Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS

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Here’s a brief history of Canada’s national day—which celebrates the joining of the three original provinces—and how you can celebrate.

Miss Cellania






iPods may be gone, but the Apple logo lives on.

Apple's iconic logo is rumored to have been inspired by Eve's bite into the apple of knowledge, Newton's discovery of gravity, and Alan Turing's untimely end. Are any of these stories true?

Stacy Conradt


There’s a science behind all those colors.

The chemistry behind the vibrant colors of fireworks is another reason to “ooh” and “aah” at the sky this Fourth of July.

Ellen Gutoskey






Whether you enjoy the velvety skin on peaches or peel it off, you may wonder why they developed fuzz in the first place. 

Michele Debczak


There's a multitude of pencil types out there.

Almost every syllabus, teacher, and standardized test requires a No. 2 pencil. Are there other choices out there?

Bryan Dugan
Why so blue?

Unpacking the reason hyperlinks are blue requires dipping into early internet history.

Ellen Gutoskey


Ever wonder what your dog finds so tasty about grass?

A dog that eats grass frantically may be trying to vomit—but the behavior doesn't automatically warrant a trip to the vet.

Michele Debczak






Stick to listening to your pre-downloaded podcasts.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) bars the use of all transmitting devices in the off chance that transmissions could interfere with a plane’s navigation and communications equipment and cause system malfunctions.

Ethan Trex