Mental Floss

LISTS

Not a unicorn.

Here’s what we know about these fascinating Arctic whales, including their life cycle, habits, and unique spiraled tusks.

Jessica Hullinger


The Korean ideophone 쿨쿨 (pronounced “kul-kul”) indicates the deep breathing of a restful slumber.

English speakers may be familiar with onomatopoeias, but they’re only a very small subset of ideophones, a broader word class can also convey other sensory experiences unrelated to sound. These Korean ideophones are sure to make your language sparkle.

Sophie Lau


An Eddie Bauer store in New York City.

Eddie Bauer didn’t always sell outdoor gear—and Kohl’s wasn’t always a department store. In some cases, these retailers have come a long way from their humble beginnings.

Stacy Conradt


There are a lot of people who don’t think Shakespeare was actually Shakespeare.

Discover the controversial conspiracy theories that challenge Shakespeare’s authorship, from the Baconian Theory to the Alien Theory and beyond.

Lorna Wallace


How could anyone hate this face?

Whether you view squirrels as adorable little creatures or persistent pests bent on chewing everything in sight, there's more to the ubiquitous rodents than meets the eye.

Shaunacy Ferro


Alternate labels for Millennials include ‘Echo Boomers’ and ‘Gen Y.’

Millennials might just be the most studied generation in history—and also perhaps the most misunderstood. We’re here to help separate fact from fiction.

Stacy Conradt






Moviegoers were donning these glasses to take in a 3D film way before you thought they were.

Discover the intriguing origins of everything from Oreos to Juicy Fruit gum to sparkling water, exploring their hidden histories and unexpected beginnings, from vaudeville fads to accidental inventions.

Ellen Gutoskey
Ka-ching!

Explore the colorful world of slang terms for money, from ‘bacon’ to ‘moolah’ and beyond.

Mark Peters


George Miller at the premiere of "Three Thousand Years Of Longing"

Even after the success of 'Mad Max: Fury Road,' 'Happy Feet' remains George Miller's biggest hit.

Michele Debczak


The origin of ‘a piece of cake’ comes from actual cake.

From ‘piece of cake’ to ‘the apple of my eye,’ these food-related phrases have fascinating histories.

Matt Soniak




Women's History Month is a time to celebrate the trailblazers who fought for equality and forever changed the world for the better.

Find out everything you need to know about the origins of Women's History Month, including how it went from a daylong celebration born from a socialist idea to a monthlong institution in the United States.

Zoë Randolph