Coffee is made from beans, chameleons change colour to match their surroundings and Mount Qomolangma is the 'tallest' mountain in the world.
咖啡是由咖啡豆制成，變色龍會根據它們周圍的環(huán)境改變身上的顏色，珠穆朗瑪峰是世界上最高的山。

These are all modern day 'facts' which we believe to be true – but experts have pointed out that many are simple misconceptions.
這些都是在現代社會中我們確信的“事實”，但是專家指出其中一些“事實”其實是有誤解的。

For example, while Qomolangma is officially the tallest mountain in the world, some claim it technically shouldn't own the title because Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain when measured from base to summit.
例如，雖然珠穆朗瑪峰是官方認證世界上最高的山，但從技術角度來說，它并不是最高的。如果測量距離是從山底到山峰，莫納克亞山（夏威夷島的死火山）才是世界上最高的山。

Others are just downright myths, such as that the Great Wall of China can be seen from space and that caffeine is dehydrating.
其他的“事實”很明顯是虛構的。比如，從太空上可以看到中國的長城，咖啡因讓人脫水。

Many of the 'faux facts' date back generations and have become part of common folklore but are often based on rumour or as a result of Chinese whispers.
一些“假事實”來自代代相傳的說法，其中一些說法轉變成廣為流傳的民間傳說，但它們經常都是從謠言或者以訛傳訛的演變結果發(fā)展來的。

However, closer inspection reveals that commonly-held assumptions such as 'eating cheese before bed gives you nightmares' are, in fact, not quite as true as they seem.
然而，更詳細的調查揭露一些被普遍接受的假設，比如睡前吃奶酪會做噩夢，而實際上，并不是他們認為的那樣準確。

The raft of common misconceptions was uncovered by Ripley's Believe it or Not! London, a visitor attraction dedicated to the bizarre in Piccadilly Circus.
許多普遍的誤解在雷普利的節(jié)目《信不信由你》（Ripley's Believe it or Not）中被解開。

A spokesman said: 'If you're told something enough times, you're sure to start believing it.
一位發(fā)言人曾說過：“如果你把一件事說很多次，那么你就會開始相信它。”

'The misconceptions in this list are all pretty plausible, so it's understandable that many Brits will have read it and been certain it's true, with many of us being told these from an early age.
在這榜單上的誤解貌似都非常可信，所以可以理解英國人讀了這些后會信以為真，我們在早些時候也被告知過這些所謂的“事實”。

'Unbelievably, all of these commonly believed facts are in fact common misconceptions that we have myths and misconceptions.
不可思議的是，這些廣泛被人們相信的事實實際上都是誤解，這些是由我們虛構和誤解得來的。

'We've found this research really interesting as the whole Ripley's attraction is filled with exhibits that have the 'Believe It or Not!' factor.
“我們發(fā)現這個研究非常的有意思，完全吸引了雷普利的眼球，因此這些就成為了《信不信由你》的節(jié)目素材。

'As our founder Robert Ripley used to say, it is often the strangest things that are true.'
“正如我們的創(chuàng)始人羅伯特雷普利（Robert Ripley）曾說過，最奇怪的事通常都是真的。”

THE TOP 50 COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS RESOLVED
50大普遍的誤解被解開

1. Coffee is made from beans
咖啡是由咖啡豆制成

While it is widely believed that coffee comes from 'coffee beans', experts say it is actually made from a seed which is called a bean.
盡管大家廣泛認為，咖啡是由咖啡豆制成，但專家說，咖啡其實是由種子制成也就是大家說的“豆”。

2. Chameleons change colour to match their surroundings
變色龍會根據它們周圍的環(huán)境改變身上的顏色

Believe it or not, chameleons actually change colour as a response to mood, temperature, communication and light instead of the object they are touching.
不管你信不信，變色龍其實是根據情緒、溫度、溝通、光線來變色的，而不是它們接觸到的物體。

3. Mount Qomolangma is the 'tallest' mountain in the world
珠穆朗瑪峰是世界上最高的山

While Mount Qomolangma is officially deemed the tallest mountain in the world, experts claim that technically it may not be. The summit of Qomolangma is officially higher above sea level than the summit of any other mountain, but Mauna Kea is the tallest when measured from base to summit. However, the record books deem it the tallest because it has the highest peak on Earth.
盡管珠穆朗瑪峰是官方認可的世界上最高的山，但專家說在技術層面上來說它并不是最高的。官方認為，從海平面算起，珠穆朗瑪峰的最高點要高于其它的山。但如果從山底算起，莫納克亞山（夏威夷島的死火山）是世界上最高的山。但是，世界紀錄手冊上依然認定珠穆朗瑪峰是最高的，因為它有著地球上最高的山峰。

