Mental Floss

MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

Which is which?

Though they’re technically the same animal, there’s an important difference between pigs and hogs. Boars are a different story altogether.

Michele Debczak




Dr. Joseph-Ignace Guillotin described the guillotine's effect as being “Like a cool breath on the back of the neck.” Anne Boleyn would likely disagree.

Jake Rossen


Everybunny wants to know why we call rabbits “bunnies.”

When it comes to abbreviations for animal names, doggy for dog makes sense, as does kitty for cat, when you think about it: Kitty comes from the word kitten. But where does bunny for rabbit come from?

Kara Kovalchik














Coffee has been around for centuries.

Your daily cup of coffee has been hundreds of years in the making.

Sean Hutchinson




Dog and pony shows were once all the rage.

When people talk about a dog and pony show today, they usually mean a flashy presentation or event that's all about appearances, with little real substance. But where does this phrase come from, and what's its history?

Anne Taylor