Mental Floss

MF EXPLAINS IT ALL









Decades after the footprints that popped up in northern California, they were alleged to be a hoax.

When 16-inch-long tracks began popping up on northern California logging sites in 1958, workers dubbed the culprit ‘Big Foot’—but decades later, the whole thing was revealed to be a hoax.

John O'Connor








That’s a groundhog who was woken up too early.

Will the groundhog see its shadow? Uncover the history and folklore behind Groundhog Day and its connection to weather forecasting.

Miss Cellania
It’s not straightforward.

In the United States, the most common pronunciation is “FEB-yoo-air-ee.” Both Merriam-Webster and American Heritage dictionaries consider the common pronunciation correct, along with the less common, more traditional standard “FEB-roo-air-ee.”

Arika Okrent








This one seems obvious.

While developers can feel free to submit any name they’d like for a new street, cities usually have guidelines and standards.

Will McGough