Mental Floss

ENTERTAINMENT

8 Surprising Facts About Eddie Murphy

LISTS

The Stories Behind 20 Inventions That Changed the World

ENTERTAINMENT

Michael J. Fox's 'Back to the Future: Part II' Hoverboard Can Be Yours—for $80,000

MISCONCEPTIONS

7 Misconceptions About the ‘80s

These aren't even the only Portlands.

MAPS

Which Portland? This Interactive Map Shows All the Duplicate Place Names in the U.S.

Don't get too cozy—these areas could probably use a little extra cleaning.

LIVE SMARTER

Checking Into a Hotel Room? Here Are 5 Things You Should Clean Yourself

BIG QUESTIONS

Can Plants Die of Old Age?

Many people have tried to describe durian's taste and smell over the centuries.

FOOD

21 Attempts to Describe the Taste of Durian, the World’s Smelliest Fruit

WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

1

10 Inspiring Facts About Marian Anderson

2

13 Must-Read Books by Women’s Prize for Fiction Winners

3

14 Fascinating Facts About Phillis Wheatley

4

Amazon’s Women’s History Month Hub Page Highlights Small Businesses and Handmade Products

5

10 Fast Facts About Wilma Rudolph

HISTORY

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It took Tolstoy a solid year to write the introduction to 'War and Peace.'

22 Novel Facts About ‘War and Peace’

Laudanum was used by a number of writers and artists in the Victorian Era.

The Lure of Laudanum, the Victorians’ Favorite Drug

How did these delicious drinks make their way into your cup?

A Brief (But Complicated) History of Coffee and Tea

A young woman gets tested for syphilis in a "trailer-laboratory" in Washington, D.C. in 1937.

Why Did States Require Blood Tests for Marriage Licenses?

ENTERTAINMENT

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Everything you wanted to know about the final episode of "Seinfeld" (but were afraid to ask).

11 Facts About Seinfeld’s ‘The Finale’

See How People Reacted to 'Dungeons & Dragons' in the 1980s

Matthew Perry.

5 TV Stars You Probably Didn’t Know Were Missing a Finger

The distinct colors have meaning.

What Do the Different Uniform Colors Mean on ‘Star Trek’?

FEATURES

Tucker's Cross.

Treasure Island: The Enduring Enigma of Tucker’s Cross

In 1865, author Charles Dickens survived a train crash—and he was never the same.

The Train Crash That Spooked Charles Dickens

The Dale car promised to revolutionize the auto industry. Too bad it never really existed.

Motor Con: How Liz Carmichael and Her Dale Car Took Everyone for a Ride

BIG QUESTIONS

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There's a good reason dogs sniff each other's butts.

Why Do Dogs Sniff Each Other's Butts?

We have some bad news about your ‘hypoallergenic’ pet.

Is There Such Thing as a Hypoallergenic Pet?

Ever wondered how the front passenger seat of a car came to be called "shotgun"?

Why is the Passenger Seat Called "Shotgun"?

The phrase '86' may have originated in restaurants.

Where Did the Term '86' Come From?