Social Science Crazy things that people believe

[Smoooothy]

One that almost everyone seems to believe is the bogus theory that water will go down a plughole differently in the southern and northern hemispheres.

It's often quoted that it's due to the same reason high and low pressure systems have opposite rotations in each hemisphere, the coriolis effect as a result to the earths rotation

Actually no, it's a load of crap, water can be observed to turn the opposite way to that predicted by the Coriolis effect when going down the plughole. Fact is, the actual force of the coriolis effect is miniscule, and only acts over huge areas (such as a several hundred km wide weather system). The way water turns in a bathtub or toilet is more influenced by how level the unit is as installed by the plumber.

I blame the simpsons for this one

explain this then?

[youtube]613JTgk5AUM[/youtube]

 

[frantelle]

I hope The Simpsons are right. I feel like they are directly responsible for half of my knowledge

 

[Tex_21]

Ewan McGregor is really underrated as a world class scientist.

 

[Mancey]

explain this then?

[youtube]613JTgk5AUM[/youtube]

Yeah common scam in Africa that they use to fleece tourists of money.

If you look close the bowl is on a slight angle in the experiment. That is what is causing the water deflection.

Coriolis effect 5 degrees either side of the equator is basically nil so its even less feasible

 

[Tarkyn_24]

In Korea (both North and South) there is a strong belief that if you leave a fan running overnight while you sleep, there is a risk of death. Just google 'korea fan death' and you'll find all about it.

It's not just superstition - it's a well-held belief by almost the entire population. They switch of fans in hospitals, elderly care centres, creches.

Oh, and double recommendation for Bad Science - really, really good.

I'm gonna be honest, I did not think that this was going to be real and that I was just setting myself up for fail.

 

[blues4flag]

I'm gonna be honest, I did not think that this was going to be real and that I was just setting myself up for fail.

They believe it, alright. Gave a Korean guy at uni a lot of shit about it.

 

[Cruyff14]

That God exists.

 

[RedmanWasHere]

That God exists.

This x100.

 

[footy_noob]

That God exists.

That God does not exist.

There are people who believe in the Illuminati/devil worshipers and that they are trying to control and take over the world. There are a lot of theories, vids and photos of people in the music industry in particular (who they view as puppets of the devil worshipping elite). Quite interesting reading their forums. Pretty out there but some of the evidence against some artists... Makes you wonder.

 

[morri]

people who believe aliens have been on earth in historic times.. I do however think that there is life in the universe- doesnt take much even if it is only bacteria.

 

[hayes]

Why? You look at Earth's history - for 90% of it's history there was basically no life. It must have taken a lot of 'perfect' coincidences for life to arise.

But it did arise, so those coincidences - whatever they were - happened. But even on Earth, the rise of life was a very long shot. And reasonably intelligent life even more so. But we don't know how long the odds were.

I understand about probabiliies - big numbers, and the fact that we know life has arisen at least once means it should happen again. But when you get down to the probability levels we are talking, you really can't say.

I would not surprised if life was discovered elsewhere. But I would equally not be surprised if (somehow) it was shown that Earth IS the only place in the universe where life exists (I understand that we will almost certainly never know that for sure - but hypothetically).

I don't think you can hold a strong position on this one way or another. If I had to guess - well, I'd be guessing.

Completely agree with this. A hell of a lot had to go right for us to be here so I wouldn't be surprised either way.

 

[dumb]

the usual things like religion and all that entails, like faith healing.

reptilians and shapeshifter theorizing makes for good youtube videos. david icke... has some problems. one man's spiritual awakening is another man's psychiatric intervention.

colleen thomas, absolutely batshit insane.