Have you fallen for these rumors? The 2023 "Science" Rumors List is released

"Chinese scientists determine the age of the moon to be 2.03 billion years", "ID cards will be demagnetized by mobile phones", "Sleeping on a bare plank bed can cure lumbar disease"... Do you still believe in these so-called "scientific principles" circulating on the Internet?

On January 21, the "Stop Rumors and Seek Truth with Wisdom - 2023 'Science' Rumor Truth List" was officially announced on the Beijing Radio and Television Station's Documentary Science and Education Channel. Five authoritative experts sorted out and shattered the top ten "scientific" rumors that have been widely circulated on the Internet in the past year, helping the public to distinguish right from wrong.

As part of the "2024 Science New Year's Eve Series of Activities", this event was hosted by the Beijing Association for Science and Technology and the Beijing Municipal Cyberspace Administration, and co-organized by the Beijing Science and Technology Journalists and Editors Association, Beijing Radio and Television Station, and Beijing Youth Daily Internet Communication Technology Co., Ltd. The event invited five experts and scholars, including Gou Lijun, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhang Mei, a researcher at the Institute of Analysis and Testing of the Beijing Academy of Science and Technology (Beijing Physical and Chemical Analysis and Testing Center), Zhao Bin, chief physician of the emergency department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Chen Zheng, associate professor of the School of Physical Science and Engineering of Beijing Jiaotong University, and Zhang Bo, a specially appointed associate researcher at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, to clarify the truth behind the rumors.

"Stop Rumors and Seek Truth - 2023 'Science' Rumor Seeking Truth List" release site

Zhao Bin introduces the human spine morphology and the reasonable support required by bones

Gou Lijun explains the difference between lunar soil age and lunar age

Through diversified presentation methods such as experimental analysis, prop demonstration, virtual technology, and interview interaction, the event highlighted the fun of relevant scientific principles and the practicality of scientific methods, and also allowed the audience to improve their scientific literacy in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere.
The event helped the audience to more intuitively understand the logical fallacy in the rumor that "the moon is 2.03 billion years old" by displaying lunar AR models and lunar soil; sent real samples to authoritative institutions for analysis to dispel the panic caused by the saying that "water boiled in electric kettles can damage nerves and cause cancer"; asked the host to "real people show" how the mattress supports the normal curvature of the spine, refuting the wrong view that "sleeping on a hard bed can cure lumbar spondylosis"; used physical disassembly and proportional models to correct the common misunderstanding on the Internet that "the higher the camera pixel, the clearer the photo taken"; and the magnetic card experiment demonstration carried out at the event site refuted the saying that "ID cards can be demagnetized by mobile phones". The objective and detailed analysis of the rumors by experts allowed the audience to learn rational and scientific thinking and methods while understanding the truth.

Zhang Mei debunked the rumor that "water boiled in an electric kettle can damage nerves and cause cancer"

Chen Zheng explains the principle of camera imaging

Teacher Zhang Bo and the host explained the chip and structure in the ID card on the spot

"Stop Rumors and Seek Truth - 2023 'Science' Rumor Truth List" is based on the monthly "Science" rumor list of the past year, and is specially reviewed and screened by industry experts and news media to select the 10 most representative scientific rumors of the year.

The generation and spread of rumors is a complex phenomenon. With the rapid development of information technology, the prevention of scientific rumors also requires continuous efforts and investment. As the first platform in the country to regularly publish rumor-debunking lists, the monthly "Science" rumor list has been published since January 2014, responding to social hot spots and public concerns in a timely manner. A total of 940 rumors have been published so far.

In 2023, the monthly "science" rumor list released a total of 110 "science" rumors of various types, and the rumor-refuting content involved many fields such as scientific and technological frontiers, current hot affairs, aerospace, life and health, food safety, etc. It has made positive contributions to helping the public understand the truth and improve the social science literacy. It has also played a unique role in creating a clear cyberspace.

