MYTHS

Some early explorers went looking for an legendary land named “Ultima Thule”—which may have been inspired by Iceland.

10 Legendary (and Probably Made-Up) Islands

These imaginary isles all have a place in world history, literature, or mythology—despite not having a place on the map.

Ballerinas are not considered a mythical creature

The Origins of 13 Mythical Creatures

Our latest episode of The List Show gets into some illuminating stories, from merpeople (or is that manatees?) to 'pontianak.'

Tom Cruise did not, in fact, engage in a "war of the worlds"

13 Lies Movies Taught Us

In this episode of The List Show, Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy traces some of the most common myths we've gotten from movies.

Krampus seems more suited to Halloween than Christmas.

8 Legendary Monsters of Christmas

Fans of 'The Office' may recognize Belsnickel, but you should also get to know other Christmas monsters like Krampus and the Yule Lads.

Myths around Santa's little helpers actually predate Christmas and Christianity itself.

How Did Elves Become Part of Christmas?

Myths about elves predate Christmas and Christianity itself.

Many on Howard Carter’s (pictured) team fell victim to King Tut’s curse—though Carter himself was spared.

9 Victims of King Tut's Curse (And One Who Should Have Been)

When King Tut's tomb was discovered in 1922, some believed the Egyptian pharaoh unleashed a powerful curse upon all who dared to disturb his eternal slumber.

Men prevent a vampire rising from its grave in a Romanian cemetery in this 19th-century illustration.

7 Frightening Facts About Europe’s Real-Life Vampires

The belief in real-life vampires predates Bram Stoker's legendary novel 'Dracula.'

Fax or Fiction: When Urban Legends Spread By Fax Machine

“Faxlore" marked the transition from oral urban legends to spam emails and copypasta.

Common Misconceptions About the Human Body

Do we really lose the most body heat through our heads? How many senses do we really have? All that and more on this Misconceptions.

If you see a magpie, have an onion ready.

The History of 12 British Superstitions

When it comes to weird and wacky superstitions, the United Kingdom has developed some real oddities

The 'Titanic' has been the subject of a number of myths.

8 Twisted 'Titanic' Myths, Debunked

Take a look at some of the more enduring misconceptions surrounding history's most famous vessel.

5 Myths About Women Leaders From History

Larger-than-life figures tend to inspire myths that fit their reputation, and this is especially true of history’s famous female leaders.

Abraham Lincoln, Theodore Roosevelt, and John F. Kennedy.

George H.W. Bush’s Broccoli Ban, George Washington’s Cherry Tree Debacle, and 44 More Presidential Misconceptions

Did George Washington really chop down a cherry tree? Did William Howard Taft really get stuck in the bathtub? Those answers and more.

Common Misconceptions About Cats, From Why They Meow to Whether They Hate You

Why do cats *really* purr? What’s the truth about black cat adoption rates? Find out the answers to those and other cat-related queries.

11 Animals That Can Purportedly Predict the Weather

Groundhogs aren't the only creatures with the powers of prognostication. From badgers to woolly bear caterpillars, these other animals are said to predict the weather.

Common Misconceptions About the Stone Age

The Stone Age timeline encompasses a huge chunk of prehistory—and life wasn’t only about hunting and gathering.

Chichen Itza's Pyramid of Kukulcan in Yucatán, Mexico.

Common Misconceptions About the Maya Civilization

And no, we don’t mean ‘Mayan Empire.’ Neither the idea of an empire nor the word ‘Mayan’ in that context makes much sense.

Max Schreck as the vampire Count Orlok being destroyed by sunlight in Nosferatu (1921).

11 Monster Myths Invented By Hollywood

From werewolves to vampires, many classic monster myths attributed to folklore actually originated with horror movies.

Here's What Really Happens When You Swallow Gum

If you've managed to get this far in life without swallowing gum, you may ask yourself: Can ingesting gum really hurt you?

10 Facts About King Arthur, the Legendary Ruler of Camelot

The legend of King Arthur has continued to evolve across generations. Though there’s little evidence to suggest the man existed, the world is still enthralled by the myth and the world of Camelot.

An illustration from Hunefer's Book of the Dead.

Common Misconceptions About Ancient Egypt

Did Napoleon really shoot off the Great Sphinx’s nose? Was King Tut murdered? Those answers and more on this ‘Misconceptions.’

Their little faces judge you when you input PEZ one by one.

How to Load a PEZ Dispenser Correctly, According to PEZ

A viral TikTok recently suggested that you can load your PEZ without unwrapping it. But does it actually work?

10 Uncanny Examples of the Mandela Effect

Do you swear Sinbad starred in a 1990s movie called ‘Shazaam’? You’ve been hit with the Mandela effect.

11 Lesser-Known Fairy Tales

Almost everyone knows the classic fairy tales like 'Cinderella' and 'Sleeping Beauty.' But you probably haven't heard of 'Hans-My-Hedgehog.'