Everybody knows that noon sun is in the south, and that it travels from left to right in the sky. Everybody knows that… until they go to the southern hemisphere where it is the other way around. Noon sun is in the north, and it travels from right to left.
Things that “everybody knows” often come from a kind of habit which we take for granted. Understandably so. We cannot spend hours, days and weeks researching and thinking through every single piece of information we need in everyday situations. It would quickly become impossible to function. We could not even make a cup of tea in the morning without thinking through whether it is a good idea, without knowing where this particular tea bag came from, and how does the kettle really work…
“Knowing” certain things without lengthy ruminations is not merely practical: it is necessary and inevitable. The down side is that there are many things “everybody knows” which are inaccurate or simply not true.
“Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Hydrogen Hydroxide, or Hydric acid, is a highly reactive hydroxyl radical. It is known to mutate DNA, denature proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and chemically alter critical neurotransmitters. The atomic components of DHMO are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol. ” ~ dhmo.org