Mental Floss

THE LIST SHOW

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So that's what you call it! It turns out that thingy, that doohickey, that stuff, and that space between those two things probably all have names.

Jason English, Adrienne Crezo
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The 1980s were a magical time that gave birth to so many things that have become commonplace in our lives, including personal computers, 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' movies, and two-pound cell phones.

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'Smith' is an Old English name that was given to those who worked with metal. It's probably related to a word that meant "to strike." Where does your last name come from?

Alvin Ward


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From pranks to unsolved mysteries, let's check out some hoaxes—Alien autopsies! Fairy bones! Left-handed Whoppers! And more!—that people actually believed.

Erin McCarthy