
Latest Articles

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.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

The Real Witch Trials that Inspired the ’Good Omens’ Prophetic Subplot
Good Omens captured fans' imagination with its depiction of the cosmic order, but its interpretation of witches comes from a bloody event in English history.
Every State’s Favorite Breakup Song, Mapped
A somber Billie Eilish song is the most popular for breakups across the country.
Quiz: Think You’re a Musical Theater Fan? Finish These Famous Song Titles
How well do you know these unforgettable numbers from 'Mamma Mia,' 'Rent,' and more? See if you can complete the song titles from these classic musicals with this quiz.
300 Hard Would You Rather Questions to Break Your Friends' Brains
These hard would you rather questions will seriously spice up game night while helping you learn a whole lot more about your friends...and yourself.
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.
Where the Great Depression Hit America Hardest, Mapped
The Great Depression hit one region especially hard, and a historic drought made matters even worse.
Brian May’s Favorite Queen Song Marked a Pivotal Moment in the Band’s History
The 1989 track ushered in a new era for Queen, as Brian May reflected on.
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.
10 Most Common Jobs in the Viking Age
Life in the Viking Age was more than raiding and warfare.
Think You Know Your Trivia? Ken Jennings’s Latest Kennections Might Prove You Wrong
All five answers to the questions have something in common. Can you figure it out?
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.
Quiz: Think You Know Comedies? Name the Movie From Just the Boss
Just how well do you know your comedy movies? Can you give us the name from the boss alone?
The Remarkable Story of the Tree That Survived 9/11
Discovered beneath the rubble of Ground Zero, a severely damaged Callery pear tree survived 9/11. Discover the incredible story of the Survivor Tree's recovery, return to the Memorial, and living legacy.
The Real-Life Herbs in 'Practical Magic' and What They’re Traditionally Used For
These plants have very real histories of healing and harm.
Why Do We Call the First Year of School Kindergarten?
A German educator in the 1800s compared children to plants, and kindergarten was born!
Every State’s Favorite Girl Scout Cookie, Ranked By Most Popular
The no. 1 most popular Girl Scout cookie reigned supreme in a whopping 24 states.
The Surprising Original Purpose of Bubble Wrap
Before it became the world’s most satisfying packaging material, bubble wrap was designed for a completely different home decor trend.
Why Is a Computer Error Called a “Bug”?
How an irritating acquaintance became shorthand for a computer glitch.
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.



































