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A hiker crosses a ravine on a log through Olympic National Park’s rainforest.

Two factors explain why Seattle, Portland, and surrounding areas get all that precipitation.

From a Yosemite icon to a Grand Canyon hidden gem, there are epic waterfall hikes to be found across the country.

When it comes to adult literacy, not all states are equal.

A major survey is spelling out trouble for the country's literacy rates.

See the U.S. metro areas where inflation is making life expensive, based on fresh Consumer Price Index data.

Google‘s newest feature lets you choose how you want to navigate the internet.

Follow these steps to add your favorite sites (like Mental Floss) to your Preferred Sources list.

No one wants to go through a nuclear war.

Cockroaches have a reputation for being indestructible. But they may not be as totally immune to radiation as people think.

We've got the stories behind all these photos.

Find out what brought these historical figures to the beach—and what they wore while there.

See if you can decipher this twisted tune.

It’s time to play Tune Twist, where we translate the lyrics of popular songs into multiple languages and then back into English. Can you figure out what the song is, or who performed it?

Best to avoid using the air fryer to cook bacon or kale.

Air fryers are a game-changer for many home cooks. But unfortunately, there are still several types of food they can’t quite handle.

Charles Davenport’s Eugenics Record Office collected data on thousands of Americans, hoping to support a pseudoscientific theory that would create a more perfect human race. It led to unspeakable tragedy.

Americans have a strong preference for what they want to eat before they shuffle off this mortal coil.

If you’ve ever Googled any of these words to figure out the difference between them, you are far from alone.

Some pretty strange laws are still on the books.

It doesn't matter if they're outdated or unreasonable: Some laws refuse to go away. Guess which wacky rules are still on the books.

Skunks get a bad rap, but there’s amazing chemistry and behavior behind these adorable animals.

Egress windows are built for one very specific purpose: keeping you alive.

Brushing up on some boring window terminology could mean the difference between life and death. (Seriously.)

‘Star Trek’ wasn't host to TV’s first interracial kiss, but it’s the one people tend to remember.

William Shatner’s lip lock with Nichelle Nichols wasn't TV’s first interracial kiss, but it might have been the most controversial.

Hint: No presidents were born in the White House.

It’s easy to name the state most associated with a president, but can you name his actual birthplace?

Wearing your favorite old pair of camouflage shorts on a Caribbean cruise could put a real damper on your vacation.

A 15th-century queen might have something to do with it. Plus, why the heck vampires have them.

All five answers to the questions below have something in common. Can you figure it out?

Fallout shelters experienced explosive growth the early 1960s.

Fears of nuclear war led to a fleeting craze for fallout shelters stocked with crackers, body bags, and guns.

Don’t worry, this plane won’t actually hit any of the beachgoers.

Terrified of flying? You may want to avoid these airports.

This “Animal Crossing” player’s “42-acre” LEGO island is a miniature masterpiece.

There‘s a logical reason why ground beef often looks like this.

Brown hues aren‘t always signs of spoilage.

Why Is the Pacific Northwest So Rainy?

11 of the Best Waterfall Trails in the U.S.

Mapped: The States With the Highest and Lowest Adult Literacy Rates

23 Cities Hit Hard By Inflation in 2025

How to Take Control of Your News Feed With Google’s Preferred Sources Feature

Could Cockroaches Really Survive a Nuclear War?

20 Fascinating Photos of Historical Figures at the Beach

Can You Decipher These Translated Song Lyrics? Tune Twist Quiz #54

10 Things You Should Never Put in an Air Fryer

Cold Spring Harbor: The Long Island Lab that Brought Eugenics to America

Map of America’s Top Last Meal Requests by State

The 20 Most Commonly Confused Word Pairs in America, According to Google Data

Quiz: Can You Identify Which Weird Law Is Totally Real?

10 Things You May Not Know About Skunks

What’s an ‘Egress’ Window—And Why Is It Important?

The ‘Star Trek’ Interracial Kiss That Made TV Executives Panic

Quiz: Match the President to His Hometown in This Fiendishly Tricky Game

The Surprising Reason Why You Shouldn’t Wear Camo on a Cruise Ship

Why Is a V-Shaped Hairline Called a “Widow’s Peak”?

What’s the Kennection? #180

The Brief, Terrifying Time Americans Went All In on Fallout Shelters

10 of the Scariest Airport Landings in the World

‘Animal Crossing’ Fan Builds Massive LEGO Island Filled With Hidden Features

What It Means When Ground Beef Is Red on the Outside and Brown on the Inside