Mental Floss

HEALTH



Digging for gold.

Catching a kid picking their nose isn’t too unusual, but have you ever wondered what makes them want to actually eat their boogers? Discover more about the science behind mucophagy and its enduring appeal to youngsters.

Mike Rampton


'Organic' doesn't necessarily mean 'healthy.'

To be certified as organic, farmers can’t use prohibited synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or hormones for three full years before applying. Further, any animals they have must be raised on organic foods.

the mag




Pregnancy is wild.

The act of bringing another person into the world comes with a whole host of things you might not have anticipated, from a phenomenon called “lightning crotch” and disappearing belly buttons to unexpected excrement and so much more.

mentalfloss .com
“The Plague Hospital,” a painting by Francisco Goya.

The Black Death—the world's second bubonic plague pandemic—decimated the populations of Asia, the Middle East, and Europe in the 14th century. But there was a silver lining.

Claire Cock-Starkey






Blue balls? Broken hymens? Popping your cherry? We’re covering all the topics you’ve always wondered about but were too embarrassed to ask.

mentalfloss .com


Illustrations from 1997’s ‘Get Fit! ... How To Get in Shape To Meet the President’s Challenge and Earn the Presidential Fitness Award’

Almost as soon as it was introduced—and for generations after—the Presidential Fitness Test was absolutely traumatizing to students who had to endure it. Here’s how the program started—and ended.

Vince Guerrieri


A great white shark.

As the thinking goes, sharks don’t get cancer, so the pills will keep you from getting it, too. But there’s a problem with that theory.

Matt Soniak