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The Forgotten History of Amber Valley, Canada’s Northernmost Black Settlement

Today, Amber Valley looks like any number of small, rural communities, but a couple dilapidated log cabins hint at what was once the northernmost all-Black settlement in the world.
Marina Wang|Jan 24, 2025

4 Bloody Family Feuds in American History

If you have a disagreement with your neighbor today, you might head to small-claims court. In 19th-century rural America, such disputes were often solved with the business end of a gun.
Rob Lammle|Feb 13, 2025

Definition Detective Quiz #26

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
Ellen Gutoskey|Feb 19, 2025

How Do Astronauts Shower in Space?

Here on Earth, we tend to take showering for granted. But getting clean isn’t so easy without the force of gravity helping you out.
Tim Brinkhof|Feb 19, 2025

7 Facts About Measles

Before the measles vaccine, there were between 3 and 4 million cases in the U.S. per year. Now, it’s less than 500.
Shaunacy Ferro|Feb 18, 2025

15 of Tom Hanks’s Best Movies

From the box office bomb he loved to the job he got by kicking Fonzie through a window, Hanks’s filmography is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get.
Jason Tabrys|Feb 19, 2025

5 Misconceptions About Antarctica

Misconception No. 4 : It snows a lot.
mentalfloss .com|Feb 18, 2025

At Least One Florida Sewage System Is Swimming With Alligators, Study Shows

Alligators living in the sewers isn’t just an urban legend.
CaLea Johnson|Feb 18, 2025

Death of a Scientist: The Mysterious Demise of Smithsonian Pioneer Robert Kennicott

In 1866, Kennicott was found dead near the Yukon River. It would be 150 years before anyone knew why.
Jake Rossen|Feb 18, 2025

3 Controversial Maps From History

From a U.S. map with only 38 states to a probable hoax, these maps definitely had geographers buzzing.
Rob Lammle|Feb 11, 2025

Tune Twist Quiz #29

It’s time to play Tune Twist, where we translate the lyrics of popular songs into multiple languages and then back into English. Can you figure out what the song is, or who performed it?
mentalfloss .com|Feb 18, 2025

Colorized Footage Captures Massive Snowball Fight From 1897

This historical clip challenges our modern perceptions of “stuffy” Victorians.
Marla Mackoul|Feb 18, 2025

The Word Definitions Each Country Looks Up the Most, Mapped

If you’ve ever looked up the definition of “gaslighting,” you’re not alone.
CaLea Johnson|Feb 17, 2025

Wake Up And Smell These Fluffy Espresso Marshmallows

These coffee-flavored marshmallows kick the classic recipe up a notch.
CaLea Johnson|Feb 17, 2025

Rutherford B. Hayes, National Hero of Paraguay

How a largely forgotten U.S. president became a South American idol.
Jake Rossen|Mar 14, 2024

12 Facts About Tuberculosis, the Victorian “Robber of Youth”

Tuberculosis may seem like a historic malady, but it’s still the world’s deadliest infectious disease. Here’s what you need to know about its past and current outbreaks.
Nick Keppler|Feb 17, 2025

Can You Guess the Oscar-Winning Song Based on the Lyrics?

A memorable song can elevate a movie from good to great.
mentalfloss .com|Feb 11, 2025

Where Did the Saying ‘Stick Out Like a Sore Thumb’ Come From?

The phrase dates back to the 19th century, but it took a fictional 20th century detective to take its popularity to new heights.
Paul Anthony Jones|Feb 17, 2025

5 of Abraham Lincoln’s Favorite Foods

The 16th president loved nutritious snacks—and he was also a big fan of bacon.
Mark Mancini|Feb 12, 2025

Martin Van Buren Had a Really Nice Toilet

The eighth president had a commode fit for a commander-in-chief at Lindenwald, his home in Kinderhook, New York.
Brian Abrams|Feb 12, 2025
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