Skip to main content area
Mental Floss
Magazine Cover Get a RISK-FREE issue Give a Gift iPad Subscription

Main menu

  • Amazing Facts
  • Big Questions
  • Knowledge Feed
  • LIsts
  • Quizzes
  • Subscribe
  • Store

Stephanie DePetrillo

Stephanie DePetrillo

@

questions

Why Do We Get Shivers Up Our Spines?

Picture this: You’re sitting on your couch in the dark alone, watching a scary movie. The killer is walking toward an unsuspecting victim, then suddenly jumps out at her. In that moment, the hairs on your body stand up, and you get a shiver down your spine. When you decide to go out for a walk in the crisp autumn air, the same thing happens. And when you put some music on your iPod, and it gets to your favorite part of your favorite song, you get the shivers again, this time with the little goosebumps on... READ ON

Subscribe to Author Articles

Daily Floss

Morning Cup of Links

Hide-and-Seek Cats

5 Questions

5 Questions: Yoga Poses

Brain Game

Teeming with Teams

Lunchtime Quiz

Troy McClure Film or Actual Terrible Movie?

Carly Simon’s dad is the Simon of Simon and Schuster.

Hit me with the next fact

brilliant questions from you!

When and Why Did People Start Saying "Um"?
>
What Did Grover Cleveland Do Between Terms?
>
Why Aren't There B Batteries?
>
SUBMIT A QUESTION

we want your answers!

What's Your Dream Board on Jeopardy?
What Museums Should Everyone Visit at Least Once?

water cooler ammo

SIGN UP NOW
for our daily newsletter with exclusive nuggets of information guaranteed to amaze your coworkers and friends!
  • © 2012 Mental Floss
  • About
  • RSS
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Advertising
  • Subscribe
  • Store
  • Give a Gift
  • iPad
  • Subscriber Services
  • Giveaways
  • Back Issues
Share to Facebook Share to Twitter
DID YOU KNOW? Marlon Brando hated memorizing lines so much that he posted cue cards everywhere to help him get through scenes. He even asked for lines to be written on an actress's posterior. (That request was denied.)