Anne Hathaway just blew up one of society’s most stubborn taboos. At 43, the Oscar winner is expecting her third child with husband Adam Schulman, and her announcement has reignited an age-old debate: When, exactly, is a woman supposedly “too old” to become a mother? Hathaway shared the pregnancy on Instagram with a video that … Read more
Irish Spring soap, known for its fresh scent, is often recommended online — in blog posts, social media exchanges and elsewhere — as a way to repel skunks. Yet wildlife experts say the popular household hack is more a myth than a proven solution. Some homeowners claim the soap’s strong scent can help discourage skunks from lingering … Read more
Holy weight loss, Batman! Spend enough time scrolling through keto-diet or weight-loss Reddit threads and you’re bound to come across the “whoosh” — an effect that many dieters explain as a sudden but significant drop in pounds. Doctors and nutrition experts have debunked the concept before, though the whoosh effect is not altogether flim-flam. Still, … Read more
A year after the birth of her youngest daughter, Kylie Kelce is doing what she does best: Shattering illusions of womanhood and motherhood from behind her podcast mic. The former athlete and current podcast superstar unleashed the fury of hell — or, more accurately, the fury of a mother of four — as she addressed … Read more
It’s time to brush up on your oral hygiene. For decades, Americans have been scrubbing their smiles with the wrong tools and techniques thanks to a deeply ingrained myth. This rough-around-the-edges approach is doing more harm than good, according to Chicago-based dentist Dr. Joy Poskozim. Your rough-around-the-edges technique is doing more harm than good, according … Read more
Singin’ the truth. Gene Kelly’s widow, Patricia Ward Kelly, debunked a rumor about how the late actor treated Debbie Reynolds on the set of “Singin’ in the Rain.” “It’s been circulated for decades that he worked Debbie so hard in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ that her feet bled all over the floor — it is just not true,” Patricia … Read more
This myth might be losing steam. The long-held belief that airfare is cheaper when booked on certain days may not be true, according to travel experts. While people previously thought that the cheapest days to book flights are on Tuesdays, data from Google Flights shows that the prices don’t vary much from day to day. … Read more
Now might be a good time to walk back the myth that you need 10,000 steps a day for optimal health. A new scientific review finds that just 3,143 steps can protect against premature death, with optimal daily steps falling somewhere between 7,000 and 9,000. “The 10,000 steps/day guideline lacks evidence-based support, posing a challenge … Read more
Relationship expert Chanel Contos has busted one of the most common online dating myths she says is plaguing modern relationships, after three years of championing its importance. “We need to break the myth that talking about consent is awkward,” she says. “I think that’s a big barrier in encouraging these conversations,” she says. “I don’t … Read more
This TikTok trend could prove extremely sh—y. Castor oil has been hailed as a treatment for complexion problems and hair growth, but experts are warning against an unlikely side effect when ingested. On TikTok, creators claim that that the oil can “detox” the body, but buyer beware: consuming castor oil, derived from the castor bean … Read more
If you’ve ever wanted to hit snooze instead of getting up for that 6 am gym class you booked yourself into, now you’ve got the perfect excuse. A new study has identified the best time to workout is in the evening as getting a sweat on after 6pm has a surprising health benefit compared to … Read more
It’s an old wino’s tale. We’ve got bad news for those who believe that drinking “liquor before beer” mitigates hangovers. German scientists have debunked this popular college student hypothesis, proving that the hooch headache hits the same no matter which order one imbibes their beverages. “Our findings dispel the traditional myths,” researchers wrote in the … Read more
Red Solo cup, I fill you up — but to which line? It’s long been thought that the lines on a Solo cup were there to help measure alcohol content — but Snopes has debunked that theory. The belief was that the bottom line designates the amount of one shot (1 ounce), the middle line … Read more
Americans generally believe that people are more suicidal during the annual holiday season. Researchers, however, say bah humbug: Contrary to widespread belief, December is the month with the fewest suicides. And, according to a new study, news outlets play a significant role in the public’s misperception. As recently as 2022 to 2023, of the news … Read more
The shot has become very familiar to NFL fans. Travis Kelce makes a play and there’s Taylor Swift in a swanky suite often surrounded by Kelce’s family or Patrick Mahomes’ wife, Brittany. But the reality is game tickets and stadium suites aren’t on the list of perks for the wives and significant others of NFL … Read more
An alleged Bigfoot sighting in Colorado seems to be a big footstep in the wrong direction, experts say. Earlier this week, Wyoming resident Laura Parker posted photos and a video online seeming to show Sasquatch traversing a rocky area before popping a squat in the southwest part of the state. “If you asked before our … Read more
He’s a real gumshoe. A doctor is setting the record straight once and for all about an “old wives’ tale” that says that if you swallow a piece of gum, it stays stuck in your stomach for seven years. “I’ve no idea where the myth came from — I can only imagine that it was … Read more
Eating organic has long been touted as the way to avoid pesticide consumption — but one Harvard professor is saying those claims are bogus. Robert Paarlberg, an associate professor in the Harvard Kennedy School’s Sustainability Science Program, has said that eating organic produce isn’t necessarily better. Paarlberg told the Harvard Gazette that “there is no … Read more
New York might not have those infamous “alligators in the sewer” — but Florida has the real thing. A work crew in Oviedo, Florida proved the NYC urban legend was a Sunshine State reality after discovering an 5-foot gator residing in a sludge-filled pipe. Footage of the scaly subterranean terror is currently stirring up a … Read more
Photo-Illustration: The Cut; Photos: Getty Are you constantly tired but struggle to fall (and stay) asleep when it’s time for bed? Have you gained weight that you can’t seem to lose? Are you grouchy and exhausted all the time? If you consult Dr. Google, he might tell you that you have adrenal fatigue. The theory … Read more