MF Explains It All

Wax paper is great for keeping your counter space clean (as seen above).

These two paper goods are a common sight in kitchens, but there's an important—and potentially flammable—distinction to make between them.

A stand at the Spice Bazaar in Istanbul, Turkey.

Simon and Garfunkel sang about herbs, not spices—but that’s not the only difference between the two.

You lose certain rights when you're taken into police custody, but there's plenty you can do (or avoid doing) to legally protect yourself.

This woman systematically drinks orange juice while her creative juices are flowing.

Something systemic—like a disease—means it’s present throughout a system. ‘Systematic’ refers to how a system is operated.

Abandoned shopping carts could be a sign of social dysfunction.

Leaving a cart abandoned in a parking lot is a social nuisance. What drives people to practice poor supermarket etiquette?

Waking up to a foul taste is a common dilemma. Fortunately, there are some easy steps to reduce a bad oral presentation in the morning.

Orange citrus is almost always sold in red packaging, and the reason for that has to do with how our brains perceive color.

These 2-ton concrete balls are for shoppers' safety, but they pose a risk of their own.

The giant red spheres, a.k.a. bollards, outside Target's stores do help reinforce the brand's red bullseye logo, but they’re mainly there to keep shoppers safe.

Even without raging benders, dogs might still get headaches.

Dogs and humans share some of the same central neural pathways. Does that mean they need blackout curtains for crippling headaches, too?

3 p.m. is basically noon for people who wake up at 12 p.m.

We don’t know exactly when or why noon began to refer to 12 p.m., but it could have something to do with hungry monks.

There’s a reason that Meghan Markle’s first time sporting a tiara (borrowed from Queen Elizabeth II) was on her wedding day.

Virtual assistants often have female voices. Why?

Artificial intelligence often skews toward female voices. Is it gender bias, or do companies have hard data to support our seeming preference for feminine AI?

When you finally get to your gate, it seems nearly as comfortable as your own living room—which is exactly what airports want.

Consider a storm yet another reason to procrastinate on your dishes.

Doing the dishes during a thunderstorm leaves you vulnerable to electrical shock the same way taking a shower does.

The reasons why whitewashing farmhouses became a popular trend among colonial homeowners, especially those who lived in humid climates, go far beyond aesthetics.

So, you’d like to write for Mental Floss? We've assembled a handful of helpful tips to help you craft the best pitch possible.

ALDI has a very clever approach to cutting costs.

ALDI, the popular discount food chain, defies retail convention by muting speakers. Here's why music isn't part of their inventory.

Buying cold milk is a very American phenomenon.

In the United States, most milk is sold in the refrigerated section. In other parts of the world, it's sold at room temperature. Why?

Steve Jobs reveals the iPhone 4 at a conference in 2010.

If you assumed the now-ubiquitous lowercase ‘i’ meant ‘internet,’ you’re not wrong—but that’s only part of it.

F and J aren't the most important letters in the alphabet, but they might be the most important ones on the keyboard.

If you’re trained in Mavis Beacon’s method of touch-typing, you might rely on those bumps more than you realize.

Spearmint and peppermint have slightly different uses, but either one makes a great addition to any herb garden.

They’ll both leave your mouth feeling minty fresh, but one type of mint might do a better job than the other.

The new coronavirus that causes COVID-19 can be transmitted through saliva droplets coughed into the air. Here's the terminology you need to know to understand its transmission.

She may decide to use might in her essay.

'May' and 'might' are two modal verbs that are often used interchangeably, but there are grammar rules governing which one is technically correct.

Consumers are used to options, but with toilet paper, it's white or nothing. The reason why is a little messy.

Wax Paper vs. Parchment Paper: What’s the Difference for Cooking?

Herb vs. Spice: What’s the Difference?

What Are Your Rights If You Get Arrested?

Systemic vs. Systematic: How to Use Each Word Correctly

The Reason Some People Never Return Shopping Carts, According to Science

The Reason We Get Morning Breath

The Clever Reason Oranges Are Sold in Red Mesh Bags

The Reason Target Has Those Giant Red Concrete Spheres Outside

Do Dogs Get Headaches?

Why Did Noon Used to Mean 3 p.m.?

What’s the Difference Between a Tiara and a Crown?

Why Do Virtual Assistants Like Siri and Alexa Traditionally Have Female Voices?

The Surprising—and Sneaky—Reason Why Airports Are Carpeted

You Should Never Wash Dishes During a Thunderstorm—Here’s Why

Why Are So Many Farmhouses Painted White?

How to Pitch a Story to Mental Floss

The Surprising Reason ALDI Doesn't Play Music

The Reason Americans Buy Refrigerated Milk and Europeans Don't

What Does the i in iPhone Stand For?

Why Are There Bumps on the F and J Buttons on a Computer Keyboard?

Peppermint vs. Spearmint: What’s the Difference?

Airborne vs. Aerosol vs. Droplet: What's the Difference?

May vs. Might: When to Use Each Word

The Reason Toilet Paper Is Always White