Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS

















Fire trucks are red because we expect them to be.

The sight of a red fire truck will catch your eye, but it's not the reason emergency vehicles are painted scarlet.

Jake Rossen


Auctioneers like to speed it up.

The high-speed patter of the auctioneer is called 'the chant,' and it's designed to separate bidders from their money.

Jake Rossen






Though they differ in taste and appearance, white asparagus and green asparagus are the same plant species.

Michele Debczak