The January 2025 list was released, and these rumors were on the list →

Here is the list of "science" rumors in January 2025 released by Beijing Association for Science and Technology New Media! Let's take a look at the rumors and the truth

1. You can continue to take oseltamivir to prevent influenza during the flu season

Rumor: Oseltamivir has always been a "magic drug" against influenza, so you can continue to take oseltamivir to prevent influenza.

The truth: This statement is not rigorous enough. Oseltamivir is a commonly used anti-influenza drug, which mainly inhibits the release of viruses from infected cells and reduces the spread of viruses. Taking oseltamivir when suffering from influenza usually does not cause drug resistance, but the unreasonable use of the drug, which leads to excessive and unreasonable use of the drug, can also cause drug resistance.

Oseltamivir can be used to prevent the occurrence of influenza. It is generally used within 48 hours of contact with influenza patients, once a day for one week. At the same time, the dosage should be adjusted according to the user's renal function. Once the drug is stopped, the preventive effect will no longer last. The entire flu season lasts for several months. During this period, each of us may become a close contact with influenza. It is obviously unrealistic and unreliable to ask everyone to take oseltamivir every day to prevent influenza. Therefore, it is not recommended to prevent influenza by taking long-term medication.

In addition, oseltamivir is a drug targeting influenza virus and is ineffective against non-influenza virus infections. Generally speaking, it is not necessary to take oseltamivir for a long time to prevent influenza. After all, long-term use of drugs may bring more drug safety risks. Nausea, vomiting, changes in mental state, etc. are all possible adverse reactions of oseltamivir and should be paid special attention to.

There are many good ways to prevent influenza, such as getting a flu shot every year before the flu season arrives to activate the body's immune system's resistance to influenza, which is a more effective way to reduce the risk of severe influenza. In addition, actively strengthening physical exercise, wearing masks in crowded places, and maintaining healthy hygiene habits such as frequent hand washing and frequent ventilation are also important protective measures that can effectively reduce virus transmission and infection.

2. Antihypertensive drugs need to be changed frequently, otherwise they will become drug-resistant

Rumor: Antihypertensive drugs need to be changed frequently. If you keep taking the same type, your body will become resistant to it and it will no longer be effective.

The truth: This statement is wrong. In fact, there is no need to change antihypertensive drugs frequently.

The purpose of choosing antihypertensive drugs is to control blood pressure within an appropriate range, avoid damage to target organs, and protect the body. If this effect can be achieved during the use of antihypertensive drugs, there is no need to change medications frequently to avoid the so-called side effects of the drugs. Side effects of drugs can be observed through monitoring. For example, some drugs may cause swelling of the ankles, and some drugs may affect the creatinine index in the blood, which can all be detected. If no side effects are found after monitoring, there is no need to change medications frequently.

In certain specific cases, it is possible to change medications, for example, when you want to achieve additional target organ protection in addition to lowering blood pressure. For example, some drugs can not only lower blood pressure, but also reduce urine protein, which is beneficial for the control of the condition of patients with diabetes or heart failure. At this time, you can follow the doctor's advice to adjust the medication. However, for the patient himself, if the current medication feels good, has no side effects, and the blood pressure is up to standard, there is no need to frequently change medications to avoid the so-called side effects, otherwise it will not be conducive to the stable control of blood pressure.

3. Eating too many cherries can cause poisoning

Rumor: Eating 5 cherries will cause hydrogen cyanide poisoning, so you can't eat too many cherries.

The truth: Cherries do contain cyanide, but the amount is very small and will not reach the level that can cause poisoning if eaten normally. Moreover, the toxic substance is basically in the fruit core, which most people cannot bite open and will not eat.

Cyanide refers to a compound with a cyanide (CN) group, whose structure consists of a carbon atom and a nitrogen atom connected by a triple bond. There are three types of cyanide that are truly highly toxic: sodium cyanide (NaCN), potassium cyanide (KCN), and hydrocyanic acid (HCN). Cyanide inhibits cell respiration and is therefore harmful to humans and animals.

Cyanide in plants usually exists in the form of cyanogenic glycosides. The seeds of many Rosaceae plants contain cyanogenic glycosides, such as peaches, cherries, apricots, plums, etc. However, the flesh of these fruits does not contain cyanogenic glycosides. Moreover, cyanogenic glycosides themselves are non-toxic. It is only when the plant cell structure is destroyed that the β-glucosidase in the cyanogenic plants can hydrolyze the cyanogenic glycosides to produce toxic hydrocyanic acid, which can cause acute poisoning in humans.

