![Elizabeth Freeman Elizabeth Freeman](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_667,h_375,x_0,y_113/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/mentalfloss/01hp020vgvfwhxyxnmzb.jpg)
![Anne Taylor Anne Taylor](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_180,ar_1:1,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/Avatar-4d12fe8d8e5f411f969af3702a7107c8.png)
Anne Taylor
Joined: Jan 5, 2021
Anne Taylor is a writer whose work has also appeared on Well + Good and Mashed.
![Elizabeth Freeman Elizabeth Freeman](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_667,h_375,x_0,y_113/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/mentalfloss/01hp020vgvfwhxyxnmzb.jpg)
![Every birthday counts when you just have one life. Every birthday counts when you just have one life.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_5184,h_2916,x_0,y_498/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/mentalfloss/01ja8f66n2r192tbsqt4.jpg)
Why Do We Say Cats Have Nine Lives?
![For some people, the “Countdown to Christmas” really is the most wonderful time of the year. For some people, the “Countdown to Christmas” really is the most wonderful time of the year.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_4448,h_2502,x_0,y_760/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/mentalfloss/01j883pff98ravs0gcdj.jpg)
How Schmaltzy Hallmark Christmas Movies Came to Rule the Holiday Season
![Too majestic to be scary. Too majestic to be scary.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1919,h_1079,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/mentalfloss/01j6z3rb46x3d7rnfan9.jpg)
Why 7 Animals Became Associated With Halloween
The Highest Point in Each State (and D.C.)
Some of the highest peaks in the U.S. inspire awe and wonder. Others are more modest.
The Entertaining History of Dog and Pony Shows
When people talk about a dog and pony show today, they usually mean a flashy presentation or event that's all about appearances, with little real substance. But where does this phrase come from, and what's its history?
Elizabeth Fry, the 'Angel of Prisons'
Elizabeth Fry championed prison reform, particularly for women and children, in 19th-century England.
When a Lake Swallowed the Earth: The Story of the Louisiana Sinkhole
The residents of Bayou Corne, Louisiana, woke up one morning in 2012 and found a gigantic sinkhole devouring their town.
How the Goldfish Became Everyone’s First Pet
They’re quintessential starter pets for young children. But it’s important to know how to properly care for a pet goldfish.
Killer Lakes: Why Limnic Eruptions May Be the World’s Rarest Natural Disasters
Two events in Cameroon are the only recorded instances of limnic eruptions. Scientists are trying to prevent a third.
10 Facts About Black Widow Spiders
Black widow venom is about 15 times as potent as a rattlesnake's, yet these charismatic spiders generally aren't a threat to humans.
12 Novel Facts About John Steinbeck
The author of ‘East of Eden’ and ‘The Grapes of Wrath’ was also a three-time Academy Award nominee and found an enemy in J. Edgar Hoover.
10 Surprising Facts About Rogue Waves
These freak waves are rare and unpredictable—and are believed to have caused numerous shipwrecks.
8 Facts About Fortune Cookies
From their surprising origin to the unique recipe, fortune cookies have a rich and fascinating history worth exploring.
8 Facts About Sámi Reindeer Herders
For centuries, the Sámi people of Northern Europe have relied on reindeer herding for food, warmth, and income.
9 Facts About Toys "R" Us
That famous Toys "R" Us jingle that you can hum from memory? One of the world's most successful authors helped write it.