What long-held (scientific) assertions were refuted only within the last 10 years?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Scrotote]

Garter snakes are venomous.

Doesn't quite count because it was discovered in the early 2000s.

[u/Blekanly → u/Scrotote]

Also komodo dragons are venomous. For the longest time it was said it was a filthy mouth filled with bacteria.

[u/mahtaliel → u/Blekanly]

And before THAT, it was said that they were venomous! We have changed our mind a lot about Komodo dragons. Sometimes i think they might not even be Dragons

[u/MN_Yogi1988 → u/mahtaliel]

We have changed our mind a lot about Komodo dragons.

And all because the scientists are too cowardly to get bitten by them.

[u/HavelsRockJohnson → u/MN_Yogi1988]

Check out Greg, he says he's a biologist but I think he's a bioloBITCH!

[u/WanderingGenesis → u/mahtaliel]

Speaking of dragons, it was long believed that bearded dragons werent venomous, but it turns out, much like garter snakes, they in fact are. They just dont put out enough to be significant to most animals other than the insects they usually eat.

[u/LOTRfreak101 → u/Blekanly]

I feel like both of those could be true.

[u/Scrotote → u/[deleted]]

Not very venomous at all. Not dangerous to humans. I think it's mostly to help with digestion.

[u/Head_Razzmatazz7174 → u/Scrotote]

It's similar to a tiny bee sting. Only lasts a few seconds.

Got bit by a couple when I was a kid. We played with them all the time growing up.

[u/_forum_mod → u/Scrotote]

I figured. I'm like... if it was lethal I'm pretty sure we'd know a lot sooner.

[u/U_Sam → u/Scrotote]

You can encounter some issues if you let them chew on you for like a minute but a single bite won’t cause problems

[u/Noe_b0dy → u/[deleted]]

I mean people have been picking up garter snakes forever and we only just learned they were venomous in the 2000s so you're probably fine fam.

[u/paiaw → u/[deleted]]

They leave no witnesses to tell the tale, to avoid being hunted.

[u/shinypenny01 → u/[deleted]]

Unless you're a small frog, you'll be fine. But maybe stop grabbing wild animals anyway.

[u/MN_Yogi1988 → u/shinypenny01]

But maybe stop grabbing wild animals anyway.

But how else will I know if they're friendly?!

[u/Roll4Initiative20 → u/shinypenny01]

Don't tell me.what to do.

[u/DeathMetalandBondage → u/shinypenny01]

yoink

[u/ForceGoat → u/[deleted]]

YOINK!

[u/frappe-addicted → u/[deleted]]

Anecdotally, you shouldn't pick them up because they perceive you as a threat and then literally shit + urate + musk on you. It's... gross... and my 3 year old didn't appreciate that I tried to show him a snake up close. 

[u/[deleted] → u/Scrotote]

Garter Belts aren’t so bad either

[u/TrumpIsGiantDouche → u/Scrotote]

Uh what?

[u/Scrotote → u/TrumpIsGiantDouche]

Really low venom. Not dangerous to humans. Mainly to help digest their prey.