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Smoke from Canadian wildfires fills the skies of Chicago.

Wildfire smoke affected air quality across the U.S. this summer. See which 25 cities were hit hardest.

The name doesn’t come from the canned meat, but a ‘Monty Python’ sketch about the canned meat.

An analysis of ancient Romans’ teeth reveals what men and women were eating when Vesuvius erupted.

A photo of Krakow, Poland next to pilaf rice

How fast can your mind and fingers work? See if you can answer all 42 questions in under three minutes with this quiz that asks, is this a place or a food?

The 2000s gave action fans plenty of great movies, and these are some of the best.

Mental Floss Trivia of the Day for August 24

Get your brain going this Monday with a new edition of Mental Floss’s Trivia of the Day, including history questions and more.

Is your state one of the most fun places to visit in the U.S.?

Leaving your house generally used to mean that, like it or not, you were completely unreachable. From boredom to phone calls, here are some things that are far less common due to smartphones.

Here’s what happens when sports and science collide!

We can all thank the renowned playwright for livening up our vocabulary into the 21st century!

Blue Jays hold sacred meaning to many cultures, who see their bold spirits worth emulating.

A Roman mosaic from Pompeii depicting an enslaved boy in a kitchen with fruit and fish.

What did people eat for breakfast in ancient Rome? From bread and olives to fruit, cheese, and wine, here’s how Romans started their day.

Stephen King has regularly created fictional towns we know to definitely stay away from. How well can you remember the movie title just based on the town name?

Mental Floss Trivia of the Day for August 23

Consider yourself a trivia whiz? Start your day this Sunday with 25 questions.

What film was at the top of the box office when you were throwing your graduation cap into the air?

From Maryland to Alabama, see which states have the best—and worst—community college systems, according to a new ranking.

Can your kids crack these 100 mind-bending riddles? Explore clever brainteasers with answers that build critical thinking, focus, and abstract logic.

Pompeii was filled with shops, trades, and busy streets before Vesuvius covered it in ash.

These common words and phrases came directly from the era of flapper fashion and short-lived prohibition.

Jerry O’Connell, River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, and Corey Feldman in ‘Stand by Me’

We’re looking back at the beloved Rob Reiner film Stand by Me for its 40th anniversary. Did you know its iconic railroad was used throughout cinematic history?

We love to see where our favorite characters go to work, and that leads to some fun and fancy fictional company names. How well can you name the shows from the name of the workplace?