Mental Floss UK

Jelly Beans Are Made With Insect Secretions

Jelly beans are shiny because they're coated in shellac, which is a resin that's secreted by the female lac bug (laccifer lacca) after it drinks the sap of trees.... READ ON

Surprising Facts About Nintendo's Animal Crossing

Animal Crossing is one of the video game giant's quirkier franchises, but that hasn't stopped it from becoming a worldwide hit.... READ ON

Why Advent Calendar Chocolate Tastes Different

Chocolate is chocolate, isn’t it? If so, then why does the chocolate you find in an Advent calendar taste so weird?... READ ON

15 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of The Great British Baking Show

12. Hundreds of season 5 viewers wrote in to complain about "sabotage" after contestant Iain Watters had a bit of an issue with his Baked Alaska.... READ ON

How Sesame Street Dealt With 9/11

The venerable children's show had to find a way to bring the real-world horror to their young audience's attention.... READ ON

5 of the Most Expensive Pizzas Ever Made

There’s a big difference between a $40 pie from your local pizzeria and a $12,000 one topped with rare caviar, choice bits of Maine lobster, and piles of shaved truffles.... READ ON

7 Songs That Aren't Quite as Romantic as They Sound

A quick reminder that just because a song has the word "love" in its title doesn't mean it's a love song. So be sure to listen to the lyrics before choosing "your song."... READ ON

Why Princess Elizabeth Was Almost Never Queen Elizabeth II at All

She's one of history's most popular British rulers, but she very nearly missed the gig.... READ ON

21 Other Royal Babies Born In The Last 20 Years

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting a royal addition.... READ ON

Why Is It So Dark in Outer Space?

It's a question scientists have been asking for more than 400 years.... READ ON

Can You Really Suck the Poison Out of a Snakebite?

Essential information for when you find yourself surrounded by rattlers.... READ ON

12 Things You Might Not Know About Blackadder Goes Forth

4. A scene in which Rowan Atkinson's character feigns madness by wearing underpants on his head and sticking pencils up his nose was inspired by Atkinson's penchant for sticking pencils up his nose.... READ ON

Why Do Wimbledon Players Wear All-White?

Even their underwear has to be white.... READ ON

Why Do Astronauts Use Space Pens Instead of Pencils?

One technological breakthrough left the common pencil in the dust.... READ ON

Why Did the First Harry Potter Book Get a Title Change in the U.S.?

While it was author J.K. Rowling who ultimately suggested the alternative title, she still regrets the decision.... READ ON

How Do Fireworks Actually Work?

Most of us just know to light the fuse and stand back.... READ ON

Is There Any Point in Letting Red Wine Breathe?

At the end of a long day, the last thing you want to do is wait 30 minutes to pour a fresh glass of wine.... READ ON

Why Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Was Hero Turtles in the UK

British censorship led to ninjas, nunchucks, and sausages all being banned.... READ ON

Why Do British Judges Wear Wigs?

It goes beyond looking fabulous.... READ ON

10 Tantalizing Tidbits About Star Trek: The Next Generation

Creator Gene Roddenberry reportedly didn't like the idea of “a bald English guy taking over.” And that was just the beginning of the behind-the-scenes drama.... READ ON

Why Is A Pineapple Called A Pineapple?

To figure it out, we have to go back and look at how Europeans first encountered the fruit in question.... READ ON

9 Things You Might Not Know About Defender

Notoriously challenging, it ranks among the most influential early arcade titles.... READ ON

The Strange Hidden Link Between Silent Hill and Kindergarten Cop

Though the two could not be more opposite, there are some surprising connections between 'Silent Hill' and 'Kindergarten Cop.'... READ ON

How Common Is Your Birthday? An Interactive Map Can Tell You

If you were born on September 9, you are far from alone.... READ ON

8 Surprising Facts About Bubble Bobble

There's a lot more to this early arcade hit than just the colorful platform gameplay.... READ ON

5 Fascinating Facts About Atari's Star Wars

Dek TK... READ ON

10 Fascinating Facts About Space Invaders

Find out the story behind one of the most influential arcade games of the industry's early years.... READ ON

7 Brilliantly Useless Websites You Won't Believe Exist

Don't even pretend you're working.... READ ON

Can It Ever Be Too Cold to Snow?

It sounds like nonsense … but is it?... READ ON

Why Does Cilantro Taste Like Soap To Some People?

It might be the most polarizing leaf in the culinary world.... READ ON

The British King Whose Corpse Exploded During His Funeral

William the Conquerer was an unlikely king who reigned brutally and met an equally brutal end.... READ ON

7 Superstitions About Cats From Around the World

Cats have attracted a lot of different superstitions over the years—some easier to believe than others.... READ ON

11 (Supposedly) Haunted Things Put Up for Sale on eBay

Everything on eBay has a backstory, and sometimes, it's a pretty spooky one—at least according to whoever is trying to offload the item.... READ ON

15 Surprising Celebrities Who Voiced Characters on SpongeBob SquarePants

From rock legends to Goodfellas, check out the familiar voices that have appeared in a pineapple under the sea.... READ ON

10 Fast Facts About Pac-Man

As we now know, 'Pac-Man' was a massive hit, and its grip on pop culture is still strong today. But 'Pac-Man's success was far from certain; its designer initially had no interest in games, and the public reaction to it was initially mixed.... READ ON

What 6 Dinosaurs from 'Jurassic Park' Really Looked Like

In the 24 years since the original 'Jurassic Park' was released, what we know about dinosaurs has changed a lot. Here's some of the new research that may change how you imagine these ancient animals.... READ ON

Are Skyquakes Real?

You aren't just hearing things.... READ ON

How Does Wireless Charging Work—And Is It Safe?

A century-old bit of technology may solve our charging woes.... READ ON

8 Insults That Only Work In French

The French have a way with insults—even if something is a bit lost in translation.... READ ON

17 Famous Authors and Their Rejections

"… what was needed, (someone might argue), was not more communism but more public-spirited pigs."... READ ON

Meet the World's Smallest Fruit

It's easy to be impressed by big things.... READ ON

How to Make Your Own Novelty Vending Machine From Cardboard

Coin slot included!... READ ON

The Running Joke in the Background of 'SpongeBob SquarePants'

"My leg!"... READ ON

The Artist Who Helped Bring Super Mario to Life

A veteran of animation lent a hand in creating Nintendo's vibrant world.... READ ON

The Deepest Shipwreck Ever Found

We are only just beginning to find ways to explore the deepest trenches.... READ ON

Up Your 'Pac-Man' Game by Learning the Different Strategies of Each Ghost

There's actually a method to the madness behind each of the googly-eyed phantoms.... READ ON

The Skinny on Big Beef: Why Fast Food Burgers Don't Seem to Rot

More than seven years after it was made, one burger from the Golden Arches is still well-preserved and on display in Iceland.... READ ON

7 of the Biggest Treasure Troves Ever Found

Throughout history, valuable objects have been either deliberately buried or just lost to the ages.... READ ON

11 Companies You Might Not Realize Are Owned by Amazon

Shop at Zappos or Shopbop? You're giving money to Amazon.... READ ON

5 People Who Were Suspected of Being Jack the Ripper

Modern research still hasn't solved the case, but these are some intriguing possibilities.... READ ON

Popular on Mentalfloss