So, how much cyanide is there in cherry pits? The cyanogenic glycosides in each gram of cherry pits are only about a few dozen micrograms when converted into hydrocyanic acid, which is a few hundredths of that in bitter almonds. In addition, people generally do not intentionally eat cherry pits, so it is very rare for cherry pits to cause poisoning.

The dose of hydrocyanic acid that causes poisoning in humans is about 2 mg per kilogram of body weight. The online report that eating 5 cherry kernels can cause poisoning is actually very unrealistic. The kernel of a cherry weighs only a few grams, which is less than a few milligrams of hydrocyanic acid at most. It can be seen that even if there are cyanogenic glycosides in cherry kernels, they are very rare, and not all of the cyanogenic glycosides eaten can be converted into hydrocyanic acid, so the possibility of causing poisoning in humans is really too small.

4. Using your phone while it is charging will cause it to explode

Rumor: A mobile phone cannot be used while being charged, otherwise it may cause an explosion, which is very dangerous.

Fact: This statement is incorrect.

Using a mobile phone while charging will not usually cause it to explode, but it may increase the risk in some special circumstances. Modern smartphones generally have perfect safety mechanisms, including overheat protection and current regulation functions, which can ensure charging safety under normal circumstances.

During the charging process, the battery itself generates a certain amount of heat, and using high-power applications, such as games or video calls, will further heat the phone. If the heat dissipation conditions are not good, such as the phone is covered or placed in a high-temperature environment, the battery temperature may be too high, which may cause thermal runaway in extreme cases and even cause smoke or fire. In addition, poor-quality chargers or batteries may output unstable currents and increase the risk of short circuits, which is one of the main causes of mobile phone explosions. For safety, it is recommended to use original or standard chargers and avoid running high-load applications for a long time while charging. When charging, make sure the phone is in a ventilated environment and do not cover or press the device. When the phone shows obvious abnormal heating, stop charging and check it immediately.

In short, using the phone while charging will not directly cause an explosion. Correct operation and use of regular accessories can greatly reduce the risk and ensure the safe operation of the phone.

5. Fleece underwear is toxic

Rumor: Fleece underwear is made by gluing an inner layer of fleece to an outer layer of fabric. The adhesive used is toxic and will cause harm to the human body if it comes into contact with the skin.

The truth: These claims are unfounded. The main material of plush underwear is often a combination of natural fibers and synthetic fibers. The plush part is mostly synthetic fibers such as polyester and acrylic, and the fabric part is either synthetic or natural fibers such as cotton, wool, and cashmere. Regardless of the type of fiber, as long as it meets national standards, it will not cause harm to human health and can be used in underwear processing.

Adhesives are not uncommon in clothing production, and the most common one is polyurethane hot melt adhesive, abbreviated as "TPU" or "PUR". This type of hot melt adhesive is characterized by good bonding strength, soft and elastic material, heat and water resistance, no decomposition of formaldehyde, and meets safety standards.

It is important to remind consumers to avoid products with "oil glue" for adding fleece. The price of polyurethane hot melt adhesive is relatively high. In order to reduce costs, some businesses will use organic solvents to dissolve the glue and then bond the fabric. Although this kind of oil-glue composite fabric does not contain formaldehyde, there will be problems with volatile organic solvent residues. However, this type of product is easy to identify because volatile organic solvents have a peculiar smell. Consumers can smell the product when purchasing. If they find a pungent smell, they should not buy it.

6. If there are black spots on the cabbage leaves, you can’t eat it.

Rumor: Some cabbages have small black spots that cannot be washed off and are inedible.

The truth: The small black spots on the cabbage that cannot be washed off are a physiological disease called "cabbage sesame spot disease". Its formation is related to the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied. The more nitrogen fertilizer is applied, the greater the possibility of small black spots.

During the growth period, excessive nitrogen fertilizers will cause changes or even damage to the normal structures of Chinese cabbage such as cell walls and cell membranes, affecting the normal development of its cells. Black substances will appear at the places where the cell walls are distorted, thus forming small black spots. The small black spots are mainly concentrated in the epidermal cells of the petioles of Chinese cabbage, and some may also occur in the mesophyll cells, making the Chinese cabbage look mottled and deteriorating in appearance.

