Mental Floss
Engineers have had to come up with some interesting ways to generate oxygen for astronauts in the vacuum of space.
Tim Brinkhof|
This record-breaking band specializes in vegetal instruments—from celeriac bongos to pepper horns.
CaLea Johnson|
Find out which national parks have recorded the most fatal incidents in recent years.
CaLea Johnson|
The New England Aquarium’s retirement area for penguins offers specialized healthcare and a peaceful habitat for elderly birds.
CaLea Johnson|
Potential recruits had to answer questions like ‘Is genuine happiness a priceless treasure?,’ ‘Are avenues usually paved with oxygen?,’ and ‘Do you cordially recommend forgery?’
Shaunacy Ferro|
The typo in a 1928 opinion may have inadvertently influenced an unknown number of decisions to follow.
Jake Rossen|
Scholars believe the tale—which has versions around the world—represents everything from the pain of motherhood to childhood jealousy (and some even think it might be based on real history).
Faye Keegan|
See if you can figure out which of these food product facts are about real people—and which are mere invention.
mentalfloss .com|
You can always avoid the issue by spelling out “St. Patrick’s Day,” but here’s how to properly abbreviate it.
Ellen Gutoskey|
See which states excel in time management and work efficiency.
CaLea Johnson|
There is a whole slew of everyday words in English that have origins in Irish and Gaelic.
Angela Tung|
Dig into the bizarre history surrounding California's Winchester Mystery House, one of the most notorious haunted houses in the U.S.
Kristy Puchko|
All five answers to the questions below have something in common. Can you figure it out?
Ken Jennings|
Learn about the SAT and ACT differences, including test format, scoring systems, and duration.
CaLea Johnson|
Retired Crayola crayon hues like Blizzard Blue and Magic Mint still color our memories.
Paul Davidson|
A colossal mammoth tusk was uncovered in West Texas, marking an unexpected fossil find.
CaLea Johnson|
Peer into Harriet Tubman‘s father’s home via the Maryland Department of Transportation‘s new virtual museum.
CaLea Johnson|
A new study reveals that baleen whales, including humpbacks and gray whales, enrich oceans when they take a whizz.
CaLea Johnson|
The link between singer-songwriter Bob Dylan and writer Nora Ephron is mostly a forgotten footnote in pop culture history, but the story behind it all is absolutely fascinating.
Lana Schwartz|
The Milky Way is one of the biggest in the observable universe: Even if you traveled at the speed of light, it would take 100,000 years to go from one end of our home galaxy to the other.
David W Brown|
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