Ever heard that we only use 10% of our brain?

“That 10% figure was invented in the 30s by ad men in America selling self-help pamphlets. ‘Scientists say you only use one-tenth of your brain,’ the ads said. ‘Wake up to your true potential.’”

Do you believe your tongue has different sections for different tastes?

“The tongue is not mapped out to taste sweet, salty, bitter and sour in select locations. The tip of the tongue is said to be reserved for the sweet taste. Yet place salt on the tip of your tongue – or anywhere, for that matter – and you will taste it.”

Is magnet therapy for real?

“Magnet therapy, with its claim that it manipulates blood flow, is just plain fraudulent. The therapy is based on the notion that the iron in our blood is magnetic. Makes sense, but it’s wrong, because iron is bound to haemoglobin. If the blood were magnetic, then we would blow up when placed under the powerful magnets of an MRI machine.”

Christopher Wanjek debunks these and other popular myths of the medical world.