
Latest Articles

The Most Popular Pasta Shape in Every State, Mapped
See the most popular pasta shape in every state, from spaghetti and penne to fettuccine and rotini, based on a survey by Inspired Taste.
Quiz Around the World Geography Competition
Join Mental Floss’s geography competition to test your knowledge on all things countries, states, landmarks, and more.
Quizzes





Weekly Spotlight
Entertainment

The Mental Floss Newsletter
A little smarter, a little weirder, and way more fun than the average email.
Geography
Reader Favorites
More Stories

The Books That Inspired Bruce Springsteen’s Songwriting
From 'Wizard of Oz' to Tolstoy and Dostoevsky, Bruce Springsteen's taste in literature and non-fiction has shaped his work.
The Surprising Historical Job Of Waking People Up Before Alarm Clocks Existed
They were called “knocker uppers.”
9 Household Items Every Tudor Family Owned
Life was vastly different during the Tudor period, though you might be surprised to learn how similar some of their household items were to what we use today.
10 Chores Medieval Children Were Expected to Do
From fetching water to farming, kids were expected to work hard in medieval times.
6 Smells That Take Millennials Back to the School Cafeteria
These scents, whether good or bad, remind us of our childhood lunches in the school cafeteria.
The Spiritual Meaning of the Solar Eclipse
Today, solar eclipses are sometimes seen as good times to rest, reflect, and break out of old patterns. Ancient cultures and religions all ascribe their own meanings to these celestial phenomena.
The Unusual Sport Herbert Hoover Played at the White House
Facing the Great Depression, President Herbert Hoover needed a quick workout—so he invented Hoover-ball, a fast-paced game played with a 6-pound medicine ball.
50 Best Back-to-School Trivia Questions to Kick Off the New School Year
Whether you're a student or a teacher, test your knowledge with these fun trivia questions to jumpstart the semester!
7 Things Every 1990s Bookstore Had
Every bookstore in the '90s had certain things that made them an inviting space to read and buy books. Here are a few of them!
See the States That Gained the Most People From Abroad, Mapped
Texas and Florida welcomed the most new immigrants of any states between 2024 and 2025. See how all the U.S. states stack up.
Herbert Hoover Had One of the Most Unusual Paths to the Presidency
Hoover built quite a reputation before occupying the Oval Office.
The 20 Highest-Grossing Directors Of All Time, Ranked
From Steven Spielberg to Christopher Nolan, these directors have all made billions at the box office.
The Best—And Worst—Countries for Women, Ranked
A new ranking reveals the best and worst countries for women, based on factors including inclusion, justice, security, and peace.
5 Things Movies Get Wrong About Victorian Life
The Victorian Era might not have been as gloomy or prudish as some films make it seem.
What Ancient Romans Really Watched at the Colosseum — It Wasn’t Just Gladiator Fights
The Romans had a knack for transforming ordinary duels into elaborately staged spectacles.
Quiz: How Many Famous Book Titles Can You Complete?
From 'Good Omens' to 'The Princess Bride,' some famous books actually have much, much longer titles. See how many you can guess with this quiz.
7 Movies You May Not Know Are Stephen King Adaptations
From 'The Shawshank Redemption' to 'Stand By Me,' not everyone knows that Stephen King penned the source material behind these hit films.
The Best TV Trivia Questions to See If All That Streaming Has Paid Off
Test your small-screen knowledge with 100 TV trivia questions! From classic sitcoms to streaming hits, see if all that couch time was actually research.
Every State's Favorite Summer Blockbuster, Mapped
Discover every state's favorite summer blockbuster, from "Grease" and "Gremlins" to "Jaws" and "Back to the Future," in this nostalgic movie map.



































