Mental Floss

MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

Bless you!

Personality and anatomy play a role in determining sneeze volume.

According to some depictions of her, Mother Goose isn't even a bird.

Many nursery rhymes are attributed to Mother Goose. But was Mother Goose even a real person?

It's really just an intricate game of Tetris.

If you’re wondering how to load a dishwasher the right way, these expert tips can help you avoid water spots, broken glasses, and many other common pain points.

Red fox (right), gray fox (left).

Here's how to identify red and gray foxes, plus some helpful information about where the foxes live and what they eat.

What the @%$!! is the oldest known curse word?

The four-letter words that still have the power to offend took a circuitous route out of our mouths and into our language.

A 4/20 feast.

Marijuana really does give you the munchies—here's the science behind why.

Little Jack Horner, sat in the corner.

Like most nursery rhymes, rumors have long swirled about its allegedly dark origin story—one that’s said to involve Henry VIII and bribery.

We didn't mean it literally.

When we promise to honor a commitment, it's a "rain check." And yes, it originally had something to do with the weather.

'Organic' doesn't necessarily mean 'healthy.'

To be certified as organic, farmers can’t use prohibited synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, or hormones for three full years before applying. Further, any animals they have must be raised on organic foods.

Decaf coffee is under fire.

Some decaf coffee contains trace amounts of a carcinogen. Should we be worried?

What happened?

You may not have given it much thought in the past, but you've most definitely seen a single shoe hanging around the side of the road. How did it get there?

A grain of salt a day keeps the misinformation away.

‘Take it with a grain of salt’ all (probably) started with Pliny the Elder, but he was talking about literal poison.

A vintage engraving of London Bridge in the late 19th century.

There are a handful of dark theories about the rhyme’s inspiration—ranging from a Viking invasion to human sacrifice—but we’ll cross that bridge when get to it. First up, let’s break down the known history of the tune.

Indian cabbage white butterfly (left), luna moth (right).

Both develop from caterpillars and both have impressive wings, but if you know what to look for, it's easy to tell moths and butterflies apart.

Michigan maintains one of the most successful bottle return programs in America.

Now you know.

The abbreviations are widely understood as “morning” and “afternoon,” but what do the Latin translations actually mean?

Be proactive and have a plan in place before disaster strikes.

Here’s how to be prepared for what to do before, during, and after an earthquake.

Surprisingly, there is truth in this advertising.

When you spritz some Febreze into the air, it actually uses compounds called cyclodextrins to trap those odor-causing molecules.

He likes to watch.

Cats love to lurk around tubs like feline voyeurs. What causes this behavior?

One funeral tradition that truly blows.

The bagpipe is a tradition at first responder services. How did that happen?

Once upon a time, there used to be B batteries, but they’re not manufactured anymore. Here’s why they disappeared from shelves.

Wendy's isn't afraid to show off their beef.

The shape of Wendy’s square burgers has nothing to do with taste and everything to do with marketing.

Which is which?

Though they’re technically the same animal, there’s an important difference between pigs and hogs. Boars are a different story altogether.

James Dean in 1950s suburbia.

The white picket fence has become a cliché for suburbia. Blame archers.