Mental Floss

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Alexandre Rodrigues in 'City of God' (2002).

Shot on location in Rio's poorest neighborhoods, ‘City of God’ used amateur actors from the community in many of its most famous improvised scenes, which are as evocative today as they were when the film first hit theaters in 2002.

Scott Beggs






The northern lights—caused by solar or geomagnetic storm—float over Tromsø, Norway.

Solar storms are one of the most extreme types of space weather, and big ones can cause electronic malfunctions, GPS breakdowns, and gorgeous northern lights.

Julie Fogerson








“Shoot, did that plant have leaves of three?”

Dogs can potentially have an allergic reaction to poison ivy, and they can also transmit the irritating oils to people. Here's what to do if you pet encounters the plant.

Sam Hindman