十大常见科学谬论或事实-2

6、消化口香糖需要7年时间

或许，我们的肠胃消化口香糖会比消化有机食物稍困难一些。但实际上，口香糖并不会从我们的消化系统那里得到什么特殊的待遇。医生们认为，上述这种不正确的说法之所以会出现，可能是因为人们为了不让孩子们将这种橡胶性物质吞咽到肚子里，所想出来的办法。

It takes seven years to digest gum

While it may prove a bit more difficult to break down than organic foodstuffs¹, chewing gum gets no special treatment from the digestive system. Doctors figure this old wives' tale was invented to prevent kids from swallowing the rubbery substance.

7、打哈欠会传染

几乎我们每个人都遇到过“打哈欠被传染”的情况，因此从经验上来讲，我们很难否认这种说法。真正的问题在于，这其中究竟有没有什么生理学上的依据在起作用，而答案很可能是肯定的。科学家发现，就连黑猩猩之间，打哈欠也是会相互传染的。

Yawning is "contagious²"

Empirically, this is tough to deny; perhaps you'll yawn while reading this. The real question is whether there's actually something physiological³ at work here, and the answer is likely yes: even chimpanzees mimic⁴ each other's yawns.

8、成年人不会再长出新的脑细胞

人类脑部许多至关重要的发育都集中在孩童时期。过去人们曾普遍认为脑细胞在成年后就会基本保持静态，应对新情况时，结构也不会发生改变。但有最新研究结果显示，在人们步入成年之后，脑部的神经细胞仍会继续生长并发生变化。

Adults don't grow new brain cells

Much of a human's crucial brain development happens during childhood, but it isn't all downhill from there. Studies have shown that neurons continue to grow and change well into the adult years.

9、喝鸡汤能治感冒

相关研究已证实，鸡汤中确实含有某些抗炎成分，能有助于减少因感冒引起的喉咙充血。因此，世界范围内的妈妈们在孩子感冒不舒服时，还是应该强迫他们喝下对身体有益的鸡汤。

Chicken soup can cure the common cold

Cure is a strong word, but science suggests Moms around the world are still right in forcing spoonfuls of chicken soup down their kids' throats. Studies have found that the broth⁵ actually contains anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce congestion⁶.

10、人死后指甲和头发会继续生长

尽管看起来确实如此，人死后他们的手指甲和头发反而更长了，但这种恐怖的现象仅仅是种错觉而已。要知道，人死后尸体会严重脱水，皮肤发生收缩后，就会露出更多的指甲和头发。

Hair and fingernails continue growing after death

Though hair and fingernails appear to keep growing after death, this is merely a morbid⁷ optical illusion at work. In death the human body dehydrates severely⁸, retracting⁹ enough skin to expose more nail and hair.