Mental Floss

LISTS

The Salem witch trials were a troubling time in Colonial America.

A witch may not always dress in a pointy hat and fly on a broomstick, so start paying attention to things like how many pets they have, how many times they’ve been married, and if they weigh more than a stack of bibles.

Stacy Conradt




Beware of that invitation to tea.

Euphemisms allow us to discuss some grim or controversial topics employing a more palatable turn of phrase. These expressions were coined to disguise everything from capital punishments to diseases, death, slavery, and cannibalism.

Paul Anthony Jones




Now and Then (1995) • Truth or Dare/Fight Scene [4K]
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Critics might have panned the film—Roger Ebert said it was “made of artificial bits and pieces”—but audiences loved it, and now it’s a beloved cult classic. Ahead of its 30th anniversary in October, here’s what you need to know about ‘Now and Then.’

Meredith Danko






Fires have prompted a number of safety regulations.

From tragic factory fires to toxic food scandals, some safety laws we may take for granted today actually have some pretty unsettling backstories.

Colin Scanlon


Ever wonder where the name ‘Snickers’ came from?

Surprise: Milky Way wasn’t named after our home galaxy. Let’s take a brief stroll down the etymological candy aisle and discover how these confections got named.

Mental Floss UK








‘De integritatis et corruptionis virginum notis.‘

The macabre practice is known as anthropodermic bibliopegy, and the motivations behind it include everything from punishment of criminals to doctors wanting symbolically meaningful covers for their medical tomes.

Lorna Wallace
Counting sheep, unfortunately, isn't the cure.

Historical cures for insomnia were sketchy at best and outright dangerous at worst. Fortunately, modern medicine has discovered a few techniques that can help those suffering from insomnia.

Ellen Gutoskey