Everything changes over time. And even those facts that you previously thought were reinforced concrete may change over time. And there are also statements that were presented to you at school are not entirely correct, because the truth can be much more difficult than a student can understand.
Below are the facts that either have changed over time, or were presented to you incorrectly in the learning process.
Formerly: America gained independence on July 4, 1776
Now: America officially became independent seven years later, in 1783
Every year on July 4, Americans celebrate Independence Day on a grand scale. And although the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, America was not yet free from British rule until the Treaty of Versailles was signed on September 3, 1783. It was then that America became independent.
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Before: Pluto is a planet
Now: Pluto is not a planet
Already since the late 1800s, the potential existence of the ninth planet was known. In 1906, astronomer Percival Lowell even began a research project to discover the mysterious "Planet X".
In 1929, Clyde Combo began photographing stars in the constellation Gemini, where, according to calculations, "Planet X" was supposed to be. In 1930 Pluto was discovered and acquired planetary status.
But with the discovery in 2005 of Eris, which turned out to be the most massive trans-Neptunian object, Pluto was transferred to the category of minor planets.
Before: diamond is the hardest substance
Current: boron nitride nanomaterial is harder than diamond
American and Chinese physicists have created a special nanomaterial based on microcrystals of cubic boron nitride, which is superior in hardness and other qualities to diamonds.
Before: Salem witches were burned at the stake
Now: they were actually hanged
Even if you have not read Arthur Miller's Cruel Test, you were sure that the townspeople of Salem burned witches at the stake. But, according to archivist Richard Trask, it didn't happen like that. At the time, witchcraft was a criminal offense that was punishable by hanging rather than burning at the stake. In Europe, however, witchcraft was considered heresy, and the perpetrators were burned. Maybe because of this, the confusion began.
Before: the pyramids were built by slaves
Now: Egyptian workers built the pyramids
The culture maintains the myth that the pyramids were built by slaves. But recent archaeological finds actually prove that the pyramids were built by the Egyptians themselves. The workers were recruited from poor families. They were highly respected and even earned crypts near the pyramids. Slaves would not be treated like that.
Before: Can't fold a piece of paper in half more than seven times
Current: American Students Debunk This Myth With Toilet Paper
Students at St. Mark's School, led by their mathematics teacher James Stuart Tanton, have acquired 16 kilometers of toilet paper and hellish patience. In seven hours, they folded the paper in half 13 times.
Before: The Great Wall of China is the only human creation visible from space
Now: in fact, there are many such objects
Rumors that the Wall of China can be seen not only from a spaceship, but even from the moon, date back to 1938. In 2003, the first Chinese astronaut debunked this myth. He said that the Great Wall is visible from space only under certain conditions, and besides it, you can see major highways, bridges, airports and much more. But from the moon you can see absolutely nothing: only a white-blue sphere.