You might think OMG, the popular acronym for “Oh My God,” is a recent creation, but it actually dates back to 1917. The first known use of OMG was in a letter to Winston Churchill, which is a mind-blowing fact for sure.
When it comes to bulls seeing red, that’s a big myth. Bulls are actually colorblind. What makes them angry isn’t the color red but the spears used to torment them before the bullfighter even steps into the ring.
Some people claim to be able to hear the difference between hot and cold water pouring. Believe it or not, that’s true. Cold water is more viscous and thicker, which gives it a lower frequency. People can pick up on this difference with almost perfect accuracy.
You might have heard that SOS stands for “Save Our Ship” or “Save Our Souls,” but that’s not true. SOS became the standard distress signal because it’s incredibly easy to transmit: just three dots, three dashes, and three dots.
Lastly, the first pilgrims from the Mayflower didn’t actually land on Plymouth Rock. They first landed in Provincetown and only moved to Plymouth Rock about five weeks later.
It’s fascinating how many common beliefs turn out to be myths or have such curious backstories.