Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS

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Blue may seem like an odd choice for a pair of pants that many people wear every day, but there's a good reason it became the standard color for denim jeans.

Michele Debczak
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The NFL has a reputation for being a little overzealous in levying fines against its players and coaches. But just where does the money go?

Jason Plautz


Even if you've never owned one, you've surely seen Golden Hamsters available for sale in pet stores, or scurrying around in a glass tank in a grade school classroom. But how did they get there?

Kara Kovalchik






Nothing says love like a gift that will wilt and die in a few days.

The tradition of handing out roses that will die in a few days to express everlasting love is the result of 19th-century flower theory, class status, and good old commerce.

Jake Rossen
One happy pup.

Dogs wag their tails to show you how happy they are that you’re finally home from work. But the furry appendages serve other purposes, too.

Ellen Gutoskey






The kids are all right.

Cats on catnip can be quite fun to watch. Can dogs get in on the action? Yes, but it probably won’t be as entertaining.

Ellen Gutoskey


ZIP codes hold the answer to getting you your junk mail as quickly as possible.

The five- to nine-digit code that gets letters to their destinations started with a man who would become known as "Mr. Zip."

Jake Rossen


Spin, poop, repeat.

Dogs have a tendency to preface their bowel movements with a bit of rotating before getting down to business. Is there evolution behind their revolution?

Mike Rampton






More "semi" than meets the eye.

The names ‘18-wheeler,’ ‘big rig,’ and ‘tractor-trailer’ aptly convey the size and scope of the vehicle. ‘Semi’ seems a little misleading. What gives?

Ellen Gutoskey