Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS





The kids are all right.

Cats on catnip can be quite fun to watch. Can dogs get in on the action? Yes, but it probably won’t be as entertaining.

Ellen Gutoskey




ZIP codes hold the answer to getting you your junk mail as quickly as possible.

The five- to nine-digit code that gets letters to their destinations started with a man who would become known as "Mr. Zip."

Jake Rossen
Spin, poop, repeat.

Dogs have a tendency to preface their bowel movements with a bit of rotating before getting down to business. Is there evolution behind their revolution?

Mike Rampton








More "semi" than meets the eye.

The names ‘18-wheeler,’ ‘big rig,’ and ‘tractor-trailer’ aptly convey the size and scope of the vehicle. ‘Semi’ seems a little misleading. What gives?

Ellen Gutoskey


Turkey is good enough for your holiday dinner, but the eggs are a bit too pricey for your omelet.

Turkey eggs are perfectly edible, but you definitely won't find them at your local grocery store. Here's why.

Michele Debczak




Queen Victoria visits the HMS Resolute, a British naval ship used for Arctic exploration, in December 1856.

The Victorian era brought changes that reached far beyond England’s borders. In fact, England’s borders also reached far beyond what we now know as England’s borders.

Ellen Gutoskey


Not all dogs drool, but when they do, bring a towel.

Dogs have a tendency to soak furniture and shirt sleeves in their saliva. In humans, this would be cause for concern. So why do dogs do it?

Jake Rossen