Mental Floss

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On January 30, 1925, Kentucky cave explorer Floyd Collins went underground—and didn’t come out. The epic effort to rescue him gripped national headlines and transformed into a battle between heroism and folly, selflessness and selfishness, life and death.

Lucas Reilly






Dog whistles can make training easier.

The ultrasonic training instruments are easy to use. But there’s a dark history behind their inventor—and their initial purpose.

Jake Rossen








Red hair and freckles are two traits partially determined by genes.

Humans are now known to have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes, but researchers still have much to learn about these small segments of DNA.

Emily Petsko




These important heritage sites are at risk.

From lighthouses to terracotta sculptures to out-of-this-world spots, these important heritage sites are at risk due to things like degradation and climate change.

Paul Anthony Jones






A man, a plan, a canal, Panama!

Often called one of the seven modern wonders of the world, the Panama Canal splits the continents of North and South America and launched a new era in global commerce when it opened in 1914.

Benjamin Lampkin