SCIENCE

The Staffordshire Hoard contains the one of the richest collections of Anglo-Saxon gold ever found.

20 Amazing Historical Discoveries in the Last 20 Years

Scientists and historians have made incredible finds—from the oldest human-made art to long-lost shipwrecks—in the 20 years since Mental Floss began.

Octopuses never have to say a farewell to arms for long.

On a Limb: How an Octopus Regrows Its Arms

The cephalopod is strikingly intelligent, but its most spectacular talent may be its ability to fully regrow arms lost to predators.

A post-vaccine thumbs up is recommended.

5 Important Dos and Don’ts When You’ve Gotten Your COVID-19 Vaccine

Can you take Tylenol after your COVID-19 vaccine? What should you do with your vaccination card? Answers to those and more burning questions.

What the 'Probability of Precipitation' on Your Weather App Really Means

Seeing a 50 percent chance of rain on your weather app doesn't mean that rain will reach only half your area—or that it will rain for half the day.

A colorized image of sand dunes at Mars's northern polar cap.

NASA Shares Amazing Image of Blue Dunes on Mars

NASA’s Mars Odyssey has been orbiting the Red Planet for literally 20 years—here’s a glimpse of what it’s been up to.

Cheap wine can taste better to some when the price tag is switched.

At Wine Tastings, the Cheap Stuff Tastes Better If You Think It's Expensive

A new study from the University of Basel in Switzerland demonstrates that a price tag can make all the difference in a wine tasting.

Pineapple Studio/iStock via Getty Images

How Do You Acquire an "Acquired Taste"?

Why do coffee, hot peppers, bleu cheese, and other foods only appeal to us as we get older? It has nothing to do with "maturing" taste buds.

'Clang, clang, clang' went the cookie tray.

The Reason Why Baking Sheets Clang in the Oven—And How to Avoid It

Metal expands, which you can’t exactly prevent—but certain baking sheets weather the storm better than others.

J. Martin and E. Olson, Northland College; from Olson et al. 2021, Scientific Reports

11 Animals You Wouldn't Expect to Glow

Sometimes the trick goes unnoticed. But at least we can use blacklights to recognize the biofluorescent beasts who lay hidden in our midst.

Watch Scientists in Iceland Cook Hot Dogs on Lava From an Active Volcano

When the long-dormant Geldingardalsgos volcano erupted in Iceland this month, scientists took the opportunity to have a lava-fueled barbecue.

Want to Improve Your Health? Listen to the Sounds of National Parks

Will taking a stroll through a national park make you feel less stressed? According to this study, the answer is probably yes.

An image of the March equinox taken by the GOES-13 satellite in 2013.

Solstice vs. Equinox: What’s the Difference?

‘Vernal equinox’ isn’t just the technical term for the first day of spring, and 'summer solstice’ means something beyond ‘first day of summer.’

Watch Albert Einstein Explain His Theory of Relativity in Historic Footage

In this historic footage, you can watch Albert Einstein describe the scientific equation that made him famous.

5 Fast Facts About the Arapaima, Florida’s Latest Potential Invasive Species

The arapaima, or ‘pirarucu’ in Brazil, is a predatory freshwater fish that breathes air, eats practically anything, and sports a bullet-proof vest.

It's not just about pelvic pain or bad periods.

6 Common Misconceptions About Endometriosis

There’s a lot of confusion about endometriosis symptoms, treatment, and other basics. We spoke to a specialist to set the record straight.

Fossilized Dinosaur Nest With Parent and Embryos Discovered in China

Fossilized dinosaur nests are rare to begin with. The combination of eggs, embryos, and a mature dinosaur in a brooding pose in this recently discovered fossil is historic.

Why Are Deserts So Hot During the Day and Cold at Night?

Deserts either want to broil you alive or force you to put on layers. It's a fascinating ecological condition with a simple explanation.

Unusual Half-Male, Half-Female Northern Cardinal Spotted in Pennsylvania

If you’re bird-watching near Warren County, Pennsylvania, keep an eye out for this beautiful rare bird.

The northern lights in northwest Canada.

Transport Yourself With This Northern Lights Livestream

An in-person aurora borealis show might be a little out of range for most of us—this northern lights livestream is the next best thing.

Tim Laman, Wikimedia Commons // CC BY 4.0

20 Amazing Animals Discovered in the Last 20 Years

In the two decades since Mental Floss first hit newsstands, some pretty incredible animals have entered the world of mainstream science.

Microscopic Wasps Will Help Stamp Out a Moth Infestation at Anne Boleyn’s Ancestral Home

It’s the ‘Godzilla vs. Kong’ of the insect world, featuring a cameo by