Cell phone use is prohibited at gas stations, one should never stand in front of a microwave oven, and batteries must be completely empty before charging. These are just some of the myths surrounding the technology we use every day.
The truth is different. Whether it's misconceptions or facts that have changed over time thanks to advances in technology, some of the things most people take for granted are actually not true. The Huffington Post decided to deconstruct some of these myths.
Myth: You can't take good photos if your camera doesn't have many megapixels.
Truth: Although it's a common perception, the quality of a photo is determined by many other factors than megapixels. The camera's lens, sensors, the "photographer's" ability to exploit light, and many more factors are what determine the quality of the result after the "click".
Myth: Using a cell phone at a gas station is dangerous.
Truth: There has been much research that disproves this belief that cell phones can cause an electrical spark that can ignite gasoline fumes. Theoretically, it could happen, but it is extremely unlikely under normal circumstances.
Myth: If the phone and mobile phone battery is not fully discharged and recharged, its durability is affected.
Truth: It used to be true, but advanced batteries do not face such a problem. Most devices use lithium batteries, which can be charged at any time, without requiring it to be 100% charged, or having been discharged before that.
Myth: A magnet can erase your data
Truth: You would need a really, really big magnet to do this, and even that would only affect some types of stored data. For example, USB drives are not at risk. On the other hand, a computer hard drive can be damaged, but only by really strong magnets, like those used in CT scanners.
Myth: It's bad to stand next to a microwave oven.
Truth: Although radiation can sometimes leak from the appliance, it's not in an amount that can cause harm. In fact, microwave oven specifications have limitations on the amount of radiation that can leak, so as to avoid any danger.
Myth: You should never put metal objects in the microwave.
Truth: It can be dangerous, but not as much as you might think. The danger doesn't depend on the size of the object, but on its shape. Something with sharp edges can cause sparks, but objects with rounder surfaces—like a spoon—don't cause problems.
Myth: Cell phones can cause brain cancer.
Truth: Despite the fears that were most expressed in the early years of cell phone use, there is no research to date linking them to cancer. After an 11-year study in Britain, scientists concluded that "despite extensive research, we have not found evidence of a risk from the radio waves emitted by cell phones," although experts conclude that further study of the subject is needed.
Myth: Video games make kids bad
Truth: Although they've often been blamed for bad behavior in children, science isn't convinced. Using a decade of data, a 2013 study from the University of Glasgow found that constant video game use doesn't lead to significant behavioral changes. In fact, a separate study found that children who play video games for less than an hour a day are slightly happier and more adaptable than their peers who don't play video games.
Myth: If you file an opt-out, you can stop Facebook from using your photos.
Truth: This probably wouldn't hold up in a real court of law. According to Facebook's terms of service, even though you technically own the photos, the medium has the right to use them in a variety of ways, depending on what you've chosen in your privacy settings.