2023 "Science" Rumors List of the Year

1. Genetic testing can reveal a child’s talents

gossip:

By collecting oral mucosal cell samples from children, we can use genetic technology to analyze indicators such as IQ and EQ to determine whether the child will become successful in the future.

the truth:

There are many kinds of talents, but there is no experiment or literature research to prove that talents are related to specific genes in humans. Therefore, such tests have no scientific basis.

From a scientific perspective, it is a basic concept that genes determine traits, but the relationship between genes is very complex. If a person carries a gene locus associated with a trait, but this gene locus may interact with many other gene loci, the regulatory network of the interaction between these genes is very complex, and these regulatory networks have not been thoroughly studied. Current researchers are not clear about the functions of most genes. The accuracy of the correlation between loci and talents that testing agencies say can reach 99.7% is unfounded.

2. Chinese scientists determine the age of the moon to be 2.03 billion years

gossip:

Chinese scientists analyzed and studied the lunar samples brought back by Chang'e 5, and ultimately accurately determined the age of the moon to be 2.03 billion years.

the truth:

The scientific community generally believes that the actual age of the moon is more than 4 billion years and close to 4.5 billion years. The statement that "the moon is 2.03 billion years old" is a misunderstanding of recent lunar soil research results.

First of all, the age of lunar soil is not the same as the age of the moon. This study precisely measured the lunar basalt in the lunar soil. Lunar basalt is a rock formed by the magma formed by the partial melting of the lunar mantle and the cooling and crystallization of the volcanic eruption on the lunar surface. It cannot represent the true age of the moon. Chinese researchers accurately measured the age of the lunar soil sample to be "2.03 billion years", which represents the youngest lunar volcanic activity time discovered so far, but it is not the age of the moon since its birth.

3. Astronauts cannot be nearsighted, because they cannot wear glasses in space

gossip:

Astronauts cannot be nearsighted and cannot wear glasses, because wearing glasses in space may cause accidental injuries.

the truth:

The selection criteria for astronauts are indeed very high. However, people with mild myopia are currently allowed to enter space. During the ascent phase of the mission, there are complex situations such as rocket vibration and overload. If astronauts wear frame glasses, it may cause collisions and other problems, so astronauts will not wear frame glasses during this phase (contact lenses can be worn). The space station environment is relatively stable, and frame glasses can be worn normally.

Over the years, aerospace engineering technology has made great progress, and the mission environment no longer requires strict physical fitness for astronauts; on the other hand, in the future we need more front-line researchers to "go to space" for scientific research. Obviously, it is not appropriate to use myopia as a rigid standard to select scientific researchers, so people with low myopia are now allowed to enter space. It is worth mentioning that people with high myopia are still not allowed to travel in space. After all, people with high myopia may suffer retinal detachment when riding a roller coaster, let alone withstand the huge acceleration during a rocket launch.

Yang Liwei, deputy chief designer of China's manned space program, once said that the selection criteria for astronauts vary for different missions. "From the perspective of vision, high myopia is not acceptable, but low myopia is acceptable. Many of our non-professional payload specialist astronauts wear glasses."

4. Water from electric kettles can damage nerves and cause cancer

gossip:

The inner pot of the electric kettle is made of stainless steel, which contains manganese, which will be precipitated during the boiling process. Long-term intake can lead to excessive manganese in the body, thereby damaging nerves and even causing cancer!

the truth:

Although the materials used to make electric kettles contain manganese, it exists in a dense structure and is difficult to precipitate out during daily water boiling. Even if the kettle is boiled for more than 1,000 hours, the amount of manganese that can be precipitated is very limited, and its impact on the human body is basically negligible.

As long as you buy a regular product, it is safe and there is no risk of poisoning or cancer. When buying a stainless steel kettle, you should choose food-grade stainless steel such as 304 stainless steel, 316 stainless steel, or choose an electric kettle with the words "Implementation standard GB 9684-2011" or "Food contact" logo. For glass kettles, you should choose high borosilicate glass, which has stable performance, safe material, and is not easy to form scale.

Ceramic electric kettles, if they are colored, may release toxic heavy metal elements. It is recommended that you choose one with a plain or unpatterned inner wall.

