LISTS

“I’m not one to blow my own vertubenflugen.” —Betty White stars as The Golden Girls's Rose Nylund.

'The Golden Girls' 101: Rose Nylund’s Rules to Live By, in 25 Quotes

National Treasure™ Betty White broke barriers starring as an “elderly” woman on 'The Golden Girls' at the ripe young age of 63.

22 Polar Exploration Terms You Should Know

While listening to Mental Floss's new podcast, 'The Quest for the North Pole,' learn the definitions for these common polar terms.

People turned to unusual remedies to avoid catching the plague.

9 Weird Historical Ways to Ward Off a Plague

From fart jars to drinking urine, here are strange, gross, or downright dangerous historical methods people used to prevent catching a plague.

The Quest for the North Pole: 39 Key Players You Should Know

Here's a rundown of the most important and influential historical characters in the new podcast from Mental Floss, 'The Quest for the North Pole.'

The official campaign portrait of Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

11 Presidential Facts About Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Most people know that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only U.S. President who served more than two terms. Here are some other FDR facts you may not have learned in your history classes.

The Alfred Wegener Institute research ship Polarstern reached the North Pole on August 19, 2020, during the year-long MOSAiC expedition to study climate change in the Arctic.

11 Frosty Facts About the North Pole

For most of history, the North Pole was the stuff of legends and wild theories. Now people run a marathon there every April. Here are more unexpected facts about the top of the world.

There's no guarantee you'll get all of a performer's greatest hits at a concert.

11 Hit Songs Musicians Have Refused to Play

Owing to boredom, spite, or just plain artistic growth, some recording artists won't give audiences what they want.

Popular Weekly World News cover monster Bat Boy.

Mental Floss: Our 35 Favorite Stories of 2020

Though it feels a little bit like choosing a favorite child, of the thousands of stories Mental Floss publishes in any year, our staffers are bound to have some particular favorites. Here are some of 2020's (Bay Boy included).

26 Animals Who Ran Afoul of the Law

When it comes to weird animal stories, it’s hard to beat the one about the parrot who got arrested for cursing out an old woman.

Ben Schwartz's Sonic in Sonic the Hedgehog (2020).

The 25 Highest-Grossing Movies of 2020

Between pandemic-prompted theater shutdowns and straight-to-VOD releases, 2020’s list of top box office movies is a strange one.

There’s something for everyone, from crime thrillers to cookbooks.

The 40 Best-Selling Books of 2020, According to The New York Times Best Seller List

Some popular books—especially ones written by Barack and Michelle Obama—practically lived on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2020.

Our 25 Most Popular Stories of 2020

While the COVID-19 pandemic was a driving force behind some of Mental Floss's most popular stories of 2020, the historical precedent of the 1918 pandemic was clearly of interest, too.

Octavia E. Butler autographs a copy of Fledgling at a book signing.

7 Surprising Facts About Octavia Butler

Born in Pasadena, California, on June 22, 1947, science fiction author Octavia E. Butler was one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century.

Ripped denim and bellbottoms have some unusual origins.

The Surprising Origins of 9 Jean Trends

From high-waisted denim and ultra-wide legs to extreme cut-outs and double denim, jeans have seen their fair share of dubious trends (and outright fashion disasters). Here are nine (sometimes embarrassing) demin trends and where they came from.

How many of these books did you read this year?

The 10 Most Checked-Out Books at the NYPL In 2020

"The city’s most borrowed books reflect the historic challenges that have impacted New Yorkers during 2020," the New York Public Library said in a press release.

The Thatcher Estate // Public Domain, Wikimedia Commons

10 Fascinating Facts About Margaret Thatcher

Some people remember former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher as the quick-witted "Iron Lady" who resolutely lead the U.K. through the end of the Cold War. Others recall her as a heartless conservative hardliner who tore down labor unions while str

Some Avengers assembled in Avengers: Endgame (2019).

The 25 Highest-Grossing Movie Sequels of All Time

It’s hard to compete with the Avengers, but you stand a good chance if your sequel features lightsabers or Pixar characters.

25 Fascinating Facts About Fossils

From giant parrots and penguins to really old poop and The Bone Wars to the difference between body fossils and trace fossils, here are a few fascinating facts about fossils.

America’s Worst Drivers Live in These 20 Cities

In these 20 American cities, drivers get into accidents more frequently than the rest of the country's population.

8 Surprising Facts About Jim Carrey

Elastic comedian-turned-actor Jim Carrey once had to defend himself in comedy clubs with broken beer bottles. He also had to endure the wrath of Tommy Lee Jones.

Michael Oliver stars in Problem Child (1990).

The 25 Worst Movies of All Time, According to Rotten Tomatoes

John Travolta’s ‘Gotti’ (2018) ranked fourth—but it’s not the only John Travolta movie on the list.

The 10 Best Holiday-Themed Episodes of Seinfeld

Over the course of its nine seasons, 'Seinfeld' created plenty of memorable moments—many of which came from the iconic sitcom's holiday-themed episodes. Read on to discover the best of them (and have a happy Festivus)!

8 Facts You Should Know About Kwanzaa

More than 50 years after its inception in 1966, Kwanzaa is still being observed the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day by people around the world.

5 Ways You Can Help Families in Need This Holiday Season

From Feeding America to Toys for Tots, here are five family-focused charities that could use your donations this holiday season.

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