4. The Great Wall of China can be seen from space
在太空能看到中國的萬里長城

The Apollo astronauts confirmed that you can't see the Great Wall of China from the Moon. In fact, all you can see from the Moon is the white and blue marble of Earth.
阿波羅宇航員證實，人們不能從月球看到中國的長城。事實上，你可以從月球看到像白色和藍色大理石一樣的地球。

5. One human year is equivalent to seven dog years
人類的一年相當于狗的七年。

While true in some cases, it does not apply to everyone because it very much depends on the size and breed of the dog.
雖然在某些情況下是真實的，但并不都這樣，因為它在很大程度上取決于狗的大小和品種。

6. You lose your body heat fastest through your head
散失身體熱量最快的部位是頭部。

While this is widely believed to be true, some experts say it is a myth and claim humans would be just as cold if they went without a hat as if they went without trousers.
雖然這被普遍認為是真實的，但一些專家認為這是沒有依據的，因為如果他們不戴帽子，一定會像沒穿褲子一樣的冷。

7. The Earth revolves around the Sun
地球圍繞太陽轉。

Technically, the Earth, sun and all of the other the planets are orbiting around the centre of mass of the solar system, not specifically the sun.
從技術上講，地球、太陽和所有其他的行星都圍繞著太陽系的質量中心轉，并不是特定地圍繞著太陽轉。

8. Different parts of your tongue detects different tastes
舌頭的不同部位品嘗不同的味道。

This was scientifically disproven by research which found that all taste sensations come from all regions of the tongue, although different parts are more sensitive to certain tastes which may be where the popular saying comes from.
科學研究發(fā)現，所有味覺來自舌頭各地區(qū)，只是不同的部分對其特定的味道更為敏感，可能這個流行的錯誤說法正來自于此。

9. Peanuts are a type of nut
花生是堅果的一種。

Unbelievably, peanuts, along with beans and peas, actually belong to the single plant family, Leguminosae.
令人難以置信的是，繼豆類，豌豆之后，花生也屬于單一植物家族——豆科。

10. Giving children sugar makes them hyper
糖會使兒童亢奮。

While some experts do stand by this common belief, other professors claim that the majority of scientific research has concluded that sugar does not cause hyperactivity in youngsters.
雖然一些專家認同這個說法，但其他教授聲稱，大多數科學研究得出的結論是糖不會導致青少年患多動癥。

11. Humans have five senses
人類有五種感覺。

This is correct, although in actual fact there are at least nine senses and most researchers think there are more like 21. The five main senses - sight, sound, touch, smell and taste - are the ones referred to in this popular saying.
這是正確的，盡管事實上人類有至少九種感覺，并且大多數研究者認為更多，也許多達二十一種。五個主要的感官——視覺，聽覺，觸覺，嗅覺和味覺——是這個流行說法中所提到的。

12. Fortune cookies are a Chinese tradition
吃福餅是中國人的傳統(tǒng)。

Fortune cookies were originally the invention of Japanese-Americans before being widely adopted by Chinese culture.
在被中國文化廣泛采納之前，幸運餅干是日裔美國人發(fā)明的。

13. Sushi means 'raw fish'
壽司的意思是生魚片。

Sushi actually translates as sour-tasting.
實際上，壽司應譯為酸味食物。

14. Vikings wore horned helmets
維京人戴著唐冠螺。

While this may well be true, experts say there is actually no evidence to suggest that Vikings ever wore horned helmets.
專家認為，雖然這可能是真的，但其實沒有證據表明海盜曾經戴唐冠螺。

15. The forbidden fruit mentioned in the Book of Genesis is an apple
在圣經《創(chuàng)世紀》中提到的禁果是蘋果。

The bible never mentions the forbidden fruit was an apple.
圣經中從未提到圣果就是蘋果。

16. Vitamin C is an effective treatment for a cold
維生素C可以有效地治療感冒。

Flu-sufferers are often encouraged to increase their dosage of Vitamin C, but most experts have stated that there is little or no evidence that the vitamin can help treatment of a cold. Instead of effectively treating a cold, it is thought to help build up the immune system to ward of potential flu viruses.
流感患者們經常被鼓勵增加維生素C的劑量，但大多數專家都表示，有很少或沒有證據表明維生素可以幫助治療感冒的。事實上，維生素C被認為能幫助建立免疫系統(tǒng)，以抵御潛在的流感病毒，而不能有效地治療感冒。

