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The Fiery Halloween Tradition That Gave Us Bobbing for Apples

Bobbing for apples, though sometimes comparable to dunking your head in a cesspool of saliva, wasn’t always the kid-friendly activity we know today.
Michele Debczak|Oct 4, 2024

8 Tips for Keeping Your Home Hair-Free

A hair-free home is no hassle at all as long as you’re using these tips and tricks from Roborock and Mental Floss.
Oct 4, 2024

You Can Now Order a $200 South African Safari Through Uber

Uber just made it easy to see lions, cheetahs, and rhinos in South Africa.
CaLea Johnson|Oct 15, 2024

Avoid This Airline If You Don’t Want to Be Bumped From Your Flight

Traveling is stressful enough. Getting bumped from a flight makes matters worse.
CaLea Johnson|Oct 4, 2024

The Top 10 Scariest Video Games, According to Science

A study determined the horror titles that are most likely to get players’ hearts racing.
CaLea Johnson|Oct 4, 2024

Where Did the Term ‘October Surprise’ Originate?

Its political legacy began during the Iran hostage crisis, but other kinds of October surprises had been happening for decades.
Ellen Gutoskey|Oct 3, 2024

The Reason There’s a Gravesite in the Middle of an Indiana Road

This isn't something you want to pass late at night.
Michele Debczak|Oct 2, 2024

Old Mold to Be Sold: Fleming’s Original Penicillin Sample Up for Auction

Queen Elizabeth II, Winston Churchill, and FDR once owned one of Fleming's penicillin mold samples. Now you can, too.
Nick Keppler|Oct 3, 2024

Why Do We Tell Scary Ghost Stories?

People have been telling ghost stories for thousands of years. We dive into the psychology behind why people are drawn to such terrifying tales.
CaLea Johnson|Oct 3, 2024

15 Facts About ‘Mean Girls’

People have been quoting iconic lines from this movie since 2004.
Erika Wolf|Sep 30, 2024

Attention Video Game Fans: A Nintendo Museum Just Opened in Japan

Here’s another reason to add Japan to your bucket list: a Nintendo museum just opened in the country.
CaLea Johnson|Oct 2, 2024

Spice Things Up With This Chengdu Noodle Recipe

If you’re looking for a unique dinner recipe, make this Chengdu noodle dish from the Institute of Culinary Education.
CaLea Johnson|Oct 2, 2024

Mount Everest Keeps Growing—a New Study May Help Explain Why

The world’s tallest peak is experiencing an 89,000-year-long growth spurt.
Jake Rossen|Oct 2, 2024

5 Famous Authors Who Were Awarded MacArthur “Genius” Grants

‘Severance’ author Ling Ma is a 2024 MacArthur Fellow; here are some other famous authors who were awarded the grants.
Michele Debczak|Oct 2, 2024

Make Your Halloween Party Extra Eerie With This Spooky Fact–Filled YouTube Video From Mental Floss

Set the mood for Halloween with this spooky fact–filled video.
Ellen Gutoskey|Oct 2, 2024

Merriam-Webster Adds ‘Beach Read,’ ‘IDGAF,’ and 24 More New Words to the Dictionary

Here are some highlights from Merriam-Webster’s latest slate of additions.
Ellen Gutoskey|Oct 2, 2024

Assault, Robbery, and Murder: The Dark History of “Bedsheet Ghosts”

Pretending to be a ghost was a popular pastime in 19th century England. But in London's neighborhood of Hammersmith, it could also get you killed.
Lucas Reilly|Sep 27, 2024

Roborock Sends the First Robot Vacuum to Space

Roborock’s S8 MaxV Ultra robot vacuum became the first robot vacuum to go to space as part of the company’s “Cleaning Beyond Limits” campaign.
Oct 3, 2024

6 Infamous Poisoners with Unforgettable Nicknames

Thanks to his outrageous crimes, Graham Young will always be known as the Teacup Poisoner. Here are five others with unforgettable monikers.
Liz Langley|Oct 2, 2024

Novella vs. Short Story: What’s the Difference?

As Stephen King once said, novellas are “too long to be short and too short to be really long.”
Shaunacy Ferro|Sep 30, 2024
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