Mental Floss

ALL STORIES







Lindbergh

From acclaimed aviators with secret families to Hollywood icons moonlighting as inventors, these five famous figures' real lives were even more fascinating than their public personas. 

Colin Scanlon


Robert Pattinson’s Dauphin in 'The King' (2019) sports the signature matte black armor modern directors love. In reality, a 15th-century prince would have preferred mirror-polished steel—to better deflect blows and, just as importantly, show off his wealth.

Think medieval Europe was all dirty peasants, witch burnings, and nonstop tavern brawls? Hollywood gets a lot wrong about life in the Middle Ages—from armor and language to feasts and sieges.

Nitya Rao








Museum fatigue is real—and science says it’s not just in your head. Here’s why wandering through galleries can leave your brain and body completely drained.

Nitya Rao