Mental Floss

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Salvador Dalí was not a fan of insects.

“The only thing we have to fear is fear itself”—unless you also fear the number 13. Or insects. Or being buried alive. Here are the fears of just a few of history’s most notable figures, from FDR to Dalí.

Jane Alexander










Grapes have a long agricultural history.

Wine grapes and table grapes are a huge agricultural asset. It's no wonder that the humble grape is among the world's largest fruit crops.

Indi Bains






The pattern is named after the European dance craze, but what exactly the dots have to do with polka is a bit of a mystery.

Shaunacy Ferro