FACTS

11 Surprising Facts About Sharks

Sharks are nothing like the mindless killing machines they appear to be in the movie 'Jaws.'

8 Facts About Philip K. Dick

Learn more about the fascinating mind behind 'Blade Runner,' 'Minority Report,' and so many other standouts of the sci-fi genre.

Liliʻuokalani, the last monarch of Hawaii.

9 Facts About Liliʻuokalani, the Last Queen of Hawaii

From her unusual namesake to her indelible contributions to pop culture, here are nine things you might not know about Liliʻuokalani, Hawaii’s only sovereign queen.

Simon Pagenaud after winning the 103rd Indianapolis 500.

9 Fast Facts About the Indianapolis 500

Why does the winner of the Indianapolis 500 drink milk afterward? Find out more as we run down nine facts about the greatest spectacle in racing.

10 Remarkable Facts About Pamela Anderson

From "Baywatch" to Broadway, Pamela Anderson has made a huge impact on pop culture. Here are 10 facts you might not have known about this Canadian-born star.

15 Fascinating Facts About The Masters Tournament

The Masters—one of four major championships in professional golf—is about more than just golf. It's about green jackets and pimento cheese sandwiches, too.

Painting of Lewis, Clark, and Sacagawea.

9 Facts About Sacagawea

If you know anything at all about Sacagawea, you probably know she was a guide on the Lewis and Clark Expedition (also known as the Corps of Discovery) to explo

13 Facts About Siamese Cats

Like most cat breeds, the Siamese’s true origins are cloaked in mystery.

100 Things We Learned in 2021

From really expensive NFTs to newly discovered shipwrecks to the latest developments in the world of K-Pop, here are a few things we learned in 2021.

The Mental Floss team drops all of these fun facts and more at cocktail parties.

20 Amazingly Random Facts We've Learned in 20 Years of Mental Floss

No Mental Floss celebration—and no celebration of Mental Floss—would be complete without dropping a few fascinating facts and tidbits of trivia.

Hayao Miyazaki is the director behind acclaimed animated movies such as My Neighbor Totoro, Princess Mononoke, Spirited Away, and The Wind Rises.

11 Facts About Hayao Miyazaki

Director Hayao Miyazaki is responsible for some of the most beloved animated movies of all time—here are 11 things you should know about him.

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Can an Average Passenger Actually Be Talked Through Landing a Plane in an Emergency?

It happens in movies—but can an average person actually be talked through landing a plane in an emergency?

The Curious Viewer is almost as indispensable as your remote control. It also requires no batteries.

Introducing The Curious Viewer, the Mental Floss Binge-Watcher's Guide to the Greatest Shows of the Past 20 Years

In 'The Curious Viewer,' we take a deep dive into some of the best and most binge-worthy shows of the past 20 years. Who knows? You might discover your next time-sucking addiction here.

Introducing The Curious Reader 2022 Desk Calendar, Full of Facts About Your Favorite Books and Authors

Which punctuation did Cormac McCarthy hate? Which sci-fi series inspired ‘Outlander’? Those answers and more, coming to a desk near you.

Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen in Pride & Prejudice (2005).

14 Facts About Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice

When Joe Wright was shooting Mr. Darcy’s misty morning proposal for 'Pride & Prejudice,' a nearby makeup artist whispered, "I wish that was my life."

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex; Meghan, Duchess of Sussex; and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey in 2018.

100 Fascinating Facts About the British Royal Family

The British royal family has a history of intrigue and scandal—and at least one royal shoe breaker-inner.

Celebrate 20 Years of Mental Floss With Our New Anniversary Collection Products

Celebrate 20 years of Mental Floss with our new anniversary collection of products over at our store.

What’s the Difference Between a Fact and a Factoid?

A factoid isn’t just a fun fact—at least, it wasn’t when Norman Mailer allegedly coined the term in 1973.

17 Amazing Facts About Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley, the “King of Rock 'n' Roll,” is the legendary musician who melded country, gospel, and R&B influences to help revolutionize American pop culture.

Left-handed pitcher Clayton Kershaw of the Los Angeles Dodgers during game five of the National League Division Series in 2019.

6 Surprising Ways Baseball Actually Favors Lefties

Here’s how left-handed pitchers, batters, and other players sometimes have an edge over their right-handed competitors in baseball.

Mulan faces off against a menacing Hun during the climax of Disney's Mulan (1998).

11 Memorable Facts About Disney’s Mulan

Gear up for Disney’s live-action ‘Mulan’ with entertaining tidbits about the 1998 animated classic and the story that inspired it.

Cannons used in the Civil War are on display at Fort Sumter.

10 Facts About Fort Sumter

The 1861 Battle of Fort Sumter sparked the American Civil War. From the garrison's 19th-century beginnings to its current use as a National Historical Park, here are 10 fascinating facts about Fort Sumter.

9 Charming Facts About E.B. White’s Stuart Little

The book—unlike the 1999 film adaptation—never really makes it clear if Stuart Little is a literal mouse.

Mia Farrow and Alan Arkin in The Last Unicorn (1982).

12 Enchanting Facts About The Last Unicorn

The Rankin/Bass cult classic 'The Last Unicorn' featured Jeff Bridges, Mia Farrow, and enough terrifying beasts to fuel your nightmares for decades.

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