Mental Floss

MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

Dog whistles can make training easier.

The ultrasonic training instruments are easy to use. But there’s a dark history behind their inventor—and their initial purpose.

Jake Rossen








Powerful winds fuel the Palisades and Eaton fires in the Los Angeles area.

Meteorological organizations have strict naming protocols for tropical cyclones and hurricanes. Not so for wildfires, which can end up being named for the local dump.

Nick Keppler
















Happy 2025!

Every time a new year rolls around, people set out to better themselves. But why do we make these promises to ourselves, and where did this tradition come from? We can start by blaming the ancient Babylonians.

Shanna Yehlen