Meredith Danko

Follow @br8ybrunch

Head writer of mental_floss on YouTube. Also writes for Crash Course and AFC Wimbly Wombly.

The Real Origins of 18 Scary Stories

From possessed dolls and Bloody Mary to the Bunny Man and the Jersey Devil, here are the origins of 18 famous scary stories.... READ ON

25 Fascinating Facts About Fossils

From giant parrots and penguins to really old poop and The Bone Wars to the difference between body fossils and trace fossils, here are a few fascinating facts about fossils.... READ ON

30 Strange Old-Timey Medical Treatments

From curing rabies with raw veal to using a red-hot poker to prevent nosebleeds, these treatments of old will make you especially thankful for science and modern medicine.... READ ON

Lesser-Known Inventions of Famous Inventors

You've heard of the light bulb and the telephone, but what about Thomas Edison's terrifying talking doll and Alexander Graham Bell's metal detector?... READ ON

Defunct Disney Rides and Lands

Did you know that Jackie Chan, Whoopi Goldberg, and Cher were once featured in a Disney ride? It sounds fun, but Superstar Limo didn't last long—and neither did these other Disney rides and lands.... READ ON

'Eyes Wide Shut' Movie Facts

Stanley Kubrick's final film arrived in theaters on July 16, 1999, more than four months after the legendary director's death.... READ ON

'Inception' Movie Facts

After 'The Dark Knight' made $1 billion worldwide, Warner Bros. allowed director Christopher Nolan to make his passion project, 'Inception' (although most passion projects don’t get a budget of $160 million).... READ ON

Whether you're a 'Jaws' fanatic or just want to live every week like it's Shark Week, you'll want to read up on these fascinating facts about sharks.... READ ON

'The Shining' Movie Facts

Though Stanley Kubrick's 1980 classic is widely considered one of the best adaptations of a Stephen King story, the best-selling author himself isn't a fan.... READ ON

Human Body Facts

Did you know that people are the only animals with chins? Here are 26 facts about the human body you might not know.... READ ON

Amazing Facts About Game of Thrones

Unaired pilots. Actor switcheroos. Abandoned storylines. Internet spoilers. Divorce threats. The world behind-the-scenes of 'Game of Thrones' is just as intriguing as the series itself.... READ ON

Amazing Yard Sale Finds

From an actual copy of the Declaration of Independence to jewelry, some people made millions off the items they bought for a mere dollars at yard sales.... READ ON

Every Day Things Science Hasn’t Figured Out

Did you know that crying is still a scientific mystery? Here are a few other common things we still don't have a scientific explanation for.... READ ON

'The Office' TV Show Facts

On March 24, 2005, American audiences got their first look at the scrappy team at Dunder Mifflin's Scranton branch. Can you hear 'The Office' theme song already?... READ ON

Delicious Hot Chocolate Mix-Ins

While there's nothing wrong with plopping in a few marshmallows into your hot cocoa, there are many other ways to spice up your hot chocolate. Use these 10 ingredients to take your hot chocolate to the next level.... READ ON

Things We Learned in 2019

From findings about space and parasites to new discoveries in math and ancient civilizations, 2019 was a big year.... READ ON

Thanksgiving Myths, Debunked

What better way to start conversation during Thanksgiving dinner than by debunking some of these common Turkey Day myths?... READ ON

Words Turning 100 In 2019

In February 1919, just a few months after World War 1 ended, a story appeared in the UK's Manchester Guardian called “World War No. 2.”... READ ON

'Friends' TV Show Facts

The series that was originally called 'Insomnia Cafe' (and a bunch of other things) also helped to get Mental Floss off the ground.... READ ON

8 Foods You've Been Eating All Wrong

There's a better way to eat an apple, peel a banana, and put syrup on your pancakes.... READ ON

9 People Who Killed John F. Kennedy, According to Conspiracy Theorists

Among those who don't believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in killing JFK, the same names keep popping up.... READ ON

25 Surprising Facts About Boy Meets World

On September 24, 1993, television audiences were introduced to Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) and his lovable group of friends, family members, and one very important teacher when 'Boy Meets World' made its premiere on ABC.... READ ON

