Fact or Fiction 2: 50 (More) Popular Myths Explained
About this audiobook
The editors of Scientific American’s bestselling Fact or Fiction: Science Tackles 58 Popular Myths return with Fact or Fiction 2: 50 (More) Popular Myths Explained.
In it, we cast an analytical eye on another collection of urban lore and cultural myths that persist so long in our collective consciousness they acquire a ring of truth. Who hasn’t heard the “five-second rule,” which insists that food dropped on the floor is safe to eat if it’s picked up within five seconds? How many of us have been told by well-meaning relatives or friends to “feed a cold, starve a fever?”
Each article explores whether science can back up these and forty-eight other long-standing claims on a variety of topics including mind and brain, health and body, food, sustainability, and more. In some cases, such as whether a “base tan” protects against sunburn or people swallow eight spiders a year while they sleep, the explanation is relatively brief. Others, including whether diets work or if divorce is bad for children, require a little more digging. Either way, the science behind our mythology is surprising, fascinating, and—in the case of nocturnal spider-eating—reassuring.
About the author
Scientific American is the longest continuously published magazine in the US and the home of the most exciting authors presenting the most dynamic ideas in science today. As the leading popular source and authority on science, technology, and innovation, Scientific American’s award-winning scientist-authored content engages, educates, and inspires current and future generations of curious citizens and public and private sector leaders.
Suzie Althens is an experienced narrator who works regularly with major publishers. She narrates titles in a wide variety of genres, including nonfiction, cozy mysteries, chick lit, suspense, and romance. A resident of Alaska, she spends her free time gardening, sketching, cooking for friends and family, and staring at the mountains.
