
Latest Articles

22 Most Memorable One-Hit Wonders We Still Love
There are a million no-hit wonders who’d gladly trade places with these one-hit wonders, which thrilled us for a short time, filling holes in our souls that we didn’t know existed, then got out of the way—voluntarily or otherwise.Quizzes





Weekly Spotlight
History

The Mental Floss Newsletter
A little smarter, a little weirder, and way more fun than the average email.
Entertainment
Reader Favorites
More Stories

7 Fall Traditions Kids Today Barely Experience Anymore
From burning leaf piles to unpasteurized cider, most of these onetime autumnal traditions have been legislated away.
The Minimum Wage the Year You Were Born, From 1940 to 2010
See how much workers earned per hour the year you were born, and how far that amount would stretch today.
5 Sounds That Defined Fall in the 1990s
From the 'X-Files' theme song to the humming of a dial-up modem and the rustle of falling leaves on the walk home from school, these were the sounds of autumn in the '90s.
15 Life-Saving Facts Everyone Should Know
Plus, what to do in an emergency.
Stephen King's Favorite (and Least Favorite) Stephen King Novels
The award-winning author has four favorites, and one he considers "awful."
Hidden Italy: Meet Stefania, the Farmer Who Makes Everything From Scratch
From the land to the table, Stefania is keeping Calabrian traditions alive, and you can be part of the story.
The Surprising Jobs George R.R. Martin Had Before Writing Fantasy Full Time
The journey to becoming a bestselling author wasn’t overnight for A Song of Ice and Fire writer George R.R. Martin.
Is It Really Illegal to Burn Money?
The next time you feel a burning desire to torch your Benjamins, think twice. Burning money—or intentionally damaging it in any way—is illegal.
How Much Did a Gallon of Gas Cost the Year You Were Born?
Ever wondered how much a gallon of gas cost the year you were born? Take a nostalgic drive through historic fuel prices from the 1950s to today.
Can You Pass This 3rd Grade Math Quiz? Most People Miss at Least One
It might be more difficult than you think!
30 Magical Facts About 'Practical Magic'
Revisit the 1998 cult classic 'Practical Magic' with these fun trivia facts about Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, the famous house set, and production secrets.
10 Scottish Words All ‘Outlander’ Fans Should Know
From bonnie to bairn, these Scottish words will have you speaking like a Highlander in no time!
Why Does Hispanic Heritage Month Start in the Middle of September?
The week of September 15 includes the anniversaries of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Mexico, and Chile's independence from Spain, which is why Hispanic Heritage Month starts at this time.
What the Lizzie Borden Rhyme Gets Wrong About the Real Case
Four lines, four errors, and the version everyone sings isn’t even the one that ran first.
40 Tricky Brain Teasers That Will Melt Your Gray Matter
Put your brain to work with 50 tricky brain teasers that test logic, math, lateral thinking, and problem-solving skills. See how many you can solve.
The Classic R.E.M. Hit That Came Together in Just Five Minutes
"All right, what would John McVie do here?"
The Most Popular Toy the Year You Were Born
From Etch A Sketch to Easy-Bake Oven to iPad, this toy was all the rage the year you were born.
6 Foods Pirates Really Ate at Sea
The strange, salty, and sometimes surprising foods pirates survived on at sea.
Inside Nance O’Neil’s Mysterious Relationship With Lizzie Borden
The world never let Lizzie Borden move on from the murders, but she may have found friendship and intimacy with one of the most celebrated actresses in the country.



































