Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS





A great white shark.

As the thinking goes, sharks don’t get cancer, so the pills will keep you from getting it, too. But there’s a problem with that theory.

Matt Soniak


Sometimes you just need the eggs.

Where did the idea for a rabbit that gives away eggs really come from? Trace the origins of the Easter bunny, from pagan festivals to the influence of 18th century German immigrants in America.

Matt Soniak


Parrots are among the longest-living birds.

A single number for birds’ lifespans is difficult to pin down, but the ability to fly is one of the keys to their longevity.

Annabel Bourne








Coffee has been around for centuries.

Your daily cup of coffee has been hundreds of years in the making.

Sean Hutchinson