Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS

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The polar vortex is famous for blasting arctic air south to the U.S. But what exactly is happening here?

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Martin Luther King Jr. earned a doctorate in systematic theology from Boston University in 1955. In 1989, archivists working with The Martin Luther King Papers Project discovered that King’s dissertation suffered from what they called a “problematic use o

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Winnie is a bear. So why do we call him a Pooh?

Inside Our Lady of the Airways Chapel at Boston Logan International Airport

They weren't created for nervous fliers. They weren't really created for fliers at all.

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How did the University of Alabama get its nickname?

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And when should you use which?

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The furry sentinels ward off vermin. They also sleep in empty stock boxes. But are they a health hazard?

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The fireplace served as a venue for magical visitors long before Santa Claus came along.

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Plus, some tips on how to not zap your cat.

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We’re all familiar with colorful spots of something growing in our showers and in other dark, damp areas in our homes, but is it mold or is it mildew?

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When Congress asks for 'The Goonies' to be preserved, only the best will do.

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Before anyone brings home the hardware, let’s answer a few questions about John Heisman and his trophy.

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Here's what goes into your favorite candy bars.

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Dogs are weird. But usually for a reason.

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Don’t cars only have four wheels?

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Fruitcake is a shelf-stable food unlike any other. So what is it that makes the holiday treat so freakishly hardy?

Feeling sleepy? Don't be so quick to blame the tryptophan.

Why do people have such a hard time staying awake after Thanksgiving dinner? Most people blame tryptophan, but that's not really the main culprit.

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Think of it as a big, wet, sloppy way of saying "I love you."

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Money talks—and floats.

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Having a long snood almost always means that a hen will want to mate with him and that another tom will back down from a fight.

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People have gone to court over these boilerplate warnings.

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If you want to recall more dreams, sleep longer.

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Blame it on the Royal Family—and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Satellite image of Santa Ana winds in Southern California.

And why do they help create fire conditions?