Mental Floss

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The media mogul born ‘Orpah’ Winfrey has made quite a name for herself over the years.

Since making her national TV debut with ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show,’ Oprah has become a global icon. Discover more fascinating facts about her life here.

Rudie Obias
Duke Ellington with members of his orchestra in New York, 1946.

Time to press play on “Take the ‘A’ Train” and find out how Edward Ellington became the Duke.

Ellen Gutoskey




Zora Neale Hurston in a portrait by Carl Van Vechten.

Writer and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston’s literary legacy is a class apart. Here are some facts you might not have known about the author of “Their Eyes Were Watching God.”

Sohel Sarkar


One more spin could land you in the slammer.

You go about your day trying to be a good citizen. Little did you know that your bingo game can't last more than five hours.

mentalfloss .com


Don't save this list for a dreich day.

English might be Scotland’s official language, but the country also has distinct dialects and regional nuances. And understanding Scottish slang? That’s a whole other ballgame.

Louise Slyth
One proud peacock.

With their massive tails and iridescent colors, peacocks have long fascinated their human observers—and we’re still learning their secrets.

Jessica Hullinger
Quisby is just one insult from this list that you might want to start using.

Next time you need to win an argument, try dropping one of these old-fashioned English insults.

Paul Anthony Jones






A fox in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Researchers thought the site of the 1986 Chernobyl disaster was unable to support life. But a bunch of wolves, deer, wild boars, bears, and foxes disagreed.

Claudia Dimuro, Jon Mayer


LeBron James.

LeBron James has been a basketball superstar for most of this century, but it was two football coaches who changed his life.

Sam Dunn








Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, Nannie Helen Burroughs, and Frances E.W. Harper.

Some Black suffragists may not be as well known as their white counterparts in the movement, but they made an indelible impact on history.

Michelle Harris