Mental Floss

ALL STORIES

The Salem witch trials were a troubling time in Colonial America.

A witch may not always dress in a pointy hat and fly on a broomstick, so start paying attention to things like how many pets they have, how many times they’ve been married, and if they weigh more than a stack of bibles.

Stacy Conradt










It's big and black and white and all over the place.

They’re so-called minimalist modern farmhouses, painted white, with black roofs, window frames, and railings, seemingly adrift from architectural context. Where did the big black-and-white look come from, and why is it so popular?

Tim Brinkhof


Beware of that invitation to tea.

Euphemisms allow us to discuss some grim or controversial topics employing a more palatable turn of phrase. These expressions were coined to disguise everything from capital punishments to diseases, death, slavery, and cannibalism.

Paul Anthony Jones