Mental Floss

FACTS

Alexandre Rodrigues in 'City of God' (2002).

Shot on location in Rio's poorest neighborhoods, ‘City of God’ used amateur actors from the community in many of its most famous improvised scenes, which are as evocative today as they were when the film first hit theaters in 2002.

Scott Beggs
The survivors of 'Lost.'

What began as a show about the survivors of a plane crash attempting to survive all alone on a tropical island quickly turned into something much different—and weirder.

Erin McCarthy


The Gen Z idol has been in the spotlight ever since her break-out role on Disney’s "Shake It Up."

From her status as a Kidz Bop alumna to the real meaning behind her name, there's probably a lot of facts about Zendaya that you don't know about.

Emily Malkowski






J.K. Simmons stars in HBO's Oz.

Before ‘The Sopranos’ or ‘The Wire,’ television’s golden age arguably began on HBO on July 12, 1997, when the premium network premiered Fontana’s prison drama ‘Oz.’

Jake Rossen
D-Day: The scene of the Allied invasion on the Normandy beaches in June 1944.

The Allied forces’ Normandy landings on June 6, 1944—an event better known as D-Day—became a pivotal moment in World War II .

Mark Mancini
Doritos.

We’re covering practical tips (like the scent that will alert you to an impending electrical fire) to decidedly stranger ones (how to get out of a kangaroo attack) in the latest episode of The List Show.

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Chad was a popular Gen X name.

The generation born between 1965 and 1980 loves nostalgia, has a ton of student debt, and hates cooking.

Jake Rossen, Bethel Afful, Jon Mayer, Justin Dodd






These facts about St. Patrick's Day might surprise you.

St. Patrick’s Day used to be a dry holiday in Ireland—and its signature color used to be blue. Read on for more surprising St. Patrick’s facts.

mentalfloss .com
How could anyone hate this face?

Whether you view squirrels as adorable little creatures or persistent pests bent on chewing everything in sight, there's more to the ubiquitous rodents than meets the eye.

Shaunacy Ferro


Alternate labels for Millennials include ‘Echo Boomers’ and ‘Gen Y.’

Millennials might just be the most studied generation in history—and also perhaps the most misunderstood. We’re here to help separate fact from fiction.

Stacy Conradt


George Miller at the premiere of "Three Thousand Years Of Longing"

Even after the success of 'Mad Max: Fury Road,' 'Happy Feet' remains George Miller's biggest hit.

Michele Debczak


Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the trailblazers who fought for equality and forever changed the world for the better.

Find out everything you need to know about the origins of Women's History Month, including how it went from a daylong celebration born from a socialist idea to a monthlong institution in the United States.

Zoë Randolph


Felt cute, might be prickly later.

Did you know hedgehogs have between 5000 and 7000 quills? This is just one of many intriguing hedgehog facts that animal lovers should know.

Hannah Keyser
A quartet of northern pintail ducks in flight.

Discover fascinating facts about ducks, from their adaptation to cold temperatures to their rude nesting habits.

Yelena Melnichenko