The Cypriot who’s debunking global lies

You swallow eight spiders a year in your sleep. Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis. Your fingernails grow after you die.

We all grew up knowing these things; knowing that elephants are the only animal that can’t jump, that the Great Wall of China can be seen from space, and that goldfish have three-second memories.

They’re all incorrect. These popular science facts are wholly untrue; examples of what can happen when non-scientists get hold of the wrong end of the stick.

Fortunately, most of these facts are harmless. Unless you’re determined to have a pachyderm test trampolines, you’re unlikely to face dire consequences. What’s far more important are the science facts about our health and wellbeing – the things we think we’ve got right but actually haven’t. And that’s where Those Nerdy Girls come in.

Born from the pandemic (a time when everyone, no matter their job, purported to be a medical authority!), thosenerdygirls.org is a group of highly accomplished female scientists; women who are top of their fields. Committed to providing free and equitable access to health information, they’re the experts who translated emerging Covid-19 science for a public audience, guided by sound research, respect and impartiality.

So great was their global impact that, even with the pandemic over, the group is still going strong. Comprising about 40 women from fields as diverse as epidemiology, technology and sexual health, these are the MythBusters of our time. The people you can trust to know what’s true and what isn’t.

And their Director of Science Communication is from Cyprus…

“What we’re doing is helping our readers make better health decisions,” explains Irini Hadjisavva. “We’re your trusted messengers, the experts who provide practical and factual health information. Our aim is to build readers’ confidence in navigating health information and sharing their knowledge with others.”

A Molecular and Cellular Biologist who studied at the University of Virginia and George Washington University, 46-year-old Irini is a published author, founder of the popular Instagram Live series Love Plants, and a science educator.

She’s lived in Nicosia for the last 20 years, constantly travelling back and forth to the States, where she’s involved in several top-level projects. And, since 2023, she’s been a member of Those Nerdy Girls.

“These days,” she explains, “there’s so much information online about science and health-based subjects, that it becomes really hard to know what to believe. As expert scientists, we distil the facts of the matter; give you the tools to learn which sources to trust, and where to look for information.

“There are,” she adds, “some very dangerous misconceptions out there…

“Take vitamins for example. Many people believe vitamins and supplements are completely harmless. But they’re not actually regulated by the FDA, and are in some ways less safe than traditional medicines.

“While it’s true that taking some vitamin C every day won’t harm you, one thing a lot of people don’t know is that you CAN overdose on vitamins and supplements, and they can interact with others.”

During the pandemic, Those Nerdy Girls were responsible for debunking several widespread Covid myths.

“A lot of the subjects we tackle are in answer to queries from readers,” says Irini. “That’s why you often see our articles start with a question.

“One specific myth we looked at in detail was the idea that you could shed the vaccine. It’s actually biologically impossible to experience any effects from being near a vaccinated person.

“Then there’s the misguided belief that everyone who died from Covid was going to die anyway – simply not true! It’s important to remember that while some of those who succumbed to Covid-19 would have died anyway over this period of time, this is not the norm and does not explain the huge increases in overall mortality we have seen in Covid-19 hit cities and countries.

“This type of ‘information problem’ is exactly what Those Nerdy Girls address: helping the public make informed, science-based decisions when there’s not enough information, too much information, incorrect or misleading information.”

According to the latest round of the European Social Study, 11 per cent of the island trusts scientists completely. That’s pretty good compared to the rate of total trust in Cyprus’ police (4%), the legal system (also 4%), and politicians (a measly 0.8%). But not every scientist is made the same – just like our justice systems, scientists can also take backhanders…

“At Those Nerdy Girls, we ensure absolute impartiality through an air-tight editorial review process, by utilising multiple experts from a variety of disciplines on our writing team, and by refusing to take any funding from any company that has a vested interest,” Irini explains.

“There’s a huge information overload out there. And one of the key tenets of our organisation is to help people sort through what’s accurate and what isn’t. Every time you read a ‘science fact’, you need to ask yourself if the source is credible and confirmed; whether the data is presented in a sensationalist manner; if the information is current.

“And, most importantly, does the author actually have demonstrable expertise in this subject? Because in the digital age, anyone can purport to be an expert on anything!

“Next time you want to know the truth, ask us Nerdy Girls! We’re experts in our fields. We don’t tolerate any attempts to change our viewpoints. And we stick to the science no matter what.”

For more information, visit thosenerdygirls.org

Six of the most common science myths

You swallow eight spiders a year in your sleep

A total myth, though it’s unclear where it originated. “If someone’s sleeping, they’re breathing hot air in and out,” says Dr Geoff Oxford, honorary secretary of the British Arachnological Society. “Why on earth would a spider go in? They just don’t do that.”

Cracking your knuckles causes arthritis

Multiple studies have proven there is no link between knuckle cracking and arthritis. The sound is caused by the bursting of gas bubbles in the synovial fluid of the joints.

Fingernails continue to grow after death

This myth arises from the fact that the skin dehydrates and retracts after death, making hair and nails appear longer. They do not actually grow.

The Great Wall of China can be seen from space

This was a myth that first appeared in Ripley’s Believe it or Not! in 1932, three decades before we ventured into space. Countless astronauts have now confirmed that, unless you’re at an extremely low altitude, the Great Wall simply merges into its surroundings.

Goldfish have three-second memories

They’re not quick learners. But a study into whether goldfish could tell the difference between two pieces of music found that, after about 100 sessions, the fish could be trained to bite bread associated with the correct song 75 per cent of the time.

Elephants are the only animal that can’t jump

Have you ever seen a slug jump? Enough said!