Mental_Floss Studios

Things You Didn't Know Came From Arkansas

The only diamond mine in the United States can be found in Arkansas.... READ ON

Placebo Buttons Are Trying to Trick You

Why some buttons you press every day don't do anything at all.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From New York

An Empire State native invented one of your biggest household staples.... READ ON

How a Surfboard Gets Its Shape

Hang 10 with Union Surfboards and Pacifico Beer.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From New Hampshire

There's more to New Hampshire than just granite.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Connecticut

Where would we be without the contributions of the Constitution State?... READ ON

Six Things You Didn't Know Came From Rhode Island

We have the smallest state to thank for some big innovations.... READ ON

Dogs Are the Best

All we're saying is that dogs are the best.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Florida

It should surprise no one that one of the world's first sunscreens was made in Florida.... READ ON

Beware of This Fruit!

Ever wonder why your tongue tingles a little after you eat pineapple?... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Virginia

Virginia is for lovers ... of really cool things.... READ ON

The Word That Never Existed

Here, we take a look at the strange case of "Dord."... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Washington

The Evergreen State has made some pretty key contributions to society.... READ ON

Looking Good Wasn't Easy in Pre-Revolutionary France!

Beauty standards change and evolve over time.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Missouri

Missouri takes its "Show Me State" nickname very seriously.... READ ON

What's Up With the Dollar Bill?

What do all these strange symbols on the dollar bill mean anyway?... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Hawaii

Say "aloha" to these five inventions from Hawaii.... READ ON

The Weird Syntax of "The More, The Merrier."

The phrase "the more, the merrier" is really strange.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Illinois

One word: Brownies.... READ ON

Spot the Words Hidden in These Words

There's more to these words than meets the eye.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Iowa

Responsible for your sliced bread since 1928.... READ ON

What Does the Peace Symbol Mean?

Anyone would recognize the peace symbol, but few people know where it actually came from.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Maine

Six really great inventions from Maine and one we're not so sure about.... READ ON

Parents: Keep Your Guinea Pigs Away From Randy

Randy the guinea pig is a born lady's man.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From California

We owe California a big high-five.... READ ON

How a Mom Saved the 19th Amendment

When representative Harry Burn's mother told him to "be a good boy," he listened.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From South Carolina

The Palmetto State has secretly been supplying Hollywood with stars for decades.... READ ON

How to Snuff a Candle with Carbon Dioxide

This method is way cooler than just blowing it out.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Alabama

There's more to the Cotton State than textiles.... READ ON

The Next Best Thing to Owning a Real Dragon

You, too, can be the Mother of Dragons. Or, at least, dragon eggs.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Delaware

Without Delaware, we may have never landed on the moon.... READ ON

The Tetris Effect

Seeing tetrominoes in your sleep? You're not alone.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came from Michigan

The Wolverine State gave us lined roads—and the news radio you listen to while driving on them.... READ ON

The Smelliest Summer in London's History

Sewage in the Thames + heatwave = "The Great Stink"... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Colorado

From "America the Beautiful" to root beer floats, Colorado has been good to us.... READ ON

6 Things Women Used to Be Banned From Doing

You might be surprised to learn how recently women were banned from doing things like getting a credit card.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Washington, D.C.

Thank you, Washington, D.C., for creating one of the most-used office items in history.... READ ON

Here's Where a Few More Harry Potter Names Came From

The world of witchcraft and wizardry is full of linguistic secrets.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From North Carolina

Nice work, North Carolina!... READ ON

Discontinued Boy Scout Badges

The Boy Scouts of America currently have 135 merit badges. Here are five they decided to phase out.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Wisconsin

Wisconsin has given us more than just really, really good cheese.... READ ON

Words We Invented by Getting Them Wrong

Often, a linguistic mistake will persist until it's so widely used that it becomes... correct.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Louisiana

The Pelican State is responsible for more than beignets and Mardi Gras beads.... READ ON

One Riot From History We Never Learned About

In 1849, controversy over a New York production of Shakespeare's Macbeth boiled over and turned into a full-blown riot.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Tennessee

Cotton Candy, Mountain Dew, and Coca-Cola—what's not to like? ... READ ON

A Simple Trick for Driving Snakes Out of Your Country

Driving snakes out of your country really isn't so hard—just find yourself an Ice Age and a glacier, and you're all set.... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Massachusetts

From Chuck Taylors to smiley faces, Massachusetts knows how to make us happy.... READ ON

U.S. Presidents Have the Best Nicknames

You know George Washington and Abe Lincoln, but have you met His Rotundity and Handsome Frank?... READ ON

Things You Didn't Know Came From Vermont

From snowboards to Ben & Jerry's, we owe you big-time, Vermont.... READ ON

Logan Hicks Gives New Meaning to Street Art

You won't believe how artist Logan Hicks creates these paintings.... READ ON

Popular on Mentalfloss