Mental Floss

FACTS



The 'Jaws' saga even included a 3D adventure romp.

Though the 1975 original film is legendary, the ‘Jaws’ sequels occupy a weird (and somewhat complicated) place in cinema history—and here are the real reasons why.

Matthew Jackson


On the set of ‘Jaws’ (1975).

On June 20, 1975, Steven Spielberg’s 'Jaws'—the original summer blockbuster—arrived in theaters and scared moviegoers out of the water.

Sean Hutchinson








Kari Byron.

The former MythBusters host and co-founder of the National STEM Festival tells us what emerging tech she thinks kids today won’t be able to live without—and what we can expect from the podcast she’s launching with fellow MythBuster Tory Belleci.

Erin McCarthy




Nurse Agnes from Uganda’s Bwindi Community Hospital prepares a vaccination against measles.

Before the measles vaccine, there were between 3 and 4 million cases in the U.S. per year. Now, it’s less than 500.

Shaunacy Ferro
American Film director Robert Altman.

The seven-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind M*A*S*H and Gosford Park, who would have turned 100 this year, changed how we watch—and hear—movies. He also tattooed Harry S. Truman’s dog.

Jennifer M Wood
Edward Gorey.

‘The Gashlycrumb Tinies’ author was born 100 years ago on February 22—here’s what you need to know about him, from what classic book he found boring to how much he really helped with PBS’s show ‘Mystery!’

Lorna Wallace




Lukas Haas, Kelly McGillis, Brent Jennings, and Harrison Ford in ‘Witness.’

Roger Ebert loved Peter Weir’s film, calling it “an electrifying and poignant love story” and “a thriller ... Alfred Hitchcock would have been proud to make.” ‘Witness’ turns 40 this year; here’s what you should know.

April Snellings




Still from ‘Picnic At Hanging Rock.’

Peter Weir’s Australian New Wave classic turns 50 this year. Here’s what you need to know about the film, from the off-limits question Weir asked book author Joan Lindsay to the spooky stuff that happened on set.

Matthew Jackson

Let’s celebrate another year in the books with a look back at how our knowledge grew over the past 12 months.

mentalfloss .com, Stacy Conradt