Mental Floss
culture Section Header

Culture

The Latest

Time can be particularly complicated—especially when politics and war are involved.

Some of these weird and spooky tales are based on actual events. But can you separate fact from fiction?
mentalfloss .com|
Some believe that tuning our music to 432 Hz rather than 440 will make it sound better—and make us feel better. What gives?
Lenny Hakimi|
Skamania County isn’t the only place to have outlawed the killing of undiscovered creatures—but why does anyone feel it’s necessary in the first place?
Marley Jaeger|

Weird

From ruined castles in Europe to a pebbled beach in Thailand, these supposedly hexed global destinations carry warnings for all who dare to visit them.
Claire Cock-Starkey|
Modified stones were discovered during a recent tournament, rocking the sport to its core.
Jake Rossen|
What caused some of these ominous events still remains a total mystery.
Lorna Wallace|
The CIA's encrypted art sculpture has puzzled cryptographers for decades. The man with the answers is finally ready to clue them in.
Jake Rossen|
Colorado residents are spotting rabbits with bizarre horn-like growths.
CaLea Johnson|
In 2009, the world was captivated by a little boy seemingly trapped in a runaway aircraft. As a new Netflix documentary reveals, the truth was a lot stranger.
Jake Rossen|
There's a big wide world beyond common molds and mushrooms—and some of it is very strange.
Lorraine Boissoneault|
Inspiring to imagine but nightmarish to live in, these failed communes have become cautionary tales in hubris and ego. 
Colin Scanlon|

World Records

Marvel fans can now pre-order an LED-lit, Galactus-inspired popcorn bucket big enough to set a Guinness World Record.
CaLea Johnson|
From the fastest and biggest animals to the creatures with the strongest schnoz and the longest leap.
Michele Debczak|
Meet Pearl and Reggie: the world’s smallest and tallest dogs brought together by Guinness World Records.
CaLea Johnson|

Social Media

Discover the most popular coffee photo aesthetics people are searching for, from lattes and books to cappuccinos on the Amalfi Coast.

Advertising

The so-called Bogus Bogie made a career out of his uncanny resemblance to the ‘Casablanca’ star.
Jake Rossen|
Ketchup on eggs? Heinz takes a controversial stance with its first major label change in 150 years.
CaLea Johnson|
Cars aren’t a piece of fruit, so how did they come to be associated with lemons? Discover how this slang term got adopted in the automotive world and what it really means.
Jake Rossen|
Some of the products offered up for sale in the catalogue were downright dangerous.
Laura Steadham Smith|

Architecture

The textured ceiling pattern was all the rage in the 1950s. Then things got bumpy.
Jake Rossen|
The 1954 fixer-upper, the only private home designed by the iconic architect in Florida, is built in his atypical “hemicycle” style—and can be yours for a cool couple million.
Tim Brinkhof|
These odd architectural features are remnants of a time when people had to pay if they wanted to look outside.
Tim Brinkhof|
These little spaces often spark curiosity and nostalgia, though few people know their history.
Lauren Dana|

Business

No more guessing games: These new avocado scanners can spot ripeness—no poking and prodding required.
CaLea Johnson|
Legal eagles like adding “Esquire” to their letterhead. But does it actually carry any meaning?
Jake Rossen|
Gas stations know what they’re doing when they play Bach at the pump.
Jake Rossen|

Charity

The number of living Vietnam Veterans is quickly dwindling. Now’s the time to show them you care.
Mf logo and dots in blue

Learn More About Culture

AdvertisingArchitectureBusinessCharityDesignEducationFashion & BeautyFolkloreGenerationsInternetJobsMediaPublic ServicesReligionSocial MediaWeddingsWeirdWorld RecordsMuseums