Mental Floss

ENVIRONMENT

If you‘d like more than a beach vacation, Fiji is the place for you.

The island nation is inviting travelers to donate some of their vacation to support local communities and environmental efforts.

History in the Making! Critically Endangered Galapagos Tortoises Hatch at Philadelphia Zoo!

A nearly century-old Galápagos tortoise welcomed four babies recently, boosting a critically endangered population.

The beaver dam to end all beaver dams.

It's twice the length of the Hoover Dam, but it was only discovered with the help of satellite imagery.

The tiny town of Rolla, Kansas, is about to be enveloped in the Black Sunday dust storm on April 14, 1935.

Ninety years ago, the Black Sunday dust storm blasted the Great Plains with millions of tons of topsoil scoured from the once-rich prairies. The Dust Bowl had arrived.

Yellowstone‘s Castle Geyser is doing its thing.

A newly discovered vent at Yellowstone National Park has caught the attention of researchers and tourists.

Time to get pampered.

One Maine lobster fisherman goes the extra mile by taking care of the protected crustaceans he catches before returning them to the water.

A backpacker enjoys the view in Chugach State Park near Anchorage, Alaska.

From Chesapeake, Virginia, to Anchorage, Alaska, these cities offer plenty of parkland.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park tops the list.

Which U.S. national parks saw the most visitors in 2024? Super-popular spots included Yosemite, Acadia, and Glacier National Park.

These penguins are going to be living their best lives.

The New England Aquarium’s retirement area for penguins offers specialized healthcare and a peaceful habitat for elderly birds.

Room temperature is a frame of reference.

Misunderstanding room temperature can have some surprisingly serious consequences.

Yup, it‘s pretty woolly.

The woolly devil—a recently identified plant species—has researchers intrigued because it belongs to a brand new genus.

The gray wolf is an endangered species in most of the U.S.

Where does your state rank when it comes to wildlife conservation?

The Chimborazo hillstar is native to the Andes of Ecuador and southern Colombia.

An ornithologist discovered a hummingbird “hive” in Ecuador‘s High Andes—a major departure for the solitary animals.

Many alligators were found in Alachua County‘s sewage system.

Alligators living in the sewers isn’t just an urban legend.

Ancestral Puebloan ruins in Chaco Canyon National Historical Park.

Chaco Canyon was once the vibrant religious center of a Native American culture whose collapse long remained a mystery—until pack rat middens revealed an important clue.

Mr. Delicious

The middle-aged Mr. D promoted Rax Roast Beef by complaining about his mid-life crisis and nursing a hangover.

A ban on cats isn‘t happening.

The Scottish government won’t be rounding up people’s pets any time soon.

Gibellula pulchra is in the same genus as Gibellula attenboroughii.

Researchers discovered a parasitic fungus that controls spiders‘ behavior, akin to the zombie ant fungus.

Worried about traction? One of these options can help.

When it comes to winter road safety, which one should you use? It all depends on whether you’re looking to melt ice, gain traction, or both.

The camera loves her.

The elusive mammal was finally ready for its close-up.

You can enjoy your time at national parks without spending so much.

Discover tips to save on entrance fees, lodging, and meals while enjoying national parks.

The corpse flower‘s name comes from its nasty smell.

Catch the blooming of Sydney‘s corpse flower without being exposed to its infamous odor.

It‘s pretty and eco-friendly.

If you resolved to organize your kitchen in 2025, this contest is pretty good motivation.

This isn't Australia's first tussle with mystery beach blobs. A similar incident happened in 2024.

The tiny little tar blobs could be nothing—or they could be dangerous.