Mental Floss

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There's a bat somewhere in here.

There’s a bat lurking somewhere among the ghosts, black cats, and pumpkins in this Halloween hidden image puzzle.

You better knock, knock, knock ... on wood.

Discover the origins of the classic phrase 'knock on wood,' which could be tied to a Victorian-era children's game or have more direct ties to old pagan traditions.

Scenes from the 2019 Hispanic Heritage Parade in New York City.

National Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of Hispanic culture and history, offers a number of in-person and interactive events to get you plugged in.

If stored correctly, these beauties will last for many months.

Apple season is among us. Here’s how to make the produce last for as long as possible.

Do you know all of the abbreviations on this list?

See which text abbreviations have people turning to Google.

You know what they’re singing.

From a heartfelt spiritual, to a children’s campfire song, to a powerful protest anthem, to a derisive phrase, “Kumbaya” is certainly a bit of a musical chameleon.

It might not look like much, but this Neolithic door is as old as Stonehenge.

Historic doors can reveal a lot about their times—like the medieval trend of covering doors in (allegedly) human skin.

Can you figure it out?

This riddle dates back to the 17th century—can you figure it out?

We hope this vehicle is stationary.

Dogs love a good sensory experience. But letting them stick their head out of a moving car’s window is not a good idea. Here’s why.

Their ghosts didn’t actually campaign.

Several politicians have won elections posthumously. And no, fraud was not to blame.

Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart star in 'Twilight' (2008).

It’s never a bad time to talk about the baseball scene in ‘Twilight.’

Porbeagle sharks can grow up to 12 feet long and can weigh around 500 pounds.

The new discovery could change the way scientists think about shark predation.

This or that?

In this episode of The List Show, host and Mental Floss editor-in-chief Erin McCarthy breaks down some commonly confused pairs.

How does your country rank?

It’s probably no #*$@ing surprise who came out on top—but some of the rankings might surprise you.

This recipe is a great way to upgrade spaghetti.

Try this tomato sauce recipe from ICE if you’re bored of pre-packaged options.

Abraham Lincoln just after uttering his last words.

Some presidents’ last words have been profound (“This is the last of earth; I am content”) and others have been merely practical (“Help!”).

Grab your magnifying glass.

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

There’s a reason they’re not rectangular.

Believe it or not, the shape of airplane window is a matter of life and death.

Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Seven of the eight Ivy League schools make the list.

Astronomically speaking, fall doesn’t start until late September.

The fall equinox lands on Sunday, September 22 this year. Here’s what you need to know about the first day of autumn.

Scientists can now better understand how supermassive black holes and stars interact.

A scientific breakthrough in astrophysics demonstrates how stars and supermassive black holes interact.

Freddy Krueger (Robert England) has Kirsten (Tuesday Knight) in his clutches in “A Nightmare on Elm Street 4: The Dream Master.”

In these horror franchises, the follow-ups were just as good (or better) than the original.

Time for that beach blanket to hibernate.

Do you have what it takes to be a Pumpkin Spice Pundit?

The bookworm in their native habitat.

‘Bookworm,’ which now implies someone is well-read, once meant that you were a total loser.