Mental Floss

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Vienna’s Wienflussportal, showing the spot where the Vienna River emerges from its underground course.

Discover the hidden rivers buried beneath cities around the world. From Moscow to Tokyo, explore the history and modern efforts to reopen these forgotten waterways.

Julie Fogerson


The 1960s gave us a lot of marvy slang still in use today.

Discover the most iconic slang from the 1960s and how it shaped modern language. From 'flower power' to 'groovy,' these terms are the linguistic legacy of the decade.

Jake Rossen


Getty Images

All Chinese New Year celebrations are celebrations of the Lunar New Year, but not all Lunar New Year celebrations are traditionally Chinese.

Colin Ainsworth


Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder star in 'Blazing Saddles' (1974).

Mel Brooks’s audacious comedy was the first movie to incorporate audible flatulence (though the offending noises were muted when the film aired on television).

Mark Mancini


You might want to keep some of these slang terms for kids in your back pocket.

Looking for new ways to describe the children in your life? From ankle-biters and saucepan lids to breadsnatchers and drape apes, these are funny slang terms for kids you’ll definitely want to use.

Mark Peters




A green sea turtle swims in the waters off Maui.

Did you know that sea turtles can dive up to 3000 feet deep and migrate thousands of miles? Learn more intriguing facts about these incredible creatures.

Melissa Gaskill


Meryl Streep.

Meryl Streep is one of the most acclaimed actresses in Hollywood history. Discover how this Oscar-winning star got her start—and how her first Academy Award ended up on a bathroom floor.

Jake Rossen
Cool jacket optional.

Can FBI agents really take over crime scenes? Do they hunt serial killers? Find out in this list of common FBI misconceptions.

Jake Rossen