Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS

Leaves against bright blue sunny sky

Why are sunsets red, for that matter? And why is space black? The answer is all about how light interacts with Earth's atmosphere.

Eden Gordon




Woman in athletic wear puts ice pack on shoulder

The phrase "cold shoulder" first appears in a novel by Sir Walter Scott, but a popular legend holds that it may connect to a rather passive-aggressive dinner-hosting technique.

Paul Anthony Jones










Bell drawing on blue background

Does this phrase really refer to narrowly avoiding being buried alive? Here's the truth about where "saved by the bell" comes from.

Paul Anthony Jones


Perfumes sitting on hotel bed

There's a lot of strategy behind that blend of bergamot, jasmine, citrus, and musk. Here's why luxury hotels smell so good.

Eden Gordon






Elderly man and baby, blurring into each other

From a boy who claimed he remembered life as a World War II pilot to a girl who said she remembered the man who was her husband in her past life, these stories have mystified generations.

Eden Gordon


Museum fatigue is real—and science says it’s not just in your head. Here’s why wandering through galleries can leave your brain and body completely drained.

Nitya Rao