5. The Internet celebrity "anti-sudden death package" can prevent sudden death

gossip:

The "anti-sudden death package" consists of health products such as coenzyme Q10, fish oil, lutein, vitamin D3, etc., which can prevent sudden death if taken every day.

the truth:

There is no standard "anti-sudden death package" in medicine. Coenzyme Q10, fish oil, etc. are all health products, and there is currently no medical guideline or consensus that taking such health products can effectively prevent sudden death.

At present, cardiac diseases account for more than 80% of the total number of sudden deaths. Patients with cardiovascular diseases often also have hypertension, diabetes and hyperlipidemia, and usually take multiple medications. If they take health supplements, on the one hand, it will increase the burden on the liver or kidneys, and on the other hand, it will increase the risk of drug interactions. Health supplements are not medicines. It has been clearly stated that patients with heart diseases must undergo scientific evaluation and examination before taking them, and consult a doctor. Do not take them blindly, especially do not stop or reduce treatment drugs.

In terms of preventing sudden death, for patients with congenital heart disease, it is recommended to have regular physical examinations to detect high-risk factors as early as possible and receive timely treatment; for most people, it is necessary to avoid bad living habits. It is recommended to control weight, ensure adequate sleep, maintain a stable mood, avoid overeating, eat more fresh vegetables, fruits and nuts, and increase exercise moderately.

6. Sleeping on a bare bed can treat lumbar disease

gossip:

Sleeping on a hard bed can treat lumbar disease. People who suffer from lumbar pain are best to choose a bare bed to sleep on.

the truth:

The normal physiological structure of the human spine has four physiological curves, namely the cervical curve, thoracic curve, lumbar curve and sacral curve. If the mattress is too soft, it cannot provide proper spinal support; if the mattress is too hard, it will rely too much on the shoulder and hip support, which will also cause spinal distortion; a medium-soft bed (hard bed) can better adapt to the curve of the human body and minimize spinal distortion.

But many people have a misunderstanding that "hard bed" refers to a hard bed or a bare bed. In fact, a hard bed is relative to the soft mattress that Europeans and Americans are used to. A hard bed does not mean a hard bed, let alone a bare bed. Some mattresses must be placed on the hard bed.

So, how do you control the hardness of the mattress on the bed board? Remember the "3:1 principle", that is, the mattress should not be so hard that it does not deform, nor should it deform too much. A 3 cm thick mattress will sink 1 cm when pressed by hand, and a 10 cm thick mattress will sink 3 cm. This ratio is moderate in hardness and softness.

Then, lie flat on the mattress and reach out to touch the three obvious bends of the neck, waist and buttocks to thighs to see if there is any gap. Then turn your body to one side and use the same method to feel whether there is any gap between the concave part of the body curve and the mattress. If your hand can easily fit in the gap, it means that the bed is too hard; if your palm is close to the gap, it proves that the mattress fits the human body curve.

In addition, when choosing a mattress, in addition to considering the hardness and fit, you also need to consider three factors: gender, weight, and age. Women are suitable for elastic mattresses, while men are suitable for relatively hard mattresses; slim people are suitable for slightly soft mattresses, while obese people should sleep on harder mattresses; infants and young children should choose medium to soft mattresses, while children and teenagers should not sleep on mattresses that are too soft to avoid affecting their growth and development; elderly people with loose ligaments, especially those with osteoporosis, are recommended to choose slightly harder mattresses.

Of course, relieving back pain is not a simple matter. Don't imagine that changing a bed or a mattress can completely solve the problem. Daily maintenance and rehabilitation exercises, avoiding overuse of the lumbar spine, and actively responding to problems are all important links in relieving back pain.

7. Your ID card will be demagnetized by your phone

gossip:

There is a magnetic strip in the ID card, and if you put it together with a mobile phone, it will be demagnetized by the mobile phone.

the truth:

The second-generation ID cards currently in widespread use use wireless radio frequency identification technology. There is no magnetic stripe inside, so there is no possibility of them being "demagnetized" by mobile phones.

