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Mental Floss
Ahead of Mother’s Day, read up on the women who provided support, inspiration, words of wisdom, and tough love to some of your favorite novelists, as seen in Mental Floss’s new book, 'The Curious Reader: A Literary Miscellany of Novels & Novelists,' out M
mentalfloss .com|
Princess Diana's famous royal wedding dress—with its 25-foot train and 10,000 pearls—isn't often seen by the public, but a new exhibition at Kensington Palace promises to change that.
Alvin Ward|
What does branding or spanking have to do with whether something is factory-new or not? We investigate.
Jake Rossen|
A spectacular "blood moon" total lunar eclipse will be visible from North America, South America, Australia, and more on May 26, 2021.
Michele Debczak|
Everybody has a quirk or two—and that number goes way up for those in creative fields. Here are six writers and artists whose strange habits fueled their work.
Parvathi Sajiv|
The iconic brass pole has been a fixture of fire departments for more than a century, but it might be more dangerous than it's worth.
Jake Rossen|
This very German word became embedded in the American vernacular—but not before German politicians tried to ban kindergarten entirely.
Jake Rossen|
Movie previews can reveal big plot points or moments that can spoil everything. So why do studios do it?
Jake Rossen|
You know "We Got The Beat," "Vacation," and "Our Lips Are Sealed," but do you know the story of The Go-Go's—the history-making all-girl band behind the hits?
Kristy Puchko|
Understanding the difference between ‘immigrate’ and ‘emigrate’ requires a fun little dive into the world of Latin prefixes.
Ellen Gutoskey|
Dogs tend to sprint like Olympians after escaping from the tub. What prompts this kind of canine behavior?
Jake Rossen|
Clocking in at 1.3 million words and 9.6 million characters, Marcel Proust's novel 'In Search of Lost Time' is the world's longest book, according to Guinness World Records.
Michele Debczak|
When Charles Boycott tried to evict struggling Irish farmers during a famine, they ran him right out of Ireland.
Ellen Gutoskey|
Join us. Perhaps you can help solve a mystery—or at least dive into the mysteries behind 'Unsolved Mysteries.'
Jake Rossen|
See how well you can tell if items like avocados, potatoes, tomoatoes, and butternut squash are fruits or vegetables.
Editorial Staff|
Corrugated cardboard pizza boxes are made from recyclable material ... but that doesn't mean they can always be recycled. In other words: It's complicated.
Michele Debczak|
Radio personality Dr. Demento spent four decades curating weird novelty songs for an enraptured audience—including a young "Weird" Al Yankovic.
Jake Rossen|
Apple AirTags will help you keep track of your stuff, but they won’t help you convey how funny you find the word ‘boob.’
Ellen Gutoskey|
If you've ever watched the Kentucky Derby, you've seen a field full of Thoroughbred horses in action.
Zoë Randolph|
Colorado-based Smartwool is trying to cut down on textile waste by accepting busted socks and recycling them into dog beds.
Jake Rossen|
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