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The Surprising Origins of the Male and Female Symbols

The ♂and ♀ symbols initially had nothing to do with representing human sex or gender.

The Mystifying Origins of Heavy Metal’s ‘Devil Horns’

7 Amazing Rock Formations That Could Rival Stonehenge

12 of the Creepiest Nuclear Sites on Earth

How “We Built This City” Went From No. 1 Hit to “Worst Song Ever”

The public once made the rock anthem a chart-topping hit. Then we all seemed to change our mind.
Jake Rossen|

Smashed Skulls and Severed Limbs Suggest Stone Age Armies Brutalized Their Victims

According to a new archaeological study of human bones showing evidence of violent “overkill,” war was hell even in the late Stone Age.
Nick Keppler|

20 Fascinating Photos of Historical Figures at the Beach

Find out what brought these historical figures to the beach—and what they wore while there.
Ellen Gutoskey|

Government and Politics

The Artist Behind the CIA’s Famous “Kryptos” Puzzle Is Ready to Reveal the Solution—But There’s a Catch

The CIA's encrypted art sculpture has puzzled cryptographers for decades. The man with the answers is finally ready to clue them in.
Jake Rossen|

The Brief, Terrifying Time Americans Went All In on Fallout Shelters

Fears of nuclear war led to a fleeting craze for fallout shelters stocked with crackers, body bags, and guns.
Jake Rossen|

Why Do We Still See Fallout Shelter Signs?

Tens of thousands of fallout shelter signs, with three yellow triangles in a black circle, are visible on building façades today. They serve as grim reminders of the hottest flashes of the Cold War. So why are they still around?
Tim Brinkhof|

What Happens If You Call 911 by Mistake?

You never want to butt-dial the cops by mistake. But if you do, here’s what happens next.
Jake Rossen|

Why Isn’t Washington, D.C., a State?

Residents of Washington, D.C., have no governor, no voting representation in Congress, and only limited local authority. The reason is simple: D.C. isn’t a state. Let’s break down the history and future of D.C. statehood.
Zoë Randolph|

Can You Name the Original Capitals of These 18 States?

A number of states entered the union with different capital cities. How many of them do you know?
mentalfloss .com|

When John Adams Predicted the Wrong Independence Day

When John Adams penned a letter to future first lady Abigail Adams on July 3, 1776, he guessed how future generations of Americans would celebrate Independence Day with remarkable accuracy—but he got the date wrong.
Erik van Rheenen|

Why Is the Nation's Capital Called the “District of Columbia”?

Inside the complicated compromise that created the District of Columbia and the City of Washington—which are kind of the same thing.
Tim Brinkhof|

Presidents

Quiz: Match the President to His Hometown in This Fiendishly Tricky Game

It’s easy to name the state most associated with a president, but can you name his actual birthplace?
Kat Long|

The Bizarre Free Love Cult That Housed a Presidential Assassin

John Humphrey Noyes wanted to build a heaven on Earth—but for Charles Guiteau, life at the Oneida Community was a living hell.
Erin McCarthy|

Ulysses S. Grant’s Great-Great-Grandson Is Alive—and Writing Erotic Vampire Novels

The 18th president’s descendant had a storied career in museum curation before turning his attention to an affable vampire.
Jake Rossen|

War

Could Cockroaches Really Survive a Nuclear War?

Cockroaches have a reputation for being indestructible. But they may not be as totally immune to radiation as people think.

12 Facts About the End of World War II

7 Retro Toys From the Atomic Age

How the Japanese City of Kokura Narrowly Avoided Nagasaki’s A-Bomb

Mystery

The Lost “Song of Wade”: A New Translation Decodes Fragment of Mysterious Medieval Tale

The medieval hero known as Wade was thought to have encountered elves in his adventures. But they might have been wolves instead.
Ellen Gutoskey|

6 Strange Maritime Mysteries

From the Bermuda Triangle to the ‘Mary Celeste,’ here are some of the most puzzling enigmas of the deep.
Claire Cock-Starkey|

The Murder of Rasputin: The Mystery That Won’t Die

Delve into the mystery surrounding the assassination of Grigori Rasputin, and see how the circumstances of his death have taken on a life of their own.
Andrew Lenoir|

The Quest to Break America’s Most Mysterious Code—And Find $60 Million in Buried Treasure

For the past century, the quest to break the Beale Ciphers has attracted the military, computer scientists, and conspiracy theorists. All have failed.
Lucas Reilly|

Misconceptions

3 Common Misconceptions About Aging, Debunked

The idea that older people need less sleep is just one common misconception.
mentalfloss .com|

5 Misconceptions About AI

If you’ve ever caught yourself sympathizing with ChatGPT, you may have fallen for one of these common misconceptions about AI.
Bethel Afful|

5 Misconceptions About the Arctic

Both the Arctic and Antarctica are cold and icy, but that’s basically where the similarities end. 
Bethel Afful|

11 Misconceptions About Cryptocurrency, NFTs, and More

Hearing NFTs explained as “non-fungible tokens” only makes sense if you already know what ‘fungible’ means.
Jason Serafino|

9 Misconceptions About Menstruation

Should you be worried about animal attacks when you’re menstruating?
mentalfloss .com|

Royalty

5 Ways Royals Shaped Fashion

Royals from Queen Victoria to Princess Diana have left their mark on the world of fashion.
Colin Scanlon|

The Reason Why Members of the Royal Family Must Always Travel With One All-Black Outfit

It all began in 1952 when then-Princess Elizabeth was caught without a black outfit when the circumstances called for one.
Ellen Gutoskey|

11 Surprising Facts About Windsor Castle

Over the past 900-plus years, more than 30 monarchs have called Windsor Castle home. It has also been the site of several royal weddings—including Prince Harry's 2018 nuptials to Meghan Markle.
Lucas Reilly|

Civil Rights

The ‘Star Trek’ Interracial Kiss That Made TV Executives Panic

William Shatner’s lip lock with Nichelle Nichols wasn't TV’s first interracial kiss, but it might have been the most controversial.

How To Stay Safe During a Protest

10 Times Kids Changed History 

11 Fundamental Facts About the Alien and Sedition Acts

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