Mental Floss

DESIGN

James Newton

The London Mithraeum recreates what it was like to take part in the rituals of an ancient cult using light, haze, and sound.

iStock

Certain industries have higher divorce rates than others.

iStock

It has to do with practicality.

V via Flickr // CC BY-NC 2.0

Marjorie Rice tackled an enduring mathematical question by doodling in her kitchen.

Courtesy Umbrellium

Crossing in the rain? The Starling Crossing will create a wider buffer for you. Crossing diagonally? It'll adapt to your path.

By Evan-amos - Own work, Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

A brief history of the game-changing tool, created 50 years ago by the Fiskars Corporation.

Ikea

“A chair shouldn’t be a tool that binds and holds the sitter."

Frank Pierson, Flickr // CC BY 2.0

Looking for some home decorating inspiration? Look no further.

iStock

The palace will become the home of a nonprofit called The Human Safety Net.

The LEGO Group

The experiential play center in Billund, Denmark, opened its doors to the public in late September.

Courtesy of Julia Donovan

Some dolls are cutesy, but not Callum Grujicich's fantastical creations.

Tengi

Instead of counting sheep, you may want to start counting yaks.

Chocolate map of Tel Aviv.

London, Tel Aviv, and New York City now come in chocolate.

iStock

You'll never have to turn against traffic again. Well, not to get on the highway, at least.

Natsai Audrey Chieza

The process is environmentally friendly and the results are beautiful.

Natsai Audrey Chieza

The process is environmentally friendly and the results are beautiful.

Courtesy of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Baltimore, MD

The "Nutshell Studies of Unexplained Death" were used to train investigators to solve murders, suicides, and other mysterious cases.

iStock

Offloading an architectural marvel isn't always easy.

HBO

<em>Game of Thrones</em> costume designers use rugs from IKEA to make their capes—now you can too.

Itzel Oropeza Castillo

Mexico City put out a call for new symbols to represent the metropolis. These designers knocked it out of the park.