In addition, the formation of these small black spots is also related to the variety of Chinese cabbage. Common Chinese cabbage has leaves wrapped in layers, eventually forming a compact head, and a long growth cycle; some varieties, such as fast cabbage, have loose heads, do not form a compact head, and have a short growth cycle. Cabbages with a short growth cycle have relatively mild symptoms of small black spots.

Generally speaking, the small black spots on the petioles are just unsightly and have no significant impact on the nutrition and taste of the cabbage. However, if the leaves have black spots caused by deterioration and mold, they are not suitable for consumption.

7. Foods that don’t taste salty are low in salt

Myth: Foods that don’t taste salty are low in salt. =

The truth: The latest version of the "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents" recommends that residents limit their daily salt intake to less than 5 grams, but very few people can really achieve a low-salt diet. One important reason is that invisible sodium is easily overlooked. Some foods may contain high sodium even if they do not taste salty, such as chicken essence, soy sauce, fermented bean curd and other condiments, as well as processed foods such as plums, potato chips, sliced ​​bread, noodles, sports drinks, etc. It is recommended that you pay attention to the ingredient list and nutritional composition table when buying packaged foods, and try not to buy or buy less high-sodium foods (sodium content > 600 mg/100 g). At the same time, be careful not to drink soup when eating spicy hot pot, snail noodles, instant noodles, etc., and eat less candied fruits, etc.

8. The white silk on the orange peel is a good nutritious food that can reduce phlegm and relieve cough

gossip:

The white silk on orange segments is rich in nutrients and has the effect of relieving cough and reducing phlegm. It is best to eat it together with the orange.

The truth: This statement has no scientific basis.

These white threads on the orange are called orange peel, also known as orange silk. Orange peel is actually a kind of peel. "Orange peel" has two layers of peel, the outer peel and the middle peel. The layer we usually peel directly is the outer peel, and the orange peel is the "middle peel".

From the perspective of nutrients, orange peels mainly contain water and dietary fiber, as well as some plant polyphenols, such as flavonoids. Flavonoids are antioxidants that also have certain bactericidal effects, but they have not been found to have expectorant and cough-relieving effects. If the cough is severe, it is recommended to go to the hospital in time and follow the doctor's advice for treatment.

9. Elderly people with high blood lipids should not eat eggs

Rumor: Eggs are high in cholesterol and eating them will increase blood lipids, so it is best for the elderly not to eat them.

Fact: This statement is incorrect.

High blood lipids usually refer to elevated cholesterol or triglycerides. The nutritional components of eggs are different for egg whites and egg yolks. The yolk is mainly cholesterol, while the egg white is mainly protein. The reason for controlling blood lipids is mainly because excessive intake of cholesterol may cause problems such as atherosclerosis and blood vessel blockage, so cholesterol intake should be limited. For elderly people with high blood lipids, if they are worried about the impact of diet on blood lipids, they can choose to eat only egg whites and not egg yolks. This can ensure protein intake without causing overall nutritional deficiencies.

Cholesterol is an important component of cell walls. For example, the metabolism of brain cells also requires cholesterol to provide nutritional support. Low cholesterol levels can affect cognitive function and memory. The human body is an organic whole, and we cannot only focus on one aspect and ignore the other.

Therefore, elderly people with high blood lipids do not need to completely avoid eggs. They can eat egg whites and eat less egg yolks. At the same time, everyone should have a scientific understanding of cholesterol and do not need to worry too much about diet. They should consider it comprehensively from the perspective of overall human health.

The monthly "science" rumor list is guided by the Beijing Association for Science and Technology, the Beijing Municipal Cyberspace Administration, and the Capital Internet Association, and jointly released by the Beijing Science and Technology Journalists and Editors Association and the Beijing Regional Website Joint Rumor-Refuting Platform, and is supported by the Science and Technology Journalists and Editors Professional Committee of the China Science Writers Association, the China Evening News Science Editors and Journalists Association, the Shanghai Science Communication Association, and the Institute of Science and Technology Information of the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology.

Sources of this issue: Xinhua News Agency, CCTV News, People's Daily Online, Science Refutation, Tencent, Chongqing Refutation, Shangguan News