Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS

Not always part of a balanced diet.

Fresh snow might look tasty, but just because it looks clean doesn’t mean it actually is.

Jake Rossen












It wasn't always associated with the holidays.

The hardy plant’s ability to stay vibrant through the winter made it a natural choice for pre-Christian winter festivals, but why is holly now associated with Christmas?

Kate Horowitz




Where the ‘nog’ came from is a bit of a mystery.

The ‘egg’ part of ‘eggnog’ is obvious. The ‘nog’ is a little more mysterious—possibly involving noggins and/or grog.

Ellen Gutoskey
Prunes are a constipated person’s friend.

Prunes—the shiny, sweet dried fruits—are both exploited and ridiculed for their laxative properties. But do they really make you poop?

Kate Horowitz




Mmmm... cake!

Don't let the name fool you: Urinal cakes are most definitely not meant to be eaten. So what are they, and what do they do?

Shaunacy Ferro