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Mental Floss
Since the '80s, one name has been synonymous with adventure: Indiana Jones. With his hat and his whip, his brain and his brawn, and that amazing theme music, who hasn’t dreamed of being like Indy, roaming the world and hunting down treasure? One man, Roy
Kaitlyn Boettcher|
Taboos against what we would consider pretty mild exclamations led swearers of years past to come up with creative substitutions, and they've left their mark on our vocabulary.
Arika Okrent|
There are three fathers of invention when it comes to nearly every car on the road today: Otto, Diesel, and Atkinson. They all had one thing in common, besides facial hair worthy of hipster envy: a drive to improve the efficiency of the engines available
Kristen Hall-Geisler|
A U.S. senator can pull some pretty long hours on the floor initiating, passing, and enacting the laws that govern our nation, but the lawmakers have a secret that C-SPAN’s live broadcasts don’t reveal. In the farthest back row of the Senate Chamber, near
Roma Panganiban|
Swimming pools, fancy cars, and a lawyer on speed dial — they're all the trappings of fame. Sometimes when notable people fight the law, we all win.
Amanda Green|
In 1996, the cicadas of Brood II (the “East Coast Brood”) swarmed the northeastern United States and then disappeared almost as quickly as they came, leaving only their eggs and molted exoskeletons behind. Once the eggs hatched, the new generation of cica
Matt Soniak|
The game of kings is a mainstay of science fiction and fantasy. Sometimes it’s on screen or on the page, and sometimes it's an influencing factor. Here are 22 famous examples.
David W Brown|
Today, New York City's American Museum of Natural History opens up its newest exhibition, Whales: Giants of the Deep. The exhibit, which was developed and originated at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, explores whale evolution and biology, the
Erin McCarthy|
Not all of humanity’s eggs are in one lunar module. Here are 22 space agencies that aren’t NASA.
David W Brown|
There was an old woman often seen plodding up and down Wall Street at the turn of the 20th century. She walked alone. Her black, faded dress was dirty and ragged at the seams. She carried a case with her with a pitiful lunch tossed inside, usually graham
Therese Oneill|
It takes a long time for movies to be written, produced, shot, and edited for audiences—that's why, on average, a director releases a movie every two to three years. In between, some notable directors keep in practice by making commercials for high-end na
Rudie Obias|
Reader Gabrielle wrote in to ask: “Can a pope be ousted? And has it happened before?”
Matt Soniak|
When we think of America’s first president, quarters, cherry trees, and false teeth often come to mind. But fishing?
Mark Mancini|
There’s an ongoing problem in the UK and continental Europe where food products labeled as containing beef actually turn out to have surprise horse meat in it. If history had played out a little differently, this wouldn’t be a scandal, and Brits eating ho
Matt Soniak|
The best early ‘90s children’s bookshelves were full of books about child detectives, including Cam Jansen, the fifth grade super-sleuth with a photographic memory. She was called “Cam,” short for “camera,” because she would close her eyes and say, “cli
Roma Panganiban|
Chris Higgins|
The leg was buried with full military honors at Santa Anna's request; he then constantly reminded everyone that his loss was a representation of his dedication and love for Mexico.
Stacy Conradt|
After looking at these photos of courageous workers going to great, grimy heights to shine up some much-beloved landmarks, your spring cleaning won't seem like such a chore.
Erin McCarthy|
Born in Havana in 1888, former world chess champion José Capablanca is generally considered to be one of the top five players of all time.
David W Brown|
You’ve probably heard of synesthesia, the condition that makes people involuntarily associate something with a sense that wouldn’t normally be associated otherwise.
Stacy Conradt|
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