Mental Floss

NEWS

Stephen King thinking up a storm.

From ‘Physician Slumber’ to ‘The Foreigner,’ these terms are technically synonyms of Stephen King titles. How many can you get right?

They say you should never hike alone.

For hikers who crave a little frisson of fear with their outdoor experience, these allegedly haunted trails and footpaths offer more than just crisp air and casual ascents.

Grab your magnifying glass.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

Seems low-tech.

A lot of evidence from real-life crime scenes does end up being stored inside the same type of container otherwise used to carry home-made lunches. But why?

These shows will always have a place in our hearts.

One-episode wonders like ‘Emily’s Reasons Why Not’ and ‘Swamp Thing’ might be blips in TV history, but they’ll always hold a place in our hearts.

This painting hack could have helped keep her clothes splatter-free.

And all you need is one common household item.

If you want to start journaling, a commonplace book is a low-stakes entrypoint.

Use it to write down quotes, facts, jokes, and any other random snippets you accumulate.

Turns out, Americans tend to mispronounce the name of the food above.

Americans have a tough time figuring out how to correctly pronounce these words, from ‘açai’ to ‘tzatziki’ and beyond.

Can you 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?

The aptly and catchily named bloodybelly comb jelly.

From a ginormous relative of the garden pillbug to fish with translucent heads, these organisms are adapted to the dark, cold, pressurized environment of the deep sea.

Learn the meaning behind the hand motion.

Pay attention next time you see this hand gesture on the road—it could save you from an accident (or a speeding ticket).

The residents of these cities are taking on a lot of debt to own automobiles.

The historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado.

Lost spirits and friendly ghosts allegedly haunt these hotels.

You might have a chance to earn $666 while being scared.

Need some extra cash? Apply for Screambox’s Thrilltern position.

A poster for ‘Saved From the Titanic,’ the first-ever film about the infamous ship.

The first dramatization of the ‘Titanic’ wreck featured a survivor playing a fictionalized version of herself and a love interest named Jack.

The Dolly Sisters in the 1920s.

From Paris's Mistinguett to Las Vegas's Lola Falana and beyond.

Let’s see how much TV you were watching in the 1980s and ’90s.

'Visitation' by Raphael, circa 1517.

Here are 10 fun historical alternatives to boring old ‘pregnant.’

A literal ballpark figure.

The popular baseball idiom for a rough estimate has been around for decades. But who coined it?

You can hike to incredible sites, including Machu Picchu.

Tired of your local trails? Plan a hiking trip to one of these incredible ancient sites.

Mark Rothko's 'No. 7' in the Macklowe Collection at Sotheby's in 2021.

The WPA helped everyone from Jackson Pollock to Louise Nevelson.

Some consoles use a lot more energy than others.

New research reveals the gaming consoles that consume the most energy.

Time zones throughout the world.

Time can be particularly complicated—especially when politics and war are involved.

File under “pictures you can smell.”

From Tutti Frutti to Beach Holiday, these Yankee Candle scents smelled like nostalgia.