Mental Floss

LISTS

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What’s worse: Lava or ash? And what are these rocks plummeting from the sky? Volcanologist Dr. Janine Krippner shared her tips for how to escape an erupting volcano.

Mike Rampton






subjug/iStock via Getty Images Plus (folder) // Edwin Tan/iStock via Getty Images Plus (the dog) // peshkov/iStock via Getty Images Plus (desk)

We spoke to dog groomers about the most challenging breeds to groom, their tricks for handling difficult customers, and other hairy aspects of the job.

Michele Debczak


George Clooney and Brad Pitt star in Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven (2001).

In 2001, newly minted Oscar winner Steven Soderbergh gathered up some of the biggest names in Hollywood and pulled off a heist movie for the ages.

Jon O'Brien
Many other countries put a spin on eggnog.

Eggnog is a holiday staple in the U.S., but America hasn't cornered the market on the beverage; in fact, countries from Mexico to Scotland have their own eggnog recipes.

Ashley M. Biggers








Clockwise from left: Gilbert Stuart's unfinished portrait of George Washington on the $1 bill; Basilica de la Sagrada Familia; a page from Geoffrey Chaucer's The Canterbury Tales;  Boldt Castle; Reactors 5 and 6 at Chernobyl; and the National Monument of Scotland.

Famous presidential portraits, literary masterpieces, and iconic tourist destinations all make the list of amazing unfinished projects.

Justin Dodd
With this creative alternatives, you won’t even miss tinsel.

The fashion of the modern Christmas tree has left tinsel behind, and you can too. With these seven alternatives, we don’t think you’ll even miss it.

Zoë Randolph






Steve Jobs introduces the first iPhone during his keynote speech at Macworld on January 9, 2007.

From its first steps out of the primordial sludge of the ARPANET days to its current role as a vessel for cat videos and Netflix, we're taking a look at just some of the most important moments in internet history.

Todd Gilchrist