Alvin Ward

Best U.S. States to Retire 2020

Personal finance website WalletHub crunched the numbers on all 50 states to come up with an official ranking on the best (and worst) states to retire in 2020.... READ ON

Weird Clubs That Actually Exist

In our latest edition of The List Show, Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy hunts down the world's most unusual clubs. (Extreme Ironing Bureau, anyone?)... READ ON

How to Make the Ultimate Paper Airplane

"Kids Vs. Science" is a new show where a team of experts go head-to-head against a group of kids to take on a simple childhood activity. Our first challenge? Building the perfect paper airplane.... READ ON

Weird Holidays To Celebrate in 2020

In this edition of "The List Show," Mental Floss Editor-in-Chief Erin McCarthy is traveling the world to celebrate more than a dozen bizarre holidays you probably didn't know existed.... READ ON

Baby Yoda Facts

The irresistibly precocious Star Wars puppet has taken the internet by storm. Here's what we know, and what we don't.... READ ON

Most Popular Stories 2019

Mental Floss readers are a curious bunch, as evidenced by their favorite stories of 2019—which covered everything from how much those Beanie Babies gathering dust in your attic might be worth to the life of Rosa Parks.... READ ON

Facts We Learned in 2019

From science to literature, 2019 was a year full of amazing discoveries. In this edition of "The List Show," editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy is sharing 100 of the most interesting facts we've learned over the past 12 months.... READ ON

Most Popular Cat Names 2019

Americans love cats: There are an estimated 94 million of them living in households nationwide. And it turns out that a lot of them are named Luna.... READ ON

Why Thousands of 'Penis Fish' Washed Up on a California Beach

'Urechis caupo' bears a striking resemblance to a specific part of male human anatomy, but the species is usually hidden underground. Something brought them to the surface.... READ ON

Gifts for People Who Work From Home

Know someone who works from home? Here are some useful tools and sweet surprises to help make their life a little easier.... READ ON

New Netflix Titles January 2020

The new year will bring a host of new movies and series—plus new seasons of shows you already love—to Netflix. Here's every new title making its way to Netflix in January.... READ ON

Facts About Fossils

Editor-in-Chief Erin McCarthy explains the ins and outs of excavation, fossil follies (extinct giants was a big miss), and the terrorizing prospect of a 3-foot-tall parrot.... READ ON

Most Popular Dog Names 2019

Your dog may be one of a kind, but their name could be a different story—especially if your very good girl or boy is named Bella or Max.... READ ON

Online Shopping Facts

In the latest episode of Scatterbrained, presented by Discover, Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy and friends uncover some of the most peculiar online purchases (haunted canes), how to find online deals, and the first time anything was purchased online.... READ ON

Thanksgiving Myths Debunked

In this edition of 'The List Show,' Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy offers a primer on fowl fallacies like presidential turkey pardons, tryptophan-induced naps, and the mysteries of canned pumpkin.... READ ON

Gifts for Retro Gaming Fans

Level up the retro gaming fan on your list with one of these gifts that's sure to conjure up memories of classic pixels.... READ ON

Gift Ideas for the Home Improvement Guru

Buying for a DIY enthusiast doesn't have to be hard. Check out some gift suggestions for someone who likes working with their hands.... READ ON

Everything You Need To Know About Weddings

In the latest episode of Scatterbrained, presented by Discover, editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy and friends will take you for a stroll down the aisle as we take a look at the history of swearing one's eternal devotion to a partner before you realize they snore.... READ ON

'Doctor Sleep' Movie Trailer Trivia

How would you like a few fun facts with your movie trailer? Mental Floss's new "Trailer Trivia" feature takes you behind-the-scenes of your favorite movies. This week's film: 'The Shining' sequel 'Doctor Sleep.'... READ ON

Tim Burton's 'Batman' LEGO Batmobile

The iconic Bat vehicle is getting the deluxe LEGO treatment with a 3306-piece set for the film's 30th anniversary.... READ ON

Online Courses You Can Take in November 2019

Take advantage of some chilly weather to stay indoors and complete a series of exciting online courses that will keep you warm and busy all season long.... READ ON

Gifts That Don't Require Wrapping

Not all gifts require an elaborate and time-consuming wrap job. Take a look at 11 options you can hand off when you're in a hurry.... READ ON

Stores Closed on Thanksgiving

Here are some of the companies that have decided not to open on Thanksgiving this year so that employees can celebrate turkey day with their families and friends.... READ ON

Theodore Roosevelt Facts

In this all-new edition of The List Show, Mental Floss editor-in-chief—and diehard TedHead—Erin McCarthy breaks down some of the most fascinating aspects of Teddy Roosevelt's life.... READ ON

William Shakespeare 'Romeo and Juliet' Facts

'Romeo and Juliet,' William Shakespeare’s 16th-century play about the tragic story of two star-crossed lovers, continues to intrigue readers today.... READ ON

