Legends and Misconceptions in Earth System Science
#1) Earth's North Magnetic Pole is located at the North Pole
More accurately... The magnetic pole found deep inside the northern hemisphere of the Earth is a south-type magnetic pole. Think about it, opposite poles attract. If we hold two bar magnets near each other, the "N" pole of one magnet is attracted by the "S" pole of another. Physicists define "N-type" magnetic poles as being the north-pointing ends of compasses and magnets. This definition is built into all of modern science and engineering. This means that the magnetic pole in the northern hemisphere of the Earth is an "S-type" magnetic pole. It has to be this way, otherwise it would not attract the North dial of a compass.
This is a long-standing physical standard, resulting in Earth's magnetic south pole being located at the geographical north pole and magnetic north in Antarctica.
#2) Light waves travel at the "speed of light".
More accurately... Light waves only travel at the "speed of light" (186,000 miles per second) while moving through a perfect vacuum. Light waves travel slower in the air, and significantly slower when moving through glass. Light bends when it enters glass or water because the electromagnetic waves slow down. Furthermore, the speed of light is different for different wavelengths of light, this is why can prisms can split light rays into differnet colors of the spectrum. So while the numerical value for the speed of light in a vacuum, (c), is very important in physics, as far as light waves traveling through Earths atmosphere and hydrosphere, there is no single unique speed called "The Speed Of Light."
#3) Earth has enough resources to support western civilization lifestyles and its burgeoning population
More accurately... Earth has all the land, water and natural resources it will ever have and they are being consumed at greater rates with each ensuing decade. Until humans embrace Gaia principles of conservation, stewardship and sustainability, we risk running out of fresh water and other life-sustaining resources, as well as over-polluting our oceans and atmosphere.
In terms of non-essential fossil fuels that modern economies and lifestyles depend upon, global oil production is expected to peak by 2020 and go into terminal decline. Coal reserves are significantly more abundant, however, burning coal to
produce electricity is the largest source of air pollution, acid rain, and carbon dioxide emissions, the primary cause of global warming.