ANCIENT WISDOM

Not all Latin is dead: do you know these 8 phrases still thrown around?

Image: Joseph Corl

Is Latin really dead? Far from it. Its heritage is deeply ingrained in the English language –a gift from Roman conquerors– and its remnants have evolved into many modern languages. Countless professional fields still use a lot of Latin words and phrases daily, such as law, science, and medicine.

Moreover, several day-to-day words and sayings have roots in roughly equivalent Latin expressions or are still used in their Latin form. Think of YOLO as a sort of freshened-up Carpe Diem, "seize the day".

So, why not keep Latin alive by learning a few ancient tidbits of wisdom? You might even impress your friends and family!

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Literal meaning: "The die is cast."

This ominous (and badass sounding) phrase is attributed to Julius Caesar, who allegedly pronounced it after crossing the Rubicon river with his army, thus defying the Roman Senate and starting the civil war against Pompey that eventually led him to glory. It indicates a point of no return, where irreversible actions with unforeseen consequences have been taken already.

Image: Vidar Nordli-Mathisen

Literal meaning: "Always loyal."

You probably heard this one already as the motto of the United States Marine Corps (sometimes shortened to Semper Fi), but it is ubiquitous. Towns, family crests, schools, and other military units all benefit from the eloquent and powerful brevity of this one.

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Literal meaning: "Something for something."

In other words, "You scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours." They say there is no such thing as a free lunch, and although you might disagree, this ancient phrase encompasses that feeling. It is extensively used in legal settings, usually referring to contracts and transactions.

Quid pro quo might also be the origin of the use of "quid" as slang for the British currency, and many popular expressions make puns out of the original phrase.

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Literal meaning: "Who benefits?"

Detectives and journalists will wonder this aloud whenever they get the hunch that following the money might solve a crime or lead to identifying its perpetrators. Disclaimer: rocking a pipe and a deerstalker hat is not required to make use of this adage of criminal investigation.

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Literal meaning: "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Again, a hardcore quote attributed to Julius Caesar. It is pretty self-explanatory, but if you are still wondering, it signifies a swift and decisive victory (and likely an oversized ego).

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Literal meaning: "I think, therefore I am."

Suitable for the philosophically inclined, it surely is an intriguing way to begin a speech or lecture. Actually, cogito, ergo sum is the first principle of René Descartes’ 1637 magnum opus Discourse on the Method. A French philosopher and polymath, Descartes inaugurated a philosophical school of thought called Cartesianism.

In Descartes’ own words, "we cannot doubt our own existence while we doubt."

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Literal meaning: "In wine, there is truth."

If you are already tired of pompous witticisms, in vino veritas definitely breaks the mold. The phrase suggests that, when under the influence of alcohol, people are more likely to speak their true minds.

According to ancient Greek historian Herodotus, the Persians believed so much in this maxim that they had the custom of rethinking decisions taken while sober after imbibing a few drinks. Even if you have your doubts about this one, you can’t deny it’s great for parties.

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Literal meaning: "Art is long, life is short."

A more nuanced interpretation of the phrase might be something along the lines of "skilfulness takes time and life is short." In other words, learning anything takes time, and there never seems to be enough time to go around.

Superficially, it might look like a sad thing to think about, but it can also provide a little encouragement when you are feeling frustrated or impatient while picking up new skills or tackling long-term projects. Good things take time, so take it easy on yourself!

Common misconceptions

12 completely false "facts" everyone believes to be true

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Many of us have grown up thinking that bats are blind, that we can't go swimming right after lunch, that we only have five senses, or that camels store water in their humps. Wait, do you still believe in any of these things? Don't worry! To prevent you from continuing to spread wrong ideas, we have compiled a list of 12 myths that we all believe to be true but are actually false. Do you dare to question your common sense?

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It’s interesting how some ideas remain common sense for centuries without us questioning their veracity. A great example is the notion that we have only five senses, a concept that was developed by Aristotle more than 2,300 years ago and is still taught today from early childhood.

Fortunately, the advancement of science allows us to better understand the complexity and diversity of the world around us. Today, scientists argue that we have far more than just five senses—anywhere from 20 to 30—including thermoception, pain, hormonal sense, and balance, among many others.

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Contrary to what you may have thought all your life, pure water is not a good conductor of electricity. What really conducts electricity in water are its impurities, such as salts and minerals.

