Mental Floss

FACTS

Andrew Carnegie.

Long before Musk, Zuck, and Bezos, Andrew Carnegie was one of the richest men in the world. But unlike his modern-day peers, Carnegie dedicated much of his life to getting rid of as much of his wealth as possible.

Stacy Conradt




The Philip K. Dick android.

Learn more about the fascinating mind behind 'Blade Runner,' 'Minority Report,' and so many other standouts of the sci-fi genre.

Katie Dancey-Downs




Simon Pagenaud after winning the 103rd Indianapolis 500.

Why does the winner of the Indianapolis 500 drink milk afterward? Find out more as we run down nine facts about the greatest spectacle in racing.

Scott Beggs
Anderson poses at an event for PETA.

From "Baywatch" to Broadway, Pamela Anderson has made a huge impact on pop culture. Here are 10 facts you might not have known about this Canadian-born star.

Abbey Bender
Painting of Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea.

If you know anything at all about Sacagawea, you probably know she was a guide on the Lewis and Clark Expedition (also known as the Corps of Discovery) to explo

April Snellings




oatawa/iStock via Getty Images Plus

From really expensive NFTs to newly discovered shipwrecks to the latest developments in the world of K-Pop, here are a few things we learned in 2021.

Jonathan Mayer, Justin Dodd




Hayao Miyazaki is the director behind acclaimed animated movies such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and The Wind Rises.

Director Hayao Miyazaki is responsible for some of the most beloved animated movies of all time—here are 11 things you should know about him.

Rudie Obias




Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock 'n' Roll,” is the legendary musician who melded country, gospel, and R&B influences to help revolutionize American pop culture.

Steven Melendez




Cannons used in the Civil War are on display at Fort Sumter.

The 1861 Battle of Fort Sumter sparked the American Civil War. From the garrison's 19th-century beginnings to its current use as a National Historical Park, here are 10 fascinating facts about Fort Sumter.

Mark Mancini