Mental Floss

THE BODY

Red hair and freckles are two traits partially determined by genes.

Humans are now known to have between 20,000 and 25,000 genes, but researchers still have much to learn about these small segments of DNA.

Emily Petsko


Your lungs expel carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and water vapor every time you exhale.

Taking in oxygen to power your whole body is just one part of your lung function. Altogether, your lungs are a highly efficient machine—and they do a lot more than you might think.

Jordan Rosenfeld


They're not just for show.

Discover more about the origins of toenails—plus the real reasons why your toenails may be getting thicker and changing colors.

Matt Hoffman


Body fat is not just something to get rid of. It plays important roles in the human body, from regulating metabolism to storing energy.

Jordan Rosenfeld


Love your liver.

Not only is the liver your largest internal organ; it is in charge of hundreds of bodily processes ranging from fighting infection to manufacturing proteins and hormones to helping your blood clot.

Jordan Rosenfeld
The pineal gland is located in the center of the brain.

René Descartes once described the pineal gland as “the principal seat of the soul.” Medical knowledge has vastly progressed since his time, though. Here’s what we know about this critical organ.

Jordan Rosenfeld


A doctor checks a young girl for swollen tonsils.

You might think they’re unnecessary, because so many people have had their tonsils removed—but tonsils actually serve an important role in your immune system.

Jordan Rosenfeld




Nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) is a common anesthetic that only requires a mask over the mouth and nose.

Anesthesia is a complex mixture of medications that lessen pain during procedures. Different types affect the body in different ways.

CaLea Johnson










Land Sickness can be just as unsettling as seasickness.

Seasickness happens when a person’s body struggles to grow accustomed to a boat’s motion patterns, causing them to feel unsteady and often nauseated. But land sickness happens in reverse.

Mary Beth Skylis