Mental Floss

LISTS

The Ferris wheel is as beloved today as it was when it first debuted in 1893.

From the Ferris wheel to the Tilt-a-Whirl, carnival rides have some fascinating origin stories. Discover more about the history of these popular attractions here.

Editorial Staff




While your Deaf friends might get a good laugh when you accidentally sign “f**k you” instead of “thank you,” it’s still best to know the correct signs when interacting within the Deaf community.

Dominique Swanson




The great white is one of more than 500 shark species.

Whether you’re a ‘Jaws’ fanatic or just want to live every week like it’s Shark Week, you'll want to read up on these fascinating facts about sharks.

Meredith Danko
Lucille Ball was an August baby.

A number of noteworthy historical figures were born in the month of August. We couldn’t possibly name them all, so here are just a handful of lives we’ll be celebrating.

Caitlin Schneider
A woman reading a braille book.

Invented by Louis Braille in 1824, the tactile braille system has helped blind people read and write for nearly 200 years.

Kelli Finger


Knowing a bit of Dutch slang will not just help you find your bearings when you visit Amsterdam and its surroundings, but also earn you respect from the locals—who, despite being great at English, have a strong connection to their mother tongue.

Tim Brinkhof






The tell-tale hourglass identifies female black widow spiders.

Black widow venom is about 15 times as potent as a rattlesnake's, yet these charismatic spiders generally aren't a threat to humans.

Anne Taylor








John Steinbeck

The author of ‘East of Eden’ and ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ was also a three-time Academy Award nominee and found an enemy in J. Edgar Hoover.

Anne Taylor
An irate fish crow (Corvus ossifragus).

Crows are among the brainiest birds, able to recognize faces and hold grudges. Read on for more about these crafty corvids.

Mark Mancini