17. Penguins mate for life
企鵝都是終身一夫一妻制

Penguins are mostly monogamous, but there are some species such as the Emperor Penguin which are serially monogamous. They mate with one couple for the whole season but will probably mate with another penguin the following year as the urgent need for breeding will make them avoid waiting for the same couple.
企鵝大多是終身一夫一妻制，但也有一些物種如帝企鵝是連續(xù)性一夫一妻制。它們一年到頭與同一個伴侶交配，但次年可能會作為育種的迫切需要，而與另一個企鵝交配，這樣它們不必花時間等待之前的伴侶。

18. Caffeine dehydrates you
咖啡會使你脫水

While caffeinated drinks may have a mild diuretic effect - meaning that they may cause the need to urinate - some experts believe they don't appear to increase the risk of dehydration.
雖然含咖啡因的飲料可能有一種溫和的利尿劑效果——這意味著他們可能會導致我們需要尿尿，但一些專家認為他們不會增加脫水的風險。

19. When in London, you are merely six feet away from a rat
在倫敦，離你六英尺的地方就會有一只老鼠

This could well be true but hasn't been proven and is just a rough estimate as rodents are not evenly spread apart.
這很可能是真的，但尚未被證實，只是一個粗略的估計，因為嚙齒動物的分布并不均勻。

20. There is a dark side of the moon
月亮有一個黑暗面

As the Moon is constantly rotating on its own axis, there is no area of the planetoid which is in permanent darkness.
當月亮以它的軸為中心不斷旋轉時，沒有哪個區(qū)域會在永恒的黑暗中。

21. A toilet's flush will change direction depending upon which hemisphere it is in
馬桶的沖水方向會改變，這取決于它在哪一個半球

The real cause of 'backwards'-flushing toilets is just that the water jets point in the opposite direction.
“向后”的真正原因僅僅只是沖洗廁所的水柱指向相反的方向。

22. Mars is red
火星是紅色的

The red colour we see in images of Mars is just the result of iron rusting.
我們看到的紅色火星圖像只是鐵生銹的結果。

23. Sunflowers track the sun across the sky
向日葵追著太陽生長

A common misconception is that sunflower heads track the sun across the sky when in full bloom. The uniform alignment of the flowers does result from heliotropism in an earlier development stage, the bud stage, before the appearance of flower heads so technically they follow the sun before they have bloomed, not after.
一個常見的誤解是向日葵盛開時花盤會跟著太陽轉動。向日葵在萌芽階段還沒長出花盤時就已經具有向日性了，所以從技術上講，它們在盛開前就已經追著太陽生長了，而不是盛開后才追著太陽生長。

24. People use just 10 per cent of their brain
人們僅僅使用了大腦的10%

Neurologists describe the myth as false and state we use virtually every part of the brain, and that (most of) the brain is active almost all the time.
神經學家認為這種觀念是錯誤的，并且指出我們幾乎使用了大腦的每一部分，大腦（大部分）基本上一直是活躍的。

25. Your fingernails continue to grow after you die
你的指甲在你死后繼續(xù)生長

The dehydration of the body after death can cause retraction of the skin around hair and nails, giving the illusion that they have grown. However, all tissues require energy to sustain their functions, and no such thing is possible once the mechanism that promotes normal growth shuts down at death.
在人死后，身體的脫水可引起頭發(fā)和指甲周圍的皮膚收縮，造成指甲生長的錯覺。然而，所有的組織都需要能量來維持他們的功能，一旦促進正常生長的機制在死亡時關閉，任何組織都不可能再生長。

26. Bats are blind
蝙蝠是瞎子

Despite the tiny eyes and nocturnal lifestyle, none of the roughly 1,100 bat species are blind.
盡管它們的眼睛很小而且總在夜間活動，但所有1100種蝙蝠都不是瞎子。

27. Dropping a penny from the Empire State building would kill someone
從帝國大廈拋下一分錢硬幣會砸死人

A penny only weighs about a gram and it tumbles as it falls. Because of the tumbling and the light weight, there's so much air resistance that the penny never really gathers that much speed before it hits its terminal velocity. A gram of weight travelling at a relatively slow speed might hurt a little if it hit you on the head, but it's not going to kill you.
一分錢，只重約1克。所以當它下落時，因為翻滾和重量輕，又有這么大空氣阻力，就算是達到最大速度也沒有多快。一克重量以相對較慢的速度砸到你頭上可能會讓你有點疼，但它不至于會殺了你。

