Mental Floss

BIOLOGY















Pregnancy is wild.

The act of bringing another person into the world comes with a whole host of things you might not have anticipated, from a phenomenon called “lightning crotch” and disappearing belly buttons to unexpected excrement and so much more.

mentalfloss .com


A northern hawk owl snoozes in a tree cavity.

At some point, whether during the day or at night, all birds need to sleep. How do they do it?

Annabel Bourne
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




They’re the only marsupials you're likely to find north of Mexico.

Opossums have a bad reputation, but they’re smarter and more beneficial to people than other woodland denizens. Discover more about these unique marsupials here.

Michele Debczak




A lot of the methods involved pee.

Before home pregnancy tests, the most reliable test was just to wait and see. But people still wanted to know as early as possible whether they were harboring a tiny human.

Linda Rodriguez McRobbie