Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS

Skylab 2 commander Peter Conrad attempts to take a shower aboard the spacecraft in 1973.

Here on Earth, we tend to take showering for granted. But getting clean isn’t so easy without the force of gravity helping you out.

Where did this weather-related idiom come from?

Where did this curious expression come from, and what’s so right about rain, anyway?

That’s a sore thumb, all right.

The phrase dates back to the 19th century, but it took a fictional 20th century detective to take its popularity to new heights.

Love really did a number on her.

In honor of Valentine’s Day, discover the origins of the phrase ‘weak at the knees,’ including its ties to ancient Rome and even astrology.

Try not to hold any knife like this. It could lead to a mishap.

Also called scallops, these tiny indentations have a purpose. And it’s not just to make the knife look cute.

An old-timey fireman with some dead weight.

Why your drunk friend feels so much heavier than your sober buddies.

Pillows don't last forever.

Pillows work tirelessly to hold your head up. Here's how to know when they've had enough.

Several factors make people more susceptible to the flu in winter.

Like clockwork, flu viruses seem to strike more people in winter than in any other season—and there are several reasons for that.

The initialism was originally a bit of shipbuilder marketing—and now there are many different kinds of ship designations.

Getting ready to catch some Zs.

How did we come to associate sleeping and snoring with the letter ‘Z’? The origins trace back farther than you might think but are tied to early 20th-century American comic strips.

Delivery!

There comes a point in every child’s life when they ask where babies come from, and some parents—not wanting to explain the details of reproduction just yet—turn to the story of storks. We explore the origins of a myth that has been around for centuries.

Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs has earned quite a few trips to Disney.

One throwaway comment turned into a long-lasting Super Bowl tradition.

One of the biggest differences between a ship and a boat is size—but it’s not the only one.

You will instantly reveal yourself as a landlubber if you refer to a ship as a boat. Here’s how to tell the difference.

How do these guys do it?

The funnel they use to get around serves a dual purpose.

Fans have had to wait an extra week for a Super Bowl champion to be crowned.

The big game used to be a January staple. Now it’s in February, and it may not be done moving yet.

The boonies.

We have the military to thank.

Punxsutawney Phil is not the most reliable weather predictor.

The stats indicate that practice doesn’t always make perfect when it comes to mid-sized meteorological rodents.

Old-fashioned chivalry isn't dead after all.

The origins for this marriage proposal tradition go back to the days of knights and courtly love.

Beyoncé has won more Grammy awards than any other artist, but Album of the Year is not one of them (yet).

Each is a prestigious win at the Grammy Awards, but these similar-sounding prizes are given to different music industry roles.

You can open the curtains, but that's as far as it goes.

Hotels have several good reasons to prevent guests from cracking open a window.

Tennis balls have functional fuzz.

Why the humble tennis ball needs to sport a little hair, explained.

The grandmother of music players.

No, the Grammys weren’t christened to honor someone’s grandmother.

Astronauts face lots of challenges, including what to do with dirty underwear.

Tossing stinky socks in a washer isn’t really an option once you leave Earth.

We can confirm this suit is pretty ugly.

We cannot confirm nor deny we have an explanation.