Mental Floss

LISTS

Photos.com/Getty Images Plus

The solar system: It’s big, it’s heliocentric, and it’s got space junk to spare. Here are 24 out-of-this-world facts about the corner of space that’s home to Earth.

Meredith Danko


James Mato (background); HarperCollins Publishers (cover)

Angie Thomas’s 2017 debut novel, 'The Hate U Give,' has held its place in our hearts (and on the New York Times Bestseller List) for half a decade now. Here's what you need to know.

Rachelle Saint-Louis


sturti/iStock via Getty Images

Customizing IKEA furniture is a tried-and-true method for decorating your space on the cheap. Here are some of our favorite IKEA hacks.

Christine Luna


Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall return as Deb and Dexter Morgan in Showtime's Dexter: New Blood.

The revival of Showtime's hit series 'Dexter' sees serial killer Dexter Morgan in snowbound New York, estranged from his son, and sharpening his tools to confront a new adversary. Here's everything we know so far.

Ken Ossea, Jr.






Janis Joplin in Columbus, Ohio in the summer of 1970.

Janis Joplin didn’t have a long or prolific career. The freewheeling Texas blues-rock howler recorded just four albums between 1967 and 1970. But in that short time, she left an indelible mark on rock ’n’ roll history.

Kenneth Partridge


Ajwad Creative (Speech Bubble), Martin Poole (kitten) /iStock via Getty Images Plus

It’s time to let the cat out of the bag: English isn’t alone in featuring cats in its idioms. In languages from all over the world, expressions of all kinds are enhanced by the mention of our feline friends.

Laura Nagle






You might associate his name with science fiction, but Ray Bradbury wrote plenty of scary stories that will keep you up at night.

From a homicidal infant to a man who gleefully dismembers his own adolescent daughter, these Ray Bradbury stories are not for the faint of heart.

April Snellings


Piranhas are a crowd favorite in aquariums.

After sharks, piranhas are one of the world’s most misunderstood fish. They have a reputation for ferocity that's not quite deserved.

Mark Mancini