Real Origins of Scary Stories

In this all-new edition of "The List Show," Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy traces the origins of 20 scary stories, including which urban myths aren't myths at all.... READ ON

James Bond 'No Time to Die' Movie Facts

Daniel Craig is back for one last go-around as the world’s most famous MI6 secret agent in No Time to Die, the 25th installment in the James Bond movie series.... READ ON

'Frozen 2' Movie Facts

Six years after Disney’s 'Frozen' became an obsession for kids around the world, the story of Anna, Elsa, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven will continue with 'Frozen II.'... READ ON

This 'Smart' Bed Accessory Will Rock You to Sleep

The Adiva One is a bed accessory that operates on the premise that adults enjoy being rocked to sleep as much as babies do.... READ ON

'Ford v Ferrari' Movie Details

James Mangold directs this biopic about automotive designer Carroll Shelby (Matt Damon) and driver Ken Miles (Christian Bale), who are tasked with designing a state-of-the-art racing car in the hopes of defeating the Ferrari racing team at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans.... READ ON

Gifts for the Beer Geek in Your Life

The beer lover in your life doesn’t need another hilarious “Will Work for Beer” t-shirt this year. Instead, try one of these options.... READ ON

Items Every Taco Lover Needs

October 4 is National Taco Day. Let’s tacobout some products you can buy to show your love for this most excellent of foods every day of the year.... READ ON

A 1771-Piece Yoda Leads a New LEGO Star Wars Collection

Star Wars fans have a new television series, a new feature film, and eight new LEGO sets to make their holidays bright.... READ ON

90 Amazing Facts About the '90s

In 1999, people believed that Furbies contained computer chips so they could record words and repeat them. Obviously that wasn't true, but the National Security Agency still banned people from bringing their Furbies to work.... READ ON

In this (very quiet) edition of The List Show, Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy dives into the fascinating world of ASMR, including what triggers it and who the most popular ASMRtist is out there today.... READ ON

20 of the Most Successful Products from Shark Tank

Some entrepreneurs can hit it big even if the Sharks turn them down. Twice. Check out 18 of the most successful products to ever come out of the Tank.... READ ON

'El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' Facts

Netflix's 'El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' picks up right where "Felina," the series' critically acclaimed finale, left off. It also features plenty of familiar faces.... READ ON

10 Eye-Opening Online Courses You Can Take in October 2019

The internet can kill time, but it can also be an educational experience. These 10 courses will have you feeling smarter with a few clicks of the mouse.... READ ON

9 Grammatically Correct Gifts for Language Lovers on National Punctuation Day

In honor of National Punctuation Day, give your loved one a gift that celebrates their love of language—when it's written correctly.... READ ON

Every New Movie, TV Series, and Special Coming to Netflix in October

Prepare yourselves 'Breaking Bad' fans: 'El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie' is coming to a couch near you on October 11th.... READ ON

The Origins Behind 30 Harry Potter Words and Spells

In this edition of The List Show, Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy is conjuring up the meaning behind dozens of words and spells from Harry Potter’s world.... READ ON

8 Fun Bookmarks to Keep Your Place

Why settle for a torn piece of paper, a receipt, or a handful of Chex Mix when you can have something way more exciting?... READ ON

This Massive LEGO Star Wars Star Destroyer Is Nearly 4 Feet Long

Clear your table. The 4784-piece Star Destroyer set is one of the largest LEGO Star Wars offerings to date.... READ ON

7 Astounding Online Courses You Can Sign Up for in September 2019

From baking the best pizza crust to understanding Shakespeare, we've got the most fascinating online courses you can sign up for this month.... READ ON

32 Ways School Was Different in America 100 Years Ago

In the latest edition of The List Show, Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy is sharing dozens of ways school was different in America 100 years ago—like how nearly half of kids didn't go to school at all.... READ ON

5 Movies That Could Have Starred Jennifer Aniston

The actress may have gotten her big break as Rachel Green on 'Friends,' but she could have told Jack Dawson to draw her like one of his French girls.... READ ON

Do Bears Really Love Honey?

If your experience with bears is largely limited to reading Winnie the Pooh as a kid, you might think that these fuzzy mammals will do anything to get their gigantic paws on a jar of honey.... READ ON

17 Amazing Labor Day Sales to Check Out

Labor Day weekend is a great time to score deals on fashion and other seasonal goods. Check out some of the best places to save.... READ ON

Every New Movie, TV Series, and Special Coming to Netflix in September

From Ryan Murphy's new political satire to two 'The Lord of the Rings' hits, Netflix is adding more than 90 titles to its library in September.... READ ON

22 Weird Jobs From 100 Years Ago

In this edition of The List Show, Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy explores the eclectic and strange vocations that put food on old-timey tables, from lamplighters to lectores.... READ ON

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