? Well, if you've ever eaten a potato or turnip, you may already have. How does your body deal with this radioactive substance?

By Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if you drank embalming fluid?

Feel like drinking a nice, big glass of embalming fluid? We didn't think so. But what would happen if a living person poured into his or her body something meant for the insides of the dead? Nothing good.

By Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

What If You Drink Bleach?

A small amount of household bleach, while it sounds gross, probably won't harm you. But what happens if you drink more than that?

By Nathan Chandler & Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if you eat marijuana?

Yes, you can eat marijuana, but turns out it can provide a much different -- and possibly more potent -- high than when you smoke it. Read on to find out ingested marijuana's effects on the body.

By Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if you only ate one type of food for the rest of your life?

Let's say you like chicken nuggets. You really like chicken nuggets. You like chicken nuggets so much that it's the only food you'll eat. What does that do to your health? Nothing good, it turns out.

By Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if you painted a room with nail polish?

Ready to paint your room, but want to do something a little different? How about painting the walls with your favorite nail polish? Read on to find out why this may not be the most practical (or healthy) idea.

By Jeff Harder Science Vs. Myth / What If

10 Reasons Zombies Are Physically Impossible

The undead are frightening, brain-hungry monsters, lumbering toward their victims with great purpose. But wait. Can they even digest brains?

By Nathan Chandler Science Vs. Myth / Strange Creatures

What if Earth had rings?

Sure, Saturn's luminous rings are a cosmic marvel, but did you know that Earth once had rings? If we still had them today, what would they look like?

By Laurie L. Dove Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if the average human life span was 100?

The reasons behind our lengthening lives may surprise you. (Hint: Babies are key.) But how would society have to adjust if we all lived for a century?

By Gallagher Flinn Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if China never had a one-child policy?

China's government imposed mandatory IUDs and mass sterilizations, among other measures. That's some serious micromanagement. Was it necessary to avert a population disaster?

By Gallagher Flinn Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if we ran out of fossil fuels?

We wouldn't stop requiring power. So how would a turn to alternative energy sources work out for transportation, international trade and our daily diets?

By Gallagher Flinn Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if humans could breathe underwater?

Remove that pesky drowning risk, and the world formerly under the sea opens with possibility — despite our inefficient limbs and tendency toward hypothermia.

By Gallagher Flinn Science Vs. Myth / What If

What if we ran out of minerals?

If minerals make up so much of the Earth, why would we ever face shortages? The availability of the resources we use to create products often depends more on our priorities than the planet's supply.

By Gallagher Flinn Science Vs. Myth / What If