Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS



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




Not all dogs drool, but when they do, bring a towel.

Dogs have a tendency to soak furniture and shirt sleeves in their saliva. In humans, this would be cause for concern. So why do dogs do it?

Jake Rossen




Boris Karloff as Frankenstein's (green) Monster in James Whale's Frankenstein (1931).

In the more than 200 years since Mary Shelley’s 'Frankenstein' helped shape the horror genre as we know it today, there have been dozens of interpretations of Frankenstein’s Monster. But when and why did he become green?

April Snellings




If you're writing a conditional statement, then you should use then.

‘More than’ or ‘more then’ isn’t a matter of opinion. But there was a time when they were interchangeable.

Ellen Gutoskey


Stylish and practical, the golf ball is a design marvel.

The dimples on a golf ball aren't just for show or design aesthetics. They can dramatically change the game of golf.

Jake Rossen