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Quiz: How Fast Can You Pick the First Word in the 2010s Hit Song Title?
The 2010s were...perhaps not as recent as you think. Test your knowledge of the biggest musical hits of the era with this quiz, then read more about how streaming and social media changed music permanently during this decade.Quizzes





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The Mental Floss Newsletter
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It Is Illegal to Collect Rainwater?
Rainwater might seem like it’s yours for the taking, but local laws can make collecting it surprisingly complicated.
The Highest-Paid Jobs in the United States, Ranked
Discover the top-earning occupations in the U.S. according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, led almost entirely by medical specialists and surgeons.
The Beatles Movie That Helped Inspire 'The Monkees'
The movie 'A Hard Day's Night' paved the way for the TV sitcom 'The Monkees,' which led to the success of the real band The Monkees.
Orpheus and Eurydice: Retold Across Time, From Virgil to 'Hadestown'
The story of Orpheus and Eurydice is one of the most adapted in history. We examine eight versions crafted over the course of millennia.
The Beautiful Reason Roses Appear on Names at the 9/11 Memorial
Learn the moving story behind the daily white rose birthday tradition at the 9/11 Memorial in New York City.
The World Trade Center Remnant Hiding in Plain Sight Beneath NYC
Discover the last remaining section of the original World Trade Center subway concourse—a forgotten 1970s corridor preserved inside NYC's modern Oculus hub.
6 Typical Breakfast Foods American Families Ate in the 1950s
The 1950s were a time when hearty breakfasts came into style, after having to ration food during World War II.
What Airport Security Was Really Like Before 9/11
The lack of restrictions travelers faced before September 11, 2001, seems almost unbelievable today.
The Spiritual Meaning of Waking Up at 3 a.m.
Waking up at 3 a.m. can feel eerie. Explore the spiritual meanings and beliefs associated with this mysterious middle-of-the-night wake-up.
'Carrie,' 'Verity,' and More Thrilling Book-to-Screen Adaptations Perfect for Fall 2026
From 'Other Mommy' to 'Victorian Psycho,' this fall's book-to-screen adaptations skew towards the unhinged and the uncomfortable.
The Chance Studio Recording That Launched Otis Redding’s Career
At the very end of another musician's recording session, Otis Redding was given a chance to try out the mic. He took it.
Quiz: Only True ’60s Movie Experts Can Name the Film From the Villain
The villains from movies of the '60s were some of the best. Can you name them all?
What American Newspaper Front Pages Looked Like on September 12, 2001
"America has changed forever..."
Leonardo DiCaprio’s Favorite Leonardo DiCaprio Film—and His Biggest Career Regret
"My biggest regret is not..."
What Did People Really Eat in Medieval Taverns?
Medieval taverns served much more than ale, with hearty everyday foods making up most of the menu.
5 Experiences the Internet Quietly Made Obsolete
From rewinding VHS tapes to waiting for songs on the radio, the internet quietly wiped out these nostalgic daily experiences.
10 Common Children’s Toys in the Middle Ages
These toys were found through excavation reports, museum catalogue records, and the margins of one very expensive book.
Why Do We Say “Close, But No Cigar”?
Most people believe the phrase "close, but no cigar" comes from a fairground tradition, but a paper trail reveals something stranger.
The Beatles Album That Helped Inspire Otis Redding's Biggest Hit
Otis Redding's "(Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay" was inspired in part by the Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's" and became his biggest hit.



































