BIG QUESTIONS

One of the few days this family probably used their dining rooms.

What Happened to Dining Rooms?

Fewer and fewer newly constructed homes actually have dining rooms. Here’s why.

Are Haunted House Waivers Legally Enforceable?

Can a haunted attraction really be insulated against legal action for scaring people? A law expert weighs in.

Sneezing is gross, but it’s also normal.

Is Holding in a Sneeze Bad for You?

Many people underestimate the damage that suppressing a sneeze can cause.

Something to think about while you’re casting your ballot.

Why Do We Vote in November?

There were some very compelling reasons for choosing the first Tuesday in November as Election Day—at least, they were when that date was chosen.

“And then, yada yada yada, I made a movie about Pop Tarts.”

Where Did ‘Yada Yada Yada’ Come From?

The ’90s catchphrase was made famous by ‘Seinfeld,’ but Jerry and company didn’t coin it.

Why Is Space a Vacuum?

Roborock has teamed up with Mental Floss to explain why space is a vacuum—all while pushing the boundaries of smart cleaning technology back on Earth.

Presented by Roborock

How Do Hurricanes Get Their Names?

Beryl, Helene, Milton—recent hurricane monikers aren’t exactly the most popular girls’ and boys’ names.

'Knotty muscles' can be a real pain in the neck.

Are ‘Muscle Knots’ Actually Knots?

The nagging pain in your neck may feel tight, but it's knot what you think.

Graveyard vs. Cemetery: What’s the Difference?

Both are places where we bury the dearly departed, and the words are often used interchangeably. But that hasn’t always been the case.

Some of these presidents were well versed in October surprises.

Where Did the Term ‘October Surprise’ Originate?

Its political legacy began during the Iran hostage crisis, but other kinds of October surprises had been happening for decades.

Looks like she's reading a novel, not a novella.

Novella vs. Short Story: What’s the Difference?

As Stephen King once said, novellas are “too long to be short and too short to be really long.”

Gourds (left) and squash (right) are similar, but one shouldn’t be eaten.

Gourd vs. Squash: What’s the Difference?

Matters become more confusing when you add pumpkins to the mix.

If you ever freeze after hearing something go ‘bump’ in the night, you’re not alone.

Why Do We Freeze When We’re Scared?

You’ve likely heard of fight or flight, but a third reaction—to freeze—is misunderstood by many.

Does a Realtor Have to Disclose That a House Is Supposedly Haunted?

The answer depends on where you hope to live.

They may look weird, but they are perfectly fine to eat.

Why Do Some Pumpkins Have Warts?

Some gourds are bred to have a bumpy appearance.

A face no one with coulrophobia wants to see.

Why Are We So Scared of Clowns?

Clowns have a long and spooky history.

Linguine vs. Fettuccine vs. Spaghetti: What’s the Difference?

The three types of pasta are all long, but when and how you use them will make all the difference for your meals.

What’s the Origin of the Jack-O’-Lantern?

The first jack-o'-lanterns were made with turnips, not pumpkins.

Old age may precede dying, but it doesn’t directly cause it.

Do People Really Die of ‘Old Age’?

Can an octogenarian really just collapse from the wear and tear of life?

The crescent wrench has helped DIYers for decades.

Why Is It Called a “Crescent Wrench”?

A Swedish immigrant changed the face of wrenches forever.

Why Does Asparagus Make Your Pee Smell Funny?

Not everyone experiences funny-smelling urine after eating asparagus, but it's common enough that it poses one very big question: why does it happen in the first place?

Why Do Cats Knock Things Over?

According to experts, this behavior has a few explanations, but being a bully probably isn’t one of them. We also offer a few solutions for how to stop cats from knocking things over.

Stainless steel is rust-resistant, but not quite rust-proof.

What Stops Stainless Steel From Rusting?

Stainless steel has a secret ingredient that makes it highly resistant to rust.

These days, we use ‘GOP’ to refer to Republicans—but that wasn’t always the case.

What Does ‘GOP’ Stand For?

What ‘GOP’ means isn’t complicated—but its history is.

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