For example, tap water, which contains several dissolved ions, is a good conductor. In contrast, distilled water molecules have no free electrons to transfer an electric current. Hence, when handling electrical appliances near water, the real danger doesn't come from the water itself, but from its impurities.

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This is a typical scene in movies: a tough character taking a swig of some spirit before crossing a snow-covered field as an antidote to the cold. Although it is a widespread idea, it is not something you should imitate.

In fact, alcohol causes your body temperature to drop. Alcohol produces a momentary sensation of warmth by dilating blood vessels and directing blood to the surface of the skin, but before long, the body's core temperature drops, and you feel colder. Did you know that?

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No matter what your parents told you as a child, there is no scientific evidence that swimming after eating is dangerous. The assumption that you should wait at least an hour stems from the idea that after we eat, all the blood travels to the stomach and the body is not able to adequately supply the muscles.

As convincing as this may sound, the truth is that our body manages to maintain muscle work while we digest. In fact, some professional swimmers eat immediately before a competition to have enough energy to perform well.

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One of the most widespread myths in neuroscience is that we only use 10% of our brains. In reality, we use it all, even when we are doing nothing.

This misconception probably arose at the end of the 19th century. Since then, scientists have been able to determine that our entire brain is active thanks to modern neuroimaging techniques, such as functional magnetic resonance imaging. Despite the evidence, popular culture, the media, and even some scholars continue to perpetuate the myth that we only use 10% of our brains. So remember, no matter what you hear out there, your brain is never off; it’s active even when you sleep.

Image: R. J. Mathar, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sleepwalking is a sleep disorder that occurs when people, usually children or young adults, walk or do other activities while they are still asleep.

Contrary to popular belief, waking a sleepwalker is unlikely to pose a major health risk. Moreover, according to experts, in the event of witnessing someone in such a state, the wise thing to do is to help them back to bed and, if necessary, wake them up.

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Camels can indeed stay hydrated even in the most inhospitable, arid, and hot environments. However, a common misconception is that these animals store water in their humps.

In reality, their humps are filled with fat, which provides them with energy for long distances. So, how do they manage to last up to 10 days without drinking water? The main key lies in their kidneys, which are able to concentrate urine to prevent water loss. In addition, their fur protects them from the ambient heat, preventing perspiration, and the mucosal structure of their nose can retain 66% of the moisture in the air.

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Knuckle cracking is a common habit. You might have noticed that many people do it, often without giving it much thought. For others, that characteristic popping sound raises concerns about its impact on health, such as its possible link to arthritis.

However, there is no conclusive scientific evidence that the manipulation of joints is associated with the development of arthritis. Numerous studies have found no correlation between knuckle cracking and chronic joint inflammation. In fact, this habit is usually harmless and is often simply a way to release tension.

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Setting your phone to airplane mode when boarding a flight seems like common sense. You wouldn't be crazy to think that your phone's signal could interfere with an airplane's navigation systems, potentially causing a disaster. However, the need for airplane mode is largely a myth.

There is actually no evidence that a cell phone has ever interfered with aircraft systems. The real reason airlines don't allow phone communications in the air is to avoid disturbing noises. Let's be honest, the majority of travelers probably prefer the silence anyway.

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Bats hunt in the dark by echolocation, which means they use self-produced sound echoes that bounce off objects to help them navigate. But that doesn't mean that they can't see.

Bats are not blind at all; in fact, they have pretty good vision. Although they can't see as well as humans, they can see better than many mammals —they can distinguish shapes, contrasts, and some colors. So, despite their nocturnal habits and the many popular sayings we like to repeat, bats have pretty good eyesight.

Image: Brian McGowan

We're sorry to be the ones to debunk this myth, but it's time you knew that gravity exists everywhere in the universe. The term "zero gravity" is often used to describe the conditions experienced by astronauts in space, but it's a bit misleading, as gravity is never truly zero.

The more correct term to describe the phenomenon experienced by astronauts when they are on the International Space Station, for example, would be "microgravity".

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Fictional characters such as Winnie the Pooh helped fuel this myth. While it is true that it’s common to see bears eating honey, it is the bees and larvae they are really interested in.

While honey alone provides them with some vitamins, minerals, and calories, such as sugar, the insects found inside the beehives give them the protein they need to stay strong.