28. Handling a baby bird will make its mother reject it
被人養(yǎng)過的幼鳥會被母親拋棄

Most birds have a very poor sense of smell, so in most cases are unable to even notice human scent on baby bird.
大多數鳥類的嗅覺都不太靈敏，所以在大多數情況下甚至無法察覺到在幼鳥身上的人類氣味。

29. You need to wait 24 hours before reporting a missing person to the police
一個人失蹤24小時以后才能向警方報案

There is no rule that states you have to wait 24 hours before reporting a missing person. The person will be recorded as missing and their details made available to other UK police forces within 48 hours.
沒有任何規(guī)定要求你必須等待24小時后才能報失蹤案。失蹤的人將被記錄在案，并且案件細節(jié)必須在48小時內被傳達到英國其他警察部隊。

30. Your blood is blue before its oxygenated
你的血液在氧化前是藍色的

While many believe that de-oxygenated blood is blue, it is actually a myth because human blood is always red - although the level of redness does differ depending on how oxygenated it is.
很多人都會認為去氧血是藍色的，這是錯的，因為人類血液永遠會是紅的，而紅色的程度則取決于不同的含氧量。

31. A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds
金魚只有三秒鐘的記憶

This is not true as goldfish do actually have very good memories for fish. They can be trained to respond various ways to certain colours of light, different kinds of music and other sensory cues.
這實際上不是真的，金魚是一種記憶力很好的魚，經過訓練它們能對特定顏色的光、不同種類的音樂和其他感官信號做出各種反應。

32. You need to wait an hour after eating before you can swim safely
你吃飯一小時后游泳才安全

As with any exercise after eating, swimming right after a big meal might be uncomfortable, but it won't cause you to drown. However, it is good advice to stay out of the pool right after a big meal as the digestive process does divert the circulation of the blood towards the gut and to a certain extent, away from the muscles, meaning swimming could feel harder.
與其他任何運動一樣，大餐一頓之后馬上游泳可能使胃會不舒服，但這不會使你溺水。然而，它確實值得注意，當大餐一頓后，消化過程在一定程度上確實將一部分血液循環(huán)從肌肉轉移到腸道，這就意味著游泳會感覺到困難。

33. Bulls are enraged by the colour red
公牛是被紅色激怒了

It is a proven fact that bulls only see blues and yellow. They only react to the red cape because of the movements that flutter around.
事實證明，公牛只能看到藍色和黃色。他們有反應是因為紅色斗篷不停地顫振。

34. Seasons are caused by the Earth being closer to the Sun
地球向太陽靠近造成季節(jié)的變換

As Earth orbits the sun, its tilted axis always points in the same direction. So, throughout the year, different parts of Earth get the sun's direct rays.
地球在圍著太陽旋轉時，其傾斜軸總是在同一個方向。因此，全年不同地區(qū)得到太陽的直接輻射不同導致季節(jié)變化。

35. Eating lots of chocolate will give you spots
吃太多巧克力會導致你長斑

There is no concrete evidence that suggests eating more chocolate can cause spots.
沒有確切的證據表明多吃巧克力會導致長斑。

36. Shaving your leg hair will make it grow back quicker
剃掉你的腿毛會讓它長得更快

Many believe shaving body hair makes it grow back quicker but shaving hair doesn't change its thickness, colour or rate of growth. Shaving facial or body hair simply gives the hair a blunt tip which might feel coarse or 'stubbly' for a period of time as it grows out.
許多人認為剃體毛讓它長得更快，但剃頭發(fā)并不會改變其厚度、顏色或生長率。剃掉臉上或身上的毛發(fā)僅僅給毛發(fā)留下鈍形頂端，直到它長長之前，它在一段時間內會又粗又短而且硬。

37. Frankenstein was the name of the monster in Mary Shelley's book 'Frankenstein'
弗蘭肯斯坦是瑪麗·雪萊的書《弗蘭肯斯坦》中怪物的名字

Frankenstein was the name of the monster's creator.
弗蘭肯斯坦是怪物的創(chuàng)造者的名字。

38. Microwave radiation can cause cancer
微波輻射能引發(fā)癌癥。

Most experts say that microwave ovens don't give off enough energy to damage the genetic material (DNA) in cells so they can't cause cancer.
很多專家認為，微波爐所釋放的能量是不足以損害細胞內的基因物質的，所以它們不會引發(fā)癌癥。

39. Men think about sex every seven seconds
男性每隔七秒就會想到性

While some men might think about sex this often, there is no real evidence to support this statement.
一些男性也許經常會想到性，但沒有切實的證據證明這個觀點。

