
Weekly Spotlight
Entertainment

The Mental Floss Newsletter
A little smarter, a little weirder, and way more fun than the average email.
Reader Favorites
More Stories

Why Does the Headless Horseman Carry a Pumpkin?
The Headless Horseman’s pumpkin isn’t just spooky decoration—it’s folklore.
Is Telekinesis Real? What Science Actually Says
Researchers have chased mind over matter for more than a century, but the effect keeps shrinking as the studies get bigger.
Edgar Allan Poe's Favorite (and Least Favorite) Edgar Allan Poe Stories
From the short story he called his "best tale" and the work he considered his masterpiece to the book he called "silly," here are Edgar Allan Poe's favorite and least favorite of his own works.
20 Old Things in Your House That Are Worth a Fortune
You might want to check your basement, attic, and spare change drawer for some of these gems that are worth a fortune.
The Real Girls Who Inspired Stephen King's 'Carrie'
A badly bullied classmate and a near-death experience with a crucifix helped shape King's debut novel, 'Carrie.'
18 Reasons Why ‘Hocus Pocus’ Was Much Darker Than We Remember
The Halloween classic 'Hocus Pocus' was actually full of violence, murder, and covert adult humor.
The Edgar Allan Poe Character Who Helped Create Sherlock Holmes
Arthur Conan Doyle credited him by name for decades, but the detective he built out of him called him a very inferior fellow.
The Most Popular Halloween Costume the Year You Were Born
Tell us: would you wear the most popular costume from your birth year today?
11 Contemporary Fiction Books Perfect For Autumn Reading
From 'The Secret History' to 'The Shining,' these novels range from heart-warming to haunting, and are perfect for autumn reading.






































