Mental Floss
Jack London amassed more than 600 rejections and endured a frigid Yukon winter before he found success thanks to ‘The Call of the Wild’—which also got him accused of plagiarism.
Joy Lanzendorfer|
The ultra-rare event puzzled scientists for more than a year—but a new study suggests that “polar rain” and a lack of solar wind caused the ginormous aurora.
Nick Keppler|
The light-up sneakers were coveted by ’90s kids, but some adults considered them a public health hazard.
Jake Rossen|
Han shot first.
Gillian Finklea|
The key to holding court? A fresh can of tennis balls.
Jake Rossen|
Early Prime Day deals have arrived, and we’ve picked some of the best you can shop now on tech, kitchen essentials, robot vacuums, and more.
Sahas Mehra|
Overwhelmed at the prospect of doing a deep clean of your home? Don’t be: These tips and tricks will help the task feel manageable.
The 'Jaws' quote "You're gonna need a bigger boat" was ad-libbed by Roy Scheider, but the actor didn't come up with the line on his own.
Michele Debczak|
Divers shower after every dive for a surprising reason.
Bethel Afful|
The Institute of Culinary Education has developed a foolproof recipe for tender, cakey scones.
Michele Debczak|
From King Tut’s treasure-stuffed tomb to one of the world's oldest human burial sites, these ancient resting places sent their occupants to the afterlife in style.
Claire Cock-Starkey|
Astronauts spending time at the International Space Station stay hydrated with a refreshing, filtered blend of recycled shower water and pee.
Shaunacy Ferro|
The directors of ‘Psycho,’ ‘Jurassic Park,’ ‘Fight Club,’ and other classics just couldn't help adding a frisson of foreshadowing to their suspenseful plots.
Rudie Obias|
Bremen, a life insurance salesman from Detroit, specialized in impersonating greatness.
Jake Rossen|
“What is the meaning of life?” is simultaneously one of the oldest questions in philosophy and a relatively new concept. Here’s what Immanuel Kant, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Albert Camus had to say on the matter.
Adam Penkin|
‘Once Upon a Time’ appears in many fairy tales and stories. The phrase has a long history and a practical narrative purpose.
Lorna Wallace|
Rising production costs have led streamers to increase fees across the board.
Jake Rossen|
According to experts, the answer is a lot shorter than you may think.
Marla Mackoul|
It might be hard to imagine anyone other than Will Ferrell in 2004’s “Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy,” but the comedy’s distributor, DreamWorks, initially had doubts about the star.
Roger Cormier|
From auditions gone wrong to a spin-off that never was, here’s what you missed on ‘Glee.’
Erin McCarthy|
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