40. Ostriches bury their head in the sand when they are scared
鴕鳥害怕的時候，往往會把自己的頭部埋入沙中。

Ostriches swallow sand and pebbles to help grind up food in their stomachs. This means they have to bend down and briefly stick their heads in the earth to collect the pebbles. It is not because they are scared.
鴕鳥會大量吞咽沙子和卵石，以此來磨碎他們胃里的食物。這也就意味著他們會彎腰并低下頭來到地面去收集卵石，并不是因為它們害怕了。

41. Waking sleepwalkers harms them
叫醒夢游者會對他們造成傷害

Waking a sleepwalker won't cause them any physical harm but but could leave them startled or disoriented which is why many people believe it is best not to disturb them.
叫醒一個夢游者，不會對他們造成身體上的傷害，但卻會使他感到驚恐以及分不清方向，所以很多人認為，面對夢游病患者，最好的辦法就是不去打擾他們。

42. Albert Einstein failed maths at school
阿爾伯特·愛因斯坦在上學期間數學考試曾經不及格

He failed one entry exam to a school but in fact, he actually excelled at mathematics throughout his schooling and even considered becoming a mathematician for a time.
阿爾伯特·愛因斯坦曾經在一次升學考試上失敗了，但實際上，通過他在學校期間的表現，可以看出他在數學方面十分有天賦，甚至有一段時間想過成為一名數學家。

43. Salty water boils quicker
鹽水更容易被煮沸

The salt water requires more exposure to the heat in order to boil than water alone, so the boiling point is elevated and the time it takes to get the water to boil increases.
鹽水需要吸收更多的熱量才能煮沸，所以鹽水的沸點更高，煮沸的時間也比純水更長。

44. Carrots help you see in the dark
胡蘿卜能讓你在黑暗中看清東西

Carrots contain vitamin A, or retinol, and this is required for your body to synthesise rhodopsin, which is the pigment in your eyes that operates in low-light conditions. If you have a vitamin A deficiency, you will develop nyctalopia or night blindness. Eating carrots would correct this and improve your night vision, but only to the point of an ordinary healthy person - it won't ever let you see in complete darkness.
胡蘿卜內含有維生素A，也就是所說的視黃醇，它是你體內綜合視網膜紫質的必需物質，是你眼睛里的一種色素，這種色素能讓你在光線較暗的環(huán)境下看清東西。如果你缺少維生素A，你可能會形成夜盲癥。吃胡蘿卜能夠改善這種情況，并能提高你的夜市能力，但這種方法只針對于普通的健康人群，并且也不能讓你在完全漆黑的環(huán)境下看清東西。

45. Houseflies only live for around 24hours
家蠅僅能存活大約24小時

The adult housefly can live up to one month in the wild.
家蠅成蟲在野外能存活一個月。

46. Eating cheese before bed will give you nightmares
睡覺之前吃奶酪會讓你做噩夢

Cheese is believed to give you more emotionally charged dreams but not necessarily nightmares.
據認為，奶酪會讓你的夢情感更充沛，但不一定是噩夢。

47. The capital of Australia is Sydney
澳大利亞的首都是悉尼

The capital of Australia is, in fact, Canberra.
實際上，澳大利亞的首都應該是堪培拉。

48. Tomatoes are a vegetable
西紅柿是一種蔬菜

Tomatoes are a fruit
西紅柿是一種水果。

49. Going out in the cold with wet hair will make you ill
頂著濕漉漉的頭發(fā)在寒風中出門會使你生病

There is no evidence to support this, it is regarded as an old wives' tale.
沒有證據證明這個觀點，它通常被看做婦人之見。

50. Alcohol keeps you warm
酒精使你溫暖

Alcohol may make your skin feel warm, but this apparent heatwave is deceptive. A nip or two actually causes your blood vessels to dilate, moving warm blood closer to the surface of your skin, making you feel warmer temporarily. At the same time, however, those same veins pumping blood closer to the skin's surface causing you to lose core body heat.
酒精能使你的皮膚感到溫暖，但這種表面上的溫度是具有欺騙性的。一兩口酒確實會讓你的血管擴張，讓熱血流向皮膚表面，使你感到暫時的溫暖。但與此同時，這些給皮膚表面供血的血管也會使你失去核心的體溫。

Vocabulary

Chinese whispers: 傳小話

chameleon: 變色龍

monogamous: 一夫一妻的

heliotropism: 向日性

velocity: 速率，速度

（譯者：陳思閩 單靜 丁瀟 杜莎 侯娜 編輯：陳丹妮）