Class of 2010
We found 8 concepts from your education that have since evolved or been debunked
What you were taught
"Flu shots give you the flu"
What we know now
A common misconception is that the flu shot can give you a mild case of the flu. This is false; flu vaccines contain inactivated viruses or only a single gene from the virus, which cannot cause the flu. Any symptoms experienced after vaccination are typically mild side effects, not the flu itself.
What you were taught
"The Big Bang theory explains where the universe came from"
What we know now
The Big Bang theory describes how the universe expanded from a very hot, dense state, but it does not explain what existed before the Big Bang or where the initial singularity came from. It describes the evolution of the universe, not its ultimate origin.
What you were taught
"Most of the oxygen we breathe comes from trees"
What we know now
While trees produce oxygen, the vast majority of the Earth's oxygen (estimated between 50-80%) is produced by marine phytoplankton through photosynthesis. This fact highlights the critical role of oceans in sustaining life on Earth.