The Vox Box

Mon., Jan. 5, 2009

2009 Winter Myth Fayre

It's time to put some myths to bed, thanks to the British Medical Journal. Sorry moms, but reading in the dark won't earn us permanent blindness, plucking a gray hair will not cause 10 more to grow in its place, and wearing a hat will not save us from freezing to death.

Not only this, but the BMJ says we do not have to drink 8 glasses of water a day unless we are eating the full amount of recommended calories, turkey will not make us sleepy, and sugar doesn't cause hyperactivity in children.

Please take interest in part one and part two of BMJ's project.

Of course, moms, a Google search would've snuffed those myths out quickly. Then again, WebMD will tell you that turkey might give you imaginary restless leg syndrome.

Hope you all have a good snow day and feel free to leave your favorite medical myths above.

Posted Jan. 5, 2009, 11:03 a.m.

In 2006, then-editor Steve Smith of The Spokesman-Review had the idea of starting a publication for an often forgotten audience: teenagers. The Vox Box was a continuation of the Vox, an all-student staffed newspaper published by The Spokesman-Review. High school student journalists who staffed the Vox made all content decisions as they learn about the trade of journalism. This blog's mission was to give students an opportunity to publish their voices. The Vox Box and the Vox wrapped up in June 2009, but you can follow former staffers' new blog at http://voxxiez.blogspot.com.