The Fermi Paradox

July 11, 2017

The Fermi Paradox: Are We Alone in the Universe? With all those planets out there, you would expect that we would find intelligent life somewhere.

The Hidden Rules of the Puritan Fashion Police. Any time fashions changed, new laws were put in place to forbid them.

Caterpillar Tracks. The story of how we got modern tanks, tractors, and heavy equipment.

Pitch Perfect: A History of Vocal Groups. Yes, there are videos.

The Strange, High-Pressure Work of Presidential Interpreters. They are expected to not only be highly skilled at languages, but also intuitive, trustworthy, dedicated, and knowledgeable in other areas.

The Massive Volcano That Scientists Can't Find. There are conflicting clues, so no one knows for sure what happened in 1465.

Food Courts Are Out; Food Halls Are In. Yes, they are different.

11 Monuments to Cats. They all deserve to be remembered.

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Celebrate the Holidays With the 2020 Harry Potter Funko Pop Advent Calendar

BY Elaine Selna

September 21, 2020

Though the main book series and movie franchise are long over, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter remains in the spotlight as one of the most popular properties in pop-culture. The folks at Funko definitely know this, and every year the company releases a new Advent calendar based on the popular series so fans can count down to the holidays with their favorite characters.

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Right now, you can pre-order the 2020 edition of Funko's popular Harry Potter Advent calendar, and if you do it through Amazon, you'll even get it on sale for 33 percent off, bringing the price down from $60 to just $40.

Over the course of the holiday season, the Advent calendar allows you to count down the days until Christmas, starting on December 1, by opening one of the tiny, numbered doors on the appropriate day. Each door is filled with a surprise Pocket Pop! figurine—but outside of the trio of Harry, Hermione, and Ron, the company isn't revealing who you'll be getting just yet.

Calendars will start shipping on October 15, but if you want a head start, go to Amazon to pre-order yours at a discount.

This article contains affiliate links to products selected by our editors. Mental Floss may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

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Climate Change Is Coming for America’s National Parks

BY Miss Cellania

September 28, 2018

Climate Change Is Coming for America’s National Parks. Imagine Glacier National Park without a glacier.

The Chimp Who Believed She Was Human. After being raised in a human home, it took years for Lucy to learn to be an ape again.

The Mathematical Madness of Möbius Strips and Other One-Sided Objects. A look at the history of the mind-bending field of topology

These 1930s Housewives Were the Godmothers of Radical Consumer Activism. They protested rising food prices with the Hamtramck Meat Strike.

Disneyland’s Fantasyland Recreated in Incredible Detail in a Basement. A railroad engineer hand-crafted his own theme park over ten years.

The Princess Who Worked at Macy’s. The Queen of Romania also built furniture, raised poultry, and enjoyed off-roading.

America is on the Verge of a Nursing Crisis. Our nursing schools don't have the capacity to supply our current needs, much less our future needs.

15 Amazing Animal Reunions. It's good to know that pets lost for years might find their way home.

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