13 Things That Seem Wrong (But Aren't)
![13 Things That Seem Wrong (But Aren't)](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/8/2/804682_320x180.jpg)
Everyone loves to discover facts that contradict common sense and popular opinion. Here are a few extremely counter-intuitive results from the science archives for your viewing pleasure (and then for the next time somebody asks you a "basic logic" question).
For example, did you know that giving bonuses for performance can actually…decrease performance? Or that in a room of 23 people, there's (somehow) a 50% chance that at least two will share a birthday? What the heck are the odds? Okay, I guess we just told you the odds. But still! How does that math work out?
Ok fine, one more: did you know that flammable and inflammable are actually SYNONYMS? Don't look at us like that, we didn't…invent English. We just write in it. Ed note: most of the time.
So, trust your instincts. Maybe. For example, on emotional matters. Trust the professionals when it comes to facts. Here are 13 examples of how your gut instinct aint always correct.
Live in a city to save the environment
![People who live in cities have smaller carbon footprints Although we imagine living in the middle of the woods to help the environment, using public transport and living in denser housing results in a comparatively smaller carbon footprint. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/6/804646.jpg)
Source: The Guardian
Financial incentive doesn't work
![Giving bonuses for better performance actually decreases performance Surprising researchers, studies show that people who expect to receive a reward for completing a task or for doing that task well don't do as well as people who complete it for no reward. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/5/9/804659.jpg)
Source: Harvard Business Review
Killer whales ... aren't whales
![Killer whales are dolphins Killer whales aren't whales. They're the largest member of the dolphin family. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/8/0/804680.jpg)
Source: Ocean Conservancy
Survivorship Bias
![The military wanted to armor the most-hit areas of planes, but a statistician correctly argued otherwise This one is due to survivorship bias. The military was only looking at surviving planes, meaning their most-hit areas were durable enough to survive. Instead, he suggested they arm the least-hit areas, to account for attacks on missing planes that never returned. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/4/804664.jpg)
Source:
All the singles ladies buying houses
![Twice as many single women are buying homes as single men Although the wage gap is very real (and we're bored of arguing about it), single women are more likely to buy houses as they get older in the US. 18% of homebuyers were single women, compared to men at only 7%. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/2/804642.jpg)
Source: CNBC
The Birthday Paradox
![In a room of 23 people, there's a 50% chance two people share a birthday This is called the Birthday Paradox. With 23 people, there are 253 possible pairs, which is obviously more than 50% of 365 days in a year. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/9/804639.jpg)
Source: Scientific American
The Earth's Distance from the Sun isn't as important as the tilt
![The Earth is farthest from the Sun in July Low density of incident rays (northern winter) Earth Night Day Sun Equator High density of incident rays leouthorn cummer In the Northern Hemisphere, we have summer in July because of the tilt of the Earth's axis, not because of the Earth's general proximity to the Sun. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/6/0/804660.jpg)
Source: Earthsky
Benjamin Franklin effect
![People are more likely to do a favor for someone they already did a favor for than someone who did a favor for them Called the Benjamin Franklin effect, our monkey brains are more likely to have affection for people we act kindly to. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/8/804638.jpg)
Source: Human Relations
Braess's paradox
![Closing streets can lead to a faster commute This is known as Braess's paradox. If streets are already crowded and a new street is open, drivers will start to go into the new street, clogging both the new street as well as the streets that provide access to it. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/3/804633.jpg)
Source: New York Times
Flammable vs. inflammable
!['Flammable' and 'inflammable' are synonyms They both mean easily set on fire, which is incredibly confusing. Good job, English. (Inflammable comes from the Latin word to inflame.) CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/4/804634.jpg)
Source: Merriam Webster
Think before reaching for a Kleenex
![Blowing your nose could make it worse According to one study, blowing your nose reverses the flow of mucus into the sinuses and slows the drainage. Researchers aren't sure if this is harmful but might lead to infection. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/4/3/804643.jpg)
Source: The New York Times
Third is better than second
![Bronze medalists are happier than silver medalists Rio2016 8 ARY In the Olympics, silver medalists are more likely to compare themselves to the gold medalist, but bronze medalists are more likely to compare themselves to people who didn't medal at all. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/2/804632.jpg)
Source: NPR
Order the large pizza
![A 16-inch pizza is 4 times as big as an 8-inch When in doubt, always get the larger pizza to get the most 'za for your buck. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/6/3/1/804631.jpg)
Source: NPR