Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS

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




Turkey is good enough for your holiday dinner, but the eggs are a bit too pricey for your omelet.

Turkey eggs are perfectly edible, but you definitely won't find them at your local grocery store. Here's why.

Michele Debczak
Queen Victoria visits the HMS Resolute, a British naval ship used for Arctic exploration, in December 1856.

The Victorian era brought changes that reached far beyond England’s borders. In fact, England’s borders also reached far beyond what we now know as England’s borders.

Ellen Gutoskey