Mental_Floss Studios

5 Facts You Never Knew About Groundhog Day

Punxsutawney Phil might be the most famous prognosticating rodent, but Staten Island Chuck is the most accurate.... READ ON

A Trip to the Conjuring Arts Library

This might be the most magical library in New York City.... READ ON

Does Decanting Wine Work?

There's a time and place for decanting wine.... READ ON

Orange vs. Orange

Which came first: the color or the fruit?... READ ON

A Quick Guide to Regional Pizza Styles

What's the difference between Detroit pizza and the New York slice?... READ ON

Stunning String Art Portraits

Petros Vrellis makes stunning string art portraits based on Renaissance paintings.... READ ON

The Museum of Illusions Boggles the Mind

The new Museum of Illusions in New York City explores optical illusions with an interactive twist.... READ ON

The Opera Star Who Sang Herself to Death

Alexander Chee, author of "The Queen of the Night," tells the story of 19th century opera diva Maria Malibran.... READ ON

Giant Paper Sculptures Inspired by Microscopic Organisms

Artist Rogan Brown creates breathtakingly complex works of art inspired by imaginary microscopic organisms.... READ ON

Straws You Can Eat

These straws are 100% plastic-free, biodegradable, and edible.... READ ON

Step Inside the World of M.C. Escher

An interactive exhibit in Brooklyn explores the surreal art of M.C. Escher.... READ ON

The Difference Between Antlers and Horns

A few helpful pointers to help you determine which piece of pointy headgear is which.... READ ON

A Traditional Spin on Digital Pet Portraits

Photographer Andrew Pinkham transforms digital pet photos into 18th century paintings.... READ ON

Learning English on Instagram

Graphic designer Nana Murata is using her Instagram art to learn English.... READ ON

Petri Dish Picasso

Petri Dish Picasso blends art and science to create vivid microbial illustrations.... READ ON

Seals vs. Sea Lions

What's the difference?... READ ON

How Mozzarella Is Made

The world of mozzarella making is full of secrets.... READ ON

Adorable Doughnuts

These might be the world's sweetest doughnuts.... READ ON

3 Uses for Peanut Butter

It's more than just a sandwich spread.... READ ON

Secrets Given Away by Silent Letters

Silent letters can reveal connections between words you might not know are related.... READ ON

How to Prevent Food Waste

Americans throw out about 40 percent of the food they buy.... READ ON

What Is a Word?

It's not as simple as it seems.... READ ON

Amazing Automata and Mechanical Musical Instruments

At the Morris Museum in Morristown, New Jersey, the exhibits come alive.... READ ON

Mesmerizing Zoetrope Pottery

Kenny Sing's handmade pottery is impossibly precise.... READ ON

The Space Suits of the Future

They're out of this world.... READ ON

Gourmet Snow Cone Flavors

Beat the heat with these gourmet twists on the classic snow cone.... READ ON

Chefs' Favorite Flavor Boosts

Chefs have plenty of trade secrets to boost flavors in their foods.... READ ON

3 Ways to Use Eggshells

Don't throw away your old eggshells!... READ ON

How Pasta is Made

This pasta factory is a carb lover's paradise.... READ ON

A New Kind of Action Figure

These action figures redefine what it means to be a superhero.... READ ON

Welded Wildlife Sculptures

Jordan Sprigg's wildlife sculptures give scrap metal new life.... READ ON

Is the Tomato a Fruit or a Vegetable?

It depends who you ask.... READ ON

Mental Floss Tries: Food From the 1700s

We whipped up three dishes from historical cookbooks to show how Revolutionary Era Americans ate.... READ ON

Prank Tips From a Professional Magician

Michael Carbonaro is the host of the hidden camera magic show "The Carbonaro Effect" on truTV. He's also a master prankster.... READ ON

Your Next Tweet Could End Up in the Dictionary

The lexicographers at the Oxford English Dictionary use Twitter to help define new words.... READ ON

The Library Inside a Cemetery

Morbid Anatomy is a pop-up museum and library inside Brooklyn's historic Green-Wood Cemetery.... READ ON

3D Printed Pottery

Artist Taekyeom Lee built a 3D printer that prints with clay.... READ ON

Why Isn't There a Word for That?

There are lots of things it seems like we should have a word for, but don't.... READ ON

Monumental Miniatures

Matthew Simmonds sculpts impossibly detailed miniature architectural masterpieces.... READ ON

Common Words That Mean Something More Specific to Experts

Words like "significant," "hearsay," and even "toxin" mean something very different when used by experts.... READ ON

Creative Uses for Old Coffee Grounds

Don't toss those soggy old coffee grounds just yet!... READ ON

How to Make Your Own Lip Balm

Did you know you can make lip balm in the microwave?... READ ON

What's Inside a Furby?

Ever wonder what's inside a Furby? We cut one open to find out.... READ ON

The Story of American Sign Language

Arika Okrent and Sean O'Neill trace the origins of American Sign Language all the way back to Colonial Martha's Vineyard.... READ ON

The Auto-Icon of Jeremy Bentham

Take a peek at the "auto-icon" of Jeremy Bentham.... READ ON

Delightful Miniature Origami Art

Ross Symons creates astoundingly tiny origami art.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Minnesota

Find out which of your favorite water sports, board games, and timeless fashion trends came from the Land of 10,000 Lakes.... READ ON

How to Eat Bugs

Insects are a sustainable source of protein. They're also surprisingly delicious!... READ ON

Delicious Pie Designs

Karin Pfeiff Boschek uses pastry dough and fruit to create gorgeous pie art.... READ ON

How Salt Water Taffy Is Made

At Salty Road in Brooklyn, New York, they make salt water taffy the old fashioned way.... READ ON

Popular on Mentalfloss