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Low Blow: How Can Martial Artists Get Hit in the Crotch Without Getting Hurt?

Ancient kung fu techniques seemingly allow experts to absorb groin strikes without flinching. Is it a trick, or are they just nuts?

Can You Spot the Pug Hiding in This Zoom Call?

It's time for your hours spent in video meetings to pay off. There's a pug sleeping in the background of this Zoom hidden-image brainteaser. How fast can you spot it?

Time to find out what the CIA has been keeping from us.

The CIA’s Entire Collection of Declassified UFO Documents Is Now Available to Download

The CIA has been investigating UFO news and sightings for decades, and you can now use their intel for your own research.

The Quest for the North Pole: 39 Key Players You Should Know

Here's a rundown of the most important and influential historical characters in the new podcast from Mental Floss, 'The Quest for the North Pole.'

Martin Luther King photographed in 1964.

How Martin Luther King Jr. Kept Star Trek Flying High

Civil rights activist and stealth Trekker Martin Luther King Jr. had an intense conversation with one of the show's main cast members in order to keep the series intact.

The Mental Floss Store Is Reopening Today!

The Mental Floss Store is reopening today. Head on over to discover deals on products like books, games, shirts, and more

Ben & Jerry’s Now Makes Ice Cream for Dogs, Featuring "Rosie’s Batch" and "Pontch’s Mix"

Ben & Jerry’s latest flavors include “Rosie’s Batch” and “Pontch’s Mix,” named after actual employees’ dogs.

Early Victorian Bathhouse Unearthed Beneath Manchester Parking Lot

Construction of a new park in Mayfield, Manchester, uncovered a bathhouse used by factory workers 150 years ago.

The U.S. Capitol Crypt in all its splendor.

The Empty Crypt Beneath the U.S. Capitol Rotunda

Beneath the ornate Capitol Rotunda is a drafty crypt with 40 Doric columns, a dozen statues, and zero human remains.

Area 51 Alert: U.S. Intelligence Agencies Have Been Given 180 Days to Disclose All UFO Information

A new omnibus spending bill includes a requirement for government agencies to disclose what they've learned about UFOs.

Curtis Hilbun, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 3.0

The Delightful Reason Dolly Parton Leaves Her Christmas Decorations Up Through Mid-January

Dolly Parton has made a tradition out of leaving her Christmas decorations up through at least January 19.

Rowland Scherman, Wikimedia Commons // CC0

What's Open and What's Closed on Martin Luther King Day 2021

From banks to National Parks, here's how businesses and institutions will be impacted by Martin Luther King, Jr. Day on January 18, 2021.

The Alfred Wegener Institute research ship Polarstern reached the North Pole on August 19, 2020, during the year-long MOSAiC expedition to study climate change in the Arctic.

11 Frosty Facts About the North Pole

For most of history, the North Pole was the stuff of legends and wild theories. Now people run a marathon there every April. Here are more unexpected facts about the top of the world.

There's no guarantee you'll get all of a performer's greatest hits at a concert.

11 Hit Songs Musicians Have Refused to Play

Owing to boredom, spite, or just plain artistic growth, some recording artists won't give audiences what they want.

America's Most Popular Pet Names of the Past 100 Years

From Tippy to Tigger, this is what Americans have named their cats and dogs in the last hundred years or so.

David Hasselhoff's legendary co-star K.I.T.T.

David Hasselhoff Is Auctioning Off His Personal Knight Rider K.I.T.T. Car

David Hasselhoff was the star of ‘Knight Rider,’ but his sentient sidekick (voiced by William Daniels) often stole the show.

Listen to the Trailer for Mental Floss's Latest Podcast, The Quest for the North Pole

In our new podcast, 'Mental Floss Presents: The Quest for the North Pole,' we’ll dive into the adventure, excitement, and danger surrounding our obsession with the North Pole.

When America Was Besotted With the Bedazzler

The Bedazzler—a rhinestone-stamping arts and crafts tool—promised to turn plain pairs of jeans into designer duds. If you squinted.

An aerial shot of every Millennial's favorite fancy treat.

Viennetta—That Fancy Ice Cream Cake From the ’90s—Is Coming Back to Stores After 20 Years

For many American Millennials, a slice of Viennetta ice cream cake was the height of luxury—and they’ll finally get the chance to experience it again.

If You Haven’t Received a Stimulus Check from the IRS Yet, It Might Be in the Wrong Account

If you used TurboTax or H&R Block to prepare your taxes last year, your $600 stimulus check from the IRS might be in the wrong account.

26 Animals Who Ran Afoul of the Law

When it comes to weird animal stories, it’s hard to beat the one about the parrot who got arrested for cursing out an old woman.

Ben Schwartz's Sonic in Sonic the Hedgehog (2020).

The 25 Highest-Grossing Movies of 2020

Between pandemic-prompted theater shutdowns and straight-to-VOD releases, 2020’s list of top box office movies is a strange one.

The Anchisaurus polyzelus is one of the dinosaur's duking it out for title of Massachusetts's state dino.

Massachusetts Could Be Getting a State Dinosaur—And You Can Help Choose Which One

Massachusetts already has its fair share of state symbols (including Boston cream pie and Boston cream doughnuts), but you can never have too many.

Bird-Watcher in England Discovers a Hoard of 1st-Century Celtic Coins

Last September, an unnamed bird-watcher found a trove of 1300 Celtic gold coins dating back to the 1st century CE.

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