十大常见科学谬论或事实-2
分类: 英语科普
6、消化口香糖需要7年时间
或许，我们的肠胃消化口香糖会比消化有机食物稍困难一些。但实际上，口香糖并不会从我们的消化系统那里得到什么特殊的待遇。医生们认为，上述这种不正确的说法之所以会出现，可能是因为人们为了不让孩子们将这种橡胶性物质吞咽到肚子里，所想出来的办法。
It takes seven years to digest gum
While it may prove a bit more difficult to break down than organic foodstuffs, chewing gum gets no special treatment from the digestive system. Doctors figure this old wives' tale was invented to prevent kids from swallowing the rubbery substance.
7、打哈欠会传染
几乎我们每个人都遇到过“打哈欠被传染”的情况，因此从经验上来讲，我们很难否认这种说法。真正的问题在于，这其中究竟有没有什么生理学上的依据在起作用，而答案很可能是肯定的。科学家发现，就连黑猩猩之间，打哈欠也是会相互传染的。
Yawning is "contagious"
Empirically, this is tough to deny; perhaps you'll yawn while reading this. The real question is whether there's actually something physiological at work here, and the answer is likely yes: even chimpanzees mimic each other's yawns.
8、成年人不会再长出新的脑细胞
人类脑部许多至关重要的发育都集中在孩童时期。过去人们曾普遍认为脑细胞在成年后就会基本保持静态，应对新情况时，结构也不会发生改变。但有最新研究结果显示，在人们步入成年之后，脑部的神经细胞仍会继续生长并发生变化。
Adults don't grow new brain cells
Much of a human's crucial brain development happens during childhood, but it isn't all downhill from there. Studies have shown that neurons continue to grow and change well into the adult years.
9、喝鸡汤能治感冒
相关研究已证实，鸡汤中确实含有某些抗炎成分，能有助于减少因感冒引起的喉咙充血。因此，世界范围内的妈妈们在孩子感冒不舒服时，还是应该强迫他们喝下对身体有益的鸡汤。
Chicken soup can cure the common cold
Cure is a strong word, but science suggests Moms around the world are still right in forcing spoonfuls of chicken soup down their kids' throats. Studies have found that the broth actually contains anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce congestion.
10、人死后指甲和头发会继续生长
尽管看起来确实如此，人死后他们的手指甲和头发反而更长了，但这种恐怖的现象仅仅是种错觉而已。要知道，人死后尸体会严重脱水，皮肤发生收缩后，就会露出更多的指甲和头发。
Hair and fingernails continue growing after death
Though hair and fingernails appear to keep growing after death, this is merely a morbid optical illusion at work. In death the human body dehydrates severely, retracting enough skin to expose more nail and hair.
或许，我们的肠胃消化口香糖会比消化有机食物稍困难一些。但实际上，口香糖并不会从我们的消化系统那里得到什么特殊的待遇。医生们认为，上述这种不正确的说法之所以会出现，可能是因为人们为了不让孩子们将这种橡胶性物质吞咽到肚子里，所想出来的办法。
It takes seven years to digest gum
While it may prove a bit more difficult to break down than organic foodstuffs, chewing gum gets no special treatment from the digestive system. Doctors figure this old wives' tale was invented to prevent kids from swallowing the rubbery substance.
7、打哈欠会传染
几乎我们每个人都遇到过“打哈欠被传染”的情况，因此从经验上来讲，我们很难否认这种说法。真正的问题在于，这其中究竟有没有什么生理学上的依据在起作用，而答案很可能是肯定的。科学家发现，就连黑猩猩之间，打哈欠也是会相互传染的。
Yawning is "contagious"
Empirically, this is tough to deny; perhaps you'll yawn while reading this. The real question is whether there's actually something physiological at work here, and the answer is likely yes: even chimpanzees mimic each other's yawns.
8、成年人不会再长出新的脑细胞
人类脑部许多至关重要的发育都集中在孩童时期。过去人们曾普遍认为脑细胞在成年后就会基本保持静态，应对新情况时，结构也不会发生改变。但有最新研究结果显示，在人们步入成年之后，脑部的神经细胞仍会继续生长并发生变化。
Adults don't grow new brain cells
Much of a human's crucial brain development happens during childhood, but it isn't all downhill from there. Studies have shown that neurons continue to grow and change well into the adult years.
9、喝鸡汤能治感冒
相关研究已证实，鸡汤中确实含有某些抗炎成分，能有助于减少因感冒引起的喉咙充血。因此，世界范围内的妈妈们在孩子感冒不舒服时，还是应该强迫他们喝下对身体有益的鸡汤。
Chicken soup can cure the common cold
Cure is a strong word, but science suggests Moms around the world are still right in forcing spoonfuls of chicken soup down their kids' throats. Studies have found that the broth actually contains anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce congestion.
10、人死后指甲和头发会继续生长
尽管看起来确实如此，人死后他们的手指甲和头发反而更长了，但这种恐怖的现象仅仅是种错觉而已。要知道，人死后尸体会严重脱水，皮肤发生收缩后，就会露出更多的指甲和头发。
Hair and fingernails continue growing after death
Though hair and fingernails appear to keep growing after death, this is merely a morbid optical illusion at work. In death the human body dehydrates severely, retracting enough skin to expose more nail and hair.