Mental Floss

BIG QUESTIONS

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Where Did the French Maid Outfit Come From?

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How Can We Tell When a Volcano is Dormant or Extinct?

Wikimedia Commons

Who Was Saint Patrick?

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Why Does Your Sandwich Come With a Pickle?

We're not complaining.

What's the Difference Between i.e. & e.g.?

What they mean and how to remember the difference.

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Is It Possible to be Scared to Death?

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Should Research Animals Get Names?

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration

What Is Pulaski Day?

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Can Men Lactate?

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Why Is It “Woe Is Me” Instead Of “I Am Woe”?

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What Exactly Is Wasabi?

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What’s the Difference Between a Boa and a Python?

iStock/Chloe Effron

What Is Net Neutrality and Why Should You Care?

Will this slow down your Netflix or hike up your cable bill? We've got answers to (most of) your questions.

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What’s In The Measles Vaccine?

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Did Caligula Really Ban Goat Jokes?

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When Does Freezing Rain Become Sleet?

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How Accurate Are Punxsutawney Phil's Forecasts?

Where Did the @ Symbol Come From?

Why does it look like a snail?

Library of Congress

Who Originated The Mug Shot in America?

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How Soon After Watergate Did People Start Using "-Gate" for Scandals?

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Why Do Flammable and Inflammable Mean the Same Thing?

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Are Rabbits as Prolific as Everybody Says?

Pope Francis is in the news for saying Catholics don't have to breed "like rabbits." How prolific are rabbits anyway? Is there any truth to the phrase "breed like rabbits"?

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Can Caffeine Make You Better at Sports?

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Did Americans Really Call French Fries "Freedom Fries"?