Some of the “facts” drilled into classrooms decades ago have not stood the test of time any better than chalkboards and film projectors. They seemed invulnerable back then dictated in unison, inscribed onto tests, and ingrained in memory. But bring the clock forward to the present, and science, history, and a healthy dose of skepticism have proven just how way-off-base they were.
For Baby Boomers, these surprises are trivia with a point reminding us how rapidly knowledge changes, and how even the most self-assured teachers can impart myths. From planetary demotions to misinterpreted historical figures, here’s a reality check on some of the most monumental school-day “truths” that didn’t make it through the decades.
Take this as a nostalgic journey with a twist: the comfort of recalling easier lessons, combined with the surprise of discovering they weren’t all that accurate after all.
1. Pluto’s Planet Status Wasn’t Permanent
For decades, students memorized the solar system with Pluto as the ninth and last planet. All of that changed in 2006 when the International Astronomical Union redefined the term “planet.” Pluto and newly discovered Eris failed to meet the new standards, so both were reclassified as dwarf planets. Although Pluto still pulls at the heartstrings, its demotion demonstrates that even cosmic facts can change with new findings.
2. Columbus Didn’t Truly ‘Discover’ America
The rhyme “In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue” left out some critical context. Indigenous peoples had lived across the Americas for thousands of years, and Viking explorer Leif Erikson reached North America nearly 500 years before Columbus. What Columbus did do was open the door for European colonization bringing with it devastating consequences, including diseases that wiped out much of the Native population.
3. Blood Is Never Blue
Generation Boomers were taught that blood is blue within the body before it is exposed to oxygen. In fact, blood is red all the time robustly red when filled with oxygen, paler red when oxygen-starved. Veins just look blue due to how light is reflected from skin and tissue. It’s a classic instance of how a basic optical illusion can become a general scientific myth.
4. George Washington’s Dentures Weren’t Wooden
The photograph of America’s first president grinning with wooden teeth is absolutely fictional. Washington’s dentures were made from ivory, metal, and animal and human teeth some allegedly bought from enslaved individuals at Mount Vernon. The wooden‑tooth legend probably persisted because ivory can become discolored with age and take on a wood‑like color.
5. The Great Wall of China Isn’t the Only Man-Made Structure Visible from Space
This grand-sounding assertion was made for decades, but astronauts have refuted it. Apollo 12’s Alan Bean reported to NASA, “No man-made object is visible [from the Moon] at this scale.” Visibility from low Earth orbit is a matter of weather and illumination, and large cities or airports are sometimes easier to see than the Wall itself.
6. Bats Aren’t Blind
The term “blind as a bat” couldn’t be more misleading. Most bats can see pretty well better than humans, in some cases. Echolocation is a technique that they employ under conditions of limited visibility, not a substitute for bad eyesight. As the Organization for Bat Conservation’s Rob Mies explained, large bats “can see three times better than humans.”
7. Napoleon Wasn’t Particularly Short
Generations were taught about Napoleon’s alleged shortness and the so-called “Napoleon complex.” In fact, he was about 5’6″ or 5’7″, normal for his time. The myth came from a confusion between French and British units of measurement and was exaggerated by British propaganda wanting to belittle their competitor literally.
These myth-shattering facts aren’t mere fun facts reminders that knowledge is constantly changing. Something that was once taught as irrefutable fact can change with new research, improved technology, or a new point of view. For Boomers, a reminder to remain curious and open‑minded since the next “fact” to be dethroned could be one we hold true today.
