Mental Floss
Yuki-onna, Kuchisake-onna, and Hashihime are just a few of the fearsome figures from Japanese folklore that you don’t want to mess with.
Victoria DeRosa|
Learn about the life, legacy, and devastating death of Alexander Hamilton, the man who inspired Lin-Manuel Miranda's hit Broadway musical.
Ellen Gutoskey|
While the exact phrase didn’t enter the language until the 1930s, using children as a means to raise funds for hospitals goes way back.
Caroline Eubanks|
In 1993, the musician decided to protest his restrictive record contract by making his name unpronounceable.
Jake Rossen|
Ever wonder why there are 5280 feet in a mile?
Ethan Trex|
Did Tom Cruise really dance in his underwear and a pair of Ray-Bans in 'Risky Business'? If you answered “yes,” you might be suffering from the Mandela Effect.
Jake Rossen|
A look at the fascinating origins of margarine, the popular butter substitute, and the dairy lobby's attempts to defeat it.
Ethan Trex|
What is an Irish goodbye—and why is it called that?
Ellen Gutoskey|
On January 15, 2024, Elton John won his first Emmy—and officially became a new member of the EGOT winner's circle.
Jennifer M Wood|
The first time scientists encountered a platypus specimen, they thought the animal was a hoax. Read on for a few more things you might not have known about this quirky creature.
Hannah Keyser|
'The Golden Girls' star Betty White met one spouse on a game show, broke an 'SNL' record, and loved animals more than anything.
Kristy Puchko|
Rabbits are much more than the cute, carrot-munching creatures pop culture makes them out to be.
Michele Debczak|
To win a nuclear arms race, Leona Libby hid a pregnancy and brushed off being irradiated.
Jake Rossen|
The McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich was introduced as an alternative for Catholics avoiding meat on Fridays during Lent—and it almost lost its spot on the menu to a pineapple burger.
Michele Debczak|
Total solar eclipse mania is gripping the United States. Should the wide-eyed and unprotected hazard a peek at this rare phenomenon?
Ethan Trex|
The days are getting longer and warmer, and that means it’s the perfect time to pull these fun spring words out of hibernation.
Paul Anthony Jones|
Rats and mice are vastly different in appearance and behavior, though they have one thing in common: scaring the heck out of you.
Jake Rossen|
If you get bored scrolling through Instagram reels, play the secret game built into your DMs.
Michele Debczak|
Despite what you might have heard (or seen on the big screen), famed composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart probably wasn’t poisoned by Antonio Salieri—but he did spend time with a young Marie Antoinette and keep a starling as a pet.
Ailsa Ross|
From California to Boston, here are the literal translations of every American state and capital city name.
Michele Debczak|
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