Mental Floss

NATURE





An osprey flies while carrying a fish in its talons.

Ospreys were once threatened by hunting and pesticides, but these birds of prey made a dramatic comeback.

Kat Long




Flickr User Stephen Childs

Fans of '90s alternative music may recall King Missile's big single, "Detachable Penis." While the song may have been silly, it turns out than in the animal world, the idea isn't all that bizarre—at least not to the sea slug Chromodoris reticulata.

Jill Harness
A spectacled flying-fox bat in Australia.

If you're worried that a bat is looking to swoop down at any given moment and suck down a few pints of your precious blood, we've got really great news for you.

Michele Debczak


The kids are all right.

Cats on catnip can be quite fun to watch. Can dogs get in on the action? Yes, but it probably won’t be as entertaining.

Ellen Gutoskey








This compound butter includes wild garlic and dandelion.

Many common yard weeds—from purslane to dandelion—are perfectly edible, if you know how to identify and prepare them.

Michele Debczak






Modern Tarot Library/Amazon

Whether they're into tarot cards or 'Hocus Pocus' merchandise, these gifts will help the witch in your life embrace their magical side.

Michele Debczak
An illustration of a woolly mammoth, blissfully unaware of its species impending doom.

How many ice ages have there been so far? The same number of ‘Ice Age’ movies that have been released. (Five.)

Ellen Gutoskey