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How Did ‘Gross’ Become a Term of Disgust?

The word ‘gross,’ which came to English from French, took on a variety of senses in English related to size. But the ‘gross of today is different from the ‘gross’ of the past thanks to teens.
Arika Okrent|Nov 8, 2023

You Bull’s Pizzle! Breaking Down 10 Iconic Shakespeare Insults

Here’s how to pepper your next argument with Shakespearean insults.
Ellen Gutoskey|Nov 13, 2023

Explore the Secret World of Elephants With the American Museum of Natural History’s New Exhibition

A new exhibit coming to the American Museum of Natural History in New York City examines elephants’ past, present, and future.
Michele Debczak|Nov 12, 2023

Stede Bonnet, the Real-Life ’Gentleman’ Pirate Who Inspired ’Our Flag Means Death’

Centuries later, Stede Bonnet’s motivations and actual aptitude for piracy remain unclear. But he still managed to make the history books—in his nightgown, no less.
Kristin Hunt|Nov 11, 2023

America's 25 Most Expensive ZIP Codes

From Manhattan to Beverly Hills, these are the most exclusive ZIP Codes in the country.
Michele Debczak|Nov 10, 2023

15 Celebrities Who Played (Versions of) Themselves in Movies

From Nicolas Cage to Jean-Claude Van Damme, plenty of Hollywood stars have performed on screen as fictionalized versions of themselves.
Jon O'Brien|Nov 13, 2023

Why Ukrainians Hang Spider Webs on Their Christmas Trees

The Eastern European tradition is rooted in a beloved folktale often known as 'The Legend of the Christmas Spider.'
Jane Alexander|Nov 10, 2023

What’s the Difference Between Yams and Sweet Potatoes?

Ever wondered if yams and sweet potatoes are the same thing? Read this before sitting down to Thanksgiving dinner.
Michele Debczak|Nov 8, 2023

12 Fascinating Facts About the Lewis Chessmen

They're the most famous chess pieces in history—but much of their story is still unknown
Jen Pinkowski|Nov 8, 2023

4 Royal European Families Have Twins—But Only One Set Includes a Future Ruler 

With more twins being born than ever, it should be no surprise that a handful have royal blood. In Europe, four ruling families of Europe currently have a set of twins.
Samantha Drake|Nov 9, 2023

Furry Road: Remembering the Krushed Kitty Novelty Toy Scandal

In the late 1980s, thousands of cars were adorned with a seemingly crushed stuffed cat. Not everyone found it funny.
Jake Rossen|Nov 9, 2023

12 Surprising Facts About Britney Spears

Britney Spears’s songs, music videos, and live performances defined an era and inspired an entire generation of future pop stars.
Ellen Gutoskey|Nov 8, 2023

Where Does the Word ’Meme’ Come From?

The word predates social media.
College Weekend|Nov 7, 2023

14 Things You Should Know About Paul Cézanne’s ‘The Card Players’

One of the paintings in the series was stolen from a museum and held for ransom. Another sold for a record-breaking price.
Kristy Puchko|Nov 7, 2023

Misconceptions About the Great Depression

The Great Depression was caused by the 1929 stock market crash and plunged the entire country into poverty … right? Maybe not.
mentalfloss .com|Nov 8, 2023

35 Old-Timey Slang Terms for Informants

We’ve used the term ‘rat’ to refer to an informer since approximately 1910. But criminals have had many more names for snitches over the years.
Erin McCarthy|Nov 7, 2023

Christmas Creep: Why Holiday Candy Is Already Everywhere

'Christmas creep' is getting stronger, with chocolate Santas popping up the second Halloween wraps. Here's why.
Jake Rossen|Nov 7, 2023

10 of the World’s Rarest Gemstones

They may not be as “precious” as diamonds or emeralds, but these scarce gems are just as valuable—if not more so.
Claire Cock-Starkey|Nov 7, 2023

From Farts to Floozy: The Funniest Words in English, According to Science

“Wriggly, Squiffy, Lummox, and Boobs: What Makes Some Words Funny?” analyzed an existing list of 4997 funny words and recruited 800 survey participants to whittle down the collection to the 200 words the people found funniest.
Jake Rossen|Nov 6, 2023

15 Facts About Elections Around the World

Voters in the U.S. may head to the polls on Tuesdays, but the rest of the world prefers to save its votes for Sunday.
mentalfloss .com|Nov 6, 2023
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