When we "swipe our ID card", the card swiping device will emit a radio frequency signal. At this time, the coil in the ID card obtains energy through electromagnetic induction to power itself briefly, completing an information exchange. The reader reads the information, decodes it, and sends it to the data processing system, thus completing an ID card verification.

If the ID card cannot read data, it is usually caused by damage to the chip or coil. Therefore, when using the ID card, we must avoid twisting, heavy pressure or placing it under high temperature to prevent damage to the chip and coil.

8. Eating iodized salt can prevent nuclear radiation

gossip:

By consuming iodized salt, you can prevent the accumulation of radioactive iodine in the thyroid gland, thereby protecting the thyroid gland.

the truth:

The idea of ​​protecting against nuclear radiation by eating iodized salt is not advisable.

The purpose of iodizing salt in my country is to prevent and treat iodine deficiency. In areas with iodine deficiency, iodizing salt can safely, conveniently and long-term supplement iodine nutrition for the entire population, preventing iodine deficiency from affecting the health of residents. According to my country's "National Food Safety Standard for Iodine Content in Edible Salt", the iodine content in iodized salt is 20mg-30mg per kilogram.

In a nuclear pollution accident, when the human body ingests radioactive iodine, it is mainly accumulated in the thyroid gland. In the early stage of the accident, it is necessary to ingest 100 mg of "stable iodine" once to protect the thyroid gland, which is equivalent to ingesting 3 kg to 5 kg of iodized salt once. The "Dietary Guidelines for Chinese Residents (2022)" clearly states that "adults should not consume more than 5 g of salt per day". If excessive intake is taken, it will cause a serious burden on various organs of the human body, induce or aggravate cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and chronic kidney disease, and in severe cases may cause dehydration or even death. Therefore, it is not advisable to prevent nuclear radiation by eating iodized salt!

9. The higher the camera pixel, the clearer the photo will be.

gossip:

The higher the camera's pixels, the clearer the photos will be.

the truth:

The imaging effect of a camera is determined by the lens and the body. We cannot simply pursue high pixels. The relationship between camera pixels and photo clarity is not absolute.

There are many factors that affect image quality, such as signal-to-noise ratio, spatial resolution, contrast, etc. For example, if you want to take a clearer picture of the moon, you first need a telephoto lens. The longer the focal length of the lens, the better the ability to distinguish details. Combined with a high-pixel, large-size CMOS detector, the camera's resolution ability is improved, and a very clear photo of the moon can be taken. If you use a general mobile phone to take an image of the moon, it is not as clear as a SLR camera, but the pixels of a SLR camera may not be as high as those of a mobile phone.

10. The “upside-down water control method” can save drowning people

gossip:

People who died from drowning can be rescued by lifting their feet, standing upside down and shaking a few times, and then performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation after the water is drained from their mouths.

the truth:

There is usually only a small amount of water in the respiratory tract of a drowning person, which will be absorbed by the alveoli, resulting in impaired gas exchange, lung damage, and insufficient oxygen in the blood (hypoxemia). Hanging upside down to control water cannot replenish the oxygen in the drowning person's blood, and most of the water controlled is water in the esophagus and stomach. For drowning people whose heart and breathing have stopped, starting cardiopulmonary resuscitation as soon as possible can save the patient.

When rescuing a drowning person, remember "One Don't Do" and Four Do's. "One Don't Do" means that after the drowning person is rescued to the shore, do not control the water. The method of carrying a drowning child on one's back and running around is absolutely wrong. It is impossible to expel water from the body, and it may also cause the food in the drowning person's stomach to flow back, aggravating breathing difficulties. "Four Do's" are the four correct steps to deal with a drowning person:

First, immediately rescue the drowning person from the water and quickly determine whether breathing and heartbeat have stopped. Second, call the emergency number 120 and get the nearest AED. Third, for those whose breathing and heartbeat have stopped, immediately perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and still follow the ABC (open airway - blow - press) resuscitation operation sequence. If there is no breathing but heartbeat, only blow (12 to 16 times per minute), no need to do chest compression. Fourth, if there is trauma, deal with it in time, especially head and neck injuries.