Mental Floss

INVERTEBRATES

Common starfish (‘Asterias rubens’) in the Baltic Sea, a species researchers observed during their study.

Toxic explosives were no barrier for the fish and invertebrates colonizing a World War II-era munitions dump in the Baltic Sea, according to a new study.

Nick Keppler


They could still bug you at the beach.

Despite the name, some of these beachside pests aren’t even insects at all, though they could still hop up during your summer vacation in more ways than one.

Rudie Obias














An illustration of a woolly mammoth, blissfully unaware of its species impending doom.

How many ice ages have there been so far? The same number of ‘Ice Age’ movies that have been released. (Five.)

Ellen Gutoskey
Who wouldn't be screaming in this situation?

Our ancestors may have predisposed us to fear spiders, insects, and other many-legged creatures, but there's a lot more to it.

Ellen Gutoskey








iStock/Spondylolithesis

Each fall, millions of migrating monarchs return to Mexico to wait out winter. The gathering makes Woodstock look like a business conference. Here’s how they get there.

Lucas Reilly