Mental Floss

ALL STORIES

Sorry cat, the secret is out.

Cats do fart—but their flatulence is usually quiet. Veterinarians explain why.

mentalfloss .com




Bounce at your own risk.

The toys on this list include "what were they thinking?" oddities—like a children's laboratory kit that included uranium—but also some seemingly innocuous recreational offerings.

Stacy Conradt




The facts of these ships is unknown.

The true fate of many of these ships will never be known, but speculation suggests that storms, piracy, mutiny, accidental bombing, and even the attack of a giant squid could be responsible for their vanishings.

Claire Cock-Starkey








Now you know how to sing the alphabet in a few other languages!

English isn’t the only alphabet, and not every alphabet will fit into “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Here are some other songs from around the world to help them learn their ABCs.

Arika Okrent






Yorkies know how to strut their stuff.

Yorkshire Terrier dogs—better known as Yorkies—have a lot of personality packed into their tiny bodies. Learn more about this energetic breed and its history.

Rebecca OConnell


Isamu Noguchi at the Noguchi Garden Museum in New York City.

Isamu Noguchi (1904–1988) was one of the most influential designers and sculptors of the 20th century.

Jane Alexander
Singer and songwriter Mae Muller, performing on behalf of the United Kingdom, in rehearsal for the Eurovision Song contest 2023.

According to the Eurovision rules, no song can be over three minutes, and no live animals are allowed on stage—but just about anything else goes.

Meg Van Huygen