Random Swift Facts!
I happen to come across these in my spare time;- One cup of coffee contains approximately 1000 different chemicals, which cannot be tasted individually. Rather, together they make up the overall flavor.
- The entire Bible can be read aloud in 70 hours.
- “A spoon in the middle of two diverging paths is metaphorically insignificant” - Heard from a buddy of mine
Wrong myth #1 (this always frustrated me when people say this): Shaving your hair makes it grow back thicker
If this were true, you'd need to use this
Photo c/o wopico2.blogspot.com
Nope, cutting hair at the base has no effect on the actual hair follicle (unless you cut really deep I suppose). Otherwise, men who shave their heads would never experience hair loss (which would be sweet, and far better than Rogaine).
There are, however a few things that make it seem like this is the case. The end of hairs are tapered to a point while the base is the thickest point, so when they are cut, the part that is felt is the thickest the hair strand can be. Over time, the hair takes on the tapered shape again. Also, when you shave an area and you touch the stubble that forms, you are feeling the ends of all hair strands at once. With longer hair, they feel softer because they are long enough to bend.
So don’t worry about shaving. Go ahead.
Wrong Myth #2: Cold water boils quicker than warm/hot water
Photo c/o alwaysupward.com
I always wondered about this. Luckily, I finally was sitting at my computer when I remembered my desire for an answer, so here you go!
This is false. Sometimes I hear people say this (including my mom when I was younger), but it just isn’t true. Sometimes warmer water will freeze faster than colder water, but only under rare circumstances (known as the Mpemba effect). All things being equal, physics dictates that water with a higher initial temperature will reach the boiling point faster than water with a lower initial temperature.
Another related myth is that adding salt to water will make it boil faster (because it lowers the Specific Heat of the water). Technically, this is true. But, the effect is so minuscule that you’d never notice. The only substance that shows this effect is the salt; it just happens to be submerged in the water at the time.
I like dispelling myths that I’ve believed for a long time. It seems freeing somehow. Hurray!
I’ve always wondered about the water boiling myth as well, I have heard that putting salt in water keeps water from boiling over (I also heard that oil has this same effect). I’m not sure if those are true or not. But I am glad you were at your computer when you thought of boiling water, because I’ve had that same problem for years. Something really bothers you while you’re walking around campus, but when you get home you’re distracted by homework and facebook.
I had never heard that cold water boils faster, but i have definitely heard the salt thing. This is interesting. It’s lucky that you can remember this stuff while sitting in front of google. Next time I cook with someone and they try any of this I am going to feel super smart, so, thank you.