MF EXPLAINS IT ALL

Why Does Flushing the Toilet Change the Shower Temperature?

It's what every shower-taker dreads—but it doesn't have to be this way.

Even this cricket wants to know the answer.

Why Do We Say “Crickets” When It’s Silent?

Cricket chirps can reach 100 decibels. So why do we use them as a byword for ‘silence’?

The Evolution of ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’

‘Goldilocks and the Three Bears’ is a fairy tale with a long history. But Goldilocks as we know her didn‘t originally appear in the popular children‘s story.

These balls actually do serve a purpose.

The Reason Behind Those Brightly Colored Balls Along Power Lines

If you thought the fluorescent marker balls had something to do with increasing visibility, you were right.

Tennis balls are always under pressure to perform.

Why Do Tennis Balls Come in Airtight Containers?

The key to holding court? A fresh can of tennis balls.

You’ve likely heard at least one tale that starts with the line.

Why So Many Stories Begin With ‘Once Upon a Time’

‘Once Upon a Time’ appears in many fairy tales and stories. The phrase has a long history and a practical narrative purpose.

Jacqueline Anders/Moment/Getty Images (cat), Jon Mayer/Mental Floss (thought bubble)

How Long Can You Leave Your Cat Home Alone?

According to experts, the answer is a lot shorter than you may think.

What Is Code-Switching—And Why Do We Do It?

Code-switching goes beyond language—here's what it means and why it happens.

Why Do Milk Jugs Have Those Inverted Circles?

The concave circles built into the sides of plastic milk jugs are an important part of their design.

What Are Those Lines on a Car’s Rear Windshield?

Horizontal lines run across the rear glass on most cars. Here's why.

Grasshopper on the left, swarm of locusts on the right

Grasshoppers vs. Locusts: What’s the Difference?

All locusts are grasshoppers, but not all grasshoppers are locusts.

Jack Sprat could refer to two historical royals.

The Possibly Royal Origins of the ‘Jack Sprat’ Nursery Rhyme

Although “Jack Sprat” may not be in the nursery rhyme limelight, the two theories behind its meaning—both of which involve royalty—are just as interesting as the origins of better-known rhymes.

Where Does the Word ‘Hoser’ Come From?

As brothers Bob and Doug McKenzie on ‘SCTV,’ actors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas made ‘hoser’ popular—and there are plenty of theories about the word’s origin.

Chris Evert at the 1978 Wimbledon quarterfinals.

Why Is It Called a “Tennis Bracelet”?

Chris Evert’s tennis bracelets made tennis bracelets a thing. But the origin story gets mistold quite often.

Why Does Honey Come in Bear-Shaped Bottles?

The adorable bear honey bottle design helped launch Dutch Gold Honey to national success. Here’s how it came to be.

Why Do We Say “PU” When Something Stinks?

Sadly, ‘PU’ isn’t an initialism for “Pretty unsavory!”, “Putrid, ugh!”, or even “Please use (deodorant)!”

The dog days of summer don’t actually have anything to do with this dog.

What Are The Dog Days of Summer?

The dog days of summer don’t actually have much to do with dogs. Instead, they relate to Sirius, otherwise known as the Dog Star.

Shoes hanging from power lines have invited a lot of urban myths.

Why Do People Toss Shoes Over Power Lines?

A dangling pair of kicks is sending a message. What is it?

Pills come in orange containers for a clever reason.

Why Do Prescription Pills Come in Orange Bottles?

Those orange bottles are no accident—they were specifically designed to keep both medications and people safe.

Why Is Depression Sometimes Called “The Black Dog”?

Everyone from lexicographer Samuel Johnson to Prime Minister Winston Churchill has used the phrase—but where does it come from? Why a black dog?

“Shoot, did that plant have leaves of three?”

Can Dogs Get Poison Ivy?

Dogs can potentially have an allergic reaction to poison ivy, and they can also transmit the irritating oils to people. Here's what to do if you pet encounters the plant.

Every color in the Pride Flag stands for something—and here's what it all means.

What Do All the Colors in the Pride Flag Stand For?

The Pride Flag first appeared in 1978, but it's evolved a lot since its initial conception. Here's what all the colors really stand for.

Why Does ‘Joshing’ Mean “Kidding Around”?

The word dates back to the mid-19th century, and has taken many forms.

Why ALDI Covers Its Packaging in Giant Barcodes

ALDI’s in-house products are covered in barcodes, and consumers benefit.

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