22 Things You Might Not Know About Dawson's Creek

On January 20, 1998, teenagers found a new small-screen obsession when 'Dawson's Creek' made its debut.... READ ON

22 Things You Might Not Know About 'Gilmore Girls'

The original series said goodbye 10 years ago.... READ ON

20 Future Stars Who Appeared on 'Gilmore Girls'

Some even played multiple characters on the show before making it big.... READ ON

20 Colorful Facts About 'Blue Velvet'

19 Binge-Worthy Facts About 'Orange Is the New Black'

Before you sit down to stream the new season, get to know Piper, Crazy Eyes, and the rest of the gang even better.... READ ON

11 Amusement Park Secrets From People Who Work There

Thanks to Reddit AMAs, or “Ask Me Anything,” we now know more about the behind-the-scenes of amusement parks than ever before. Here are 11 facts about working at an amusement park, straight from actual employees.... READ ON

12 Lesser-Known Historical Friendships

The founder of gonzo journalism and a conservative political advisor. A Nobel Prize-winning playwright and one of the most famous French wrestlers of all time. A legendarily dry comedian and an award-winning poet. Here are 12 epic friendships you probably weren’t aware of.... READ ON

10 Messages Hidden in the Background of Movies and TV Shows

Look closely.... READ ON

The 10 Best Rest Stops in the U.S.

30 Fun Facts About '30 Rock'

Fill your mind grapes with these 30 fun facts about '30 Rock.'... READ ON

7 Scientific Studies About How Animals React to Music

Music is pretty universally enjoyed ... when it comes to people. Animals, on the other hand, have diverse reactions to tunes. Here are seven scientific discoveries about how animals react to music, either created by humans or themselves.... READ ON

12 Common Dreams and What They Supposedly Mean

Despite Freud’s well-documented beliefs, dream interpretation isn’t a straightforward method.... READ ON

50 Famous Misquotations (and What Was Really Said)

Sorry Tumblr: Marilyn Monroe probably didn't say that.... READ ON

20 Things You Might Not Know About 'The Mindy Project'

11 Results from Studies About Online Dating

With more and more people relying on online dating to meet a partner, the act of online dating also gets studied more and more. Here are 11 revelations from recent studies.... READ ON

Where Are They Now? The Cast of 'Twin Peaks'

13 Things You Might Not Know About McDonald's Monopoly

In 1995, a clerk at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened an envelope containing the $1 million prize piece.... READ ON

40 'Saturday Night Live' Facts for Season 40

'Saturday Night Live' returns this weekend for its 40th season. Here are some facts from the first 39 years.... READ ON

15 Nora Ephron Quotes on Life

“Sometimes I think that not having to worry about your hair anymore is the secret upside of death.”... READ ON

11 Quotes from Celebrities About Their Music Careers

22 Things You Might Not Know About 'Mulholland Drive'

David Lynch actually got the name for the film when he was planning to create a different pilot, a Twin Peaks spinoff.... READ ON

8 Creative Toy Story Interpretations You Probably Hadn't Considered

You may have noticed that Andy's evil neighbor Sid returns briefly as the garbageman in 'Toy Story 3.'... READ ON

10 Things You Might Not Know About Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers premieres tonight—which means it’s the perfect time to learn a little bit about the Weekend Update alum.... READ ON

10 Clearly Unscripted Moments from Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon is well-known for breaking character from his SNL days, and Late Night embraced that quality.... READ ON

10 Times Seth Meyers Cracked Up At His Own Jokes

Seth Meyers is about to leave the iconic SNL Weekend Update desk, which means he will soon be cracking up at his own jokes on his very own late night talk show.... READ ON

10 Celebrities Who Have Weird Relationships With Academia

Colleges are notoriously weird; celebrities are equally strange. Sometimes, when the two are combined, magic happens.... READ ON

15 Famous Actors Who Voiced Video Game Characters

It’s not uncommon to come across a familiar voice while playing a video game. Here are a few actors who have lent their voices to CG characters.... READ ON

12 Stanley Kubrick Strategies for Perfecting a Film

Director Stanley Kubrick died in 1999, but he still remains an integral part of our culture today. Kubrick’s work is continually noted as influential on contemporary directors of huge blockbusters such as Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese.... READ ON

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