Mental Floss

NEWS







Westsylvania is just one state that never made the cut.

The road to our 50 states is littered with wannabe territories that couldn't wait to be admitted to the union, but never quite got there. Here are 12 states that could have been.

M Asher Cantrell






Cinco de Mayo, or May 5, is recognized around the country as a time to celebrate Mexico’s cultural heritage. Like a lot of days earmarked to commemorate a specific idea or event, its origins can be a little murky. Who started it, and why?

Jake Rossen




Simplify you day, one hack at a time.

Keep these life hacks in your back pocket to make your everyday chores easier, whether you have to clean, cook, organize, or just live more efficiently.

Madeline Raynor








NASA officially prohibits alcohol aboard its missions, but that didn’t stop some American astronauts from enjoying a wee nip with their Russian colleagues.

Nick Keppler