30 facts you were taught at school that aren't actually true anymore
AOL.com • • health
Key Points:
- Pluto was long considered the ninth planet but was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 after discoveries of similar-sized Kuiper Belt Objects.
- Contrary to popular belief, George Washington's false teeth were made from materials like lead, human and animal teeth, and ivory—not wood.
- The story that Vincent van Gogh cut off his own ear is disputed; historians suggest he lost it in a sword fight with fellow artist Paul Gauguin.
- Christopher Columbus did not discover the North American continent, and the names of his ships commonly taught in schools were actually nicknames rather than their official names.
- Many widely taught facts are myths, such as the Great Wall of China being the only man-made structure visible from space, raindrops being teardrop-shaped, and the idea that humans only use 10% of their brain.
