10 Dangerous Misconceptions

Hi, I’m Elliott, this is mental_floss on YouTube. Today, I’m gonna talk about some misconceptions about deadly things and situations, so buckle up. No, really.

1. YOU SINK IN QUICKSAND.

As John Mulaney said, “I always thought quicksand was going to be a much bigger problem than it turned out to be.” A 2005 study published in the journal Nature found that people can’t totally sink in quicksand.  We actually float in it, because we’re not dense enough to sink in the mixture of sand, clay, and saltwater. Even if someone struggles and wiggles like we’re told not to do, the most a person will sink is probably waist deep. At that point, if they just wait patiently for the quicksand to settle, they should be able to start floating out.

2. PULLING OUT A KNIFE IS BETTER THAN LEAVING IT INSIDE YOU.