Who knew Wikipedia had a list of misconceptions? Perhaps the most relevant for Europeans:
Prolonged exposure to cold weather such as rain or winter conditions does not increase the likelihood of catching a cold.[63] Although common colds are seasonal, with more occurring during winter, experiments so far have failed to produce evidence that short-term exposure to cold weather or direct chilling increases susceptibility to infection, implying that the seasonal variation is instead due to a change in behaviours such as increased time spent indoors close to others.[64][65][66][67] Viruses spread more easily when humidity is low which is the case during wintertime.[68] A lowering of body temperature can, however, reduce the body's resistance to an infection that is already present, and cause temporary sneezing and runny nose.[69] (See hypothermia)
@strcmp: The misconception is that the cold weather causes the cold. And yes, you'll hear people making this argument constantly in Germany.
Exposure to cold can decrease the body's immune function, but the effect (if you click through) is small and temporary, and is in any event not the cause of any resulting cold: the virus is!
Posted by: Andrew | July 26, 2010 at 11:31 AM
Why is this a misconception? "A lowering of body temperature can, however, reduce the body's resistance to an infection that is already present, and cause temporary sneezing and runny nose." says it is not: cold weather triggers the illness symptoms, if you happen to be infected. Just carrying a virus is no problem (you don't know anyways if there are no symptoms), the symptoms are the problem. So if there is a non-zero probability that you are infected (through other, non-weather-related circumstances), cold weather may lead to illness.
Posted by: strcmp | July 24, 2010 at 06:28 PM
@cohu: A homoeopathic placebo? Dont you think you would get water and alcohol in California too?
Posted by: Alex | July 23, 2010 at 10:49 PM
I hate all forms of moving air, it's probably in my genes. The Fan Death myth isn't limited to Germany, though.
Posted by: cohu | July 23, 2010 at 05:36 PM
Do they have an entry explaining that FANS don't make you sick or cause instant death? To the Germans, a fan is practically witchcraft...make that any kind of MOVING air in general.
Posted by: Lisa Schulz | July 23, 2010 at 02:45 PM
Anne, who cares? wikipedia is the source of information, and it is credited.
Posted by: Thomas | July 23, 2010 at 10:36 AM
Thank god we have good old Meditonsin to help us through the cold German winters! I'm already stocking up on the stuff to take with me to California.
My all-time favorite Wikilist: List of notable apes.
Posted by: cohu | July 22, 2010 at 07:19 PM
in a blog post like this, i'd really expect some information about the medium via which you stumpled upon this.
or is it just a coincidence that you're posting at the same time that it's on reddit's frontpage?
Posted by: anne | July 22, 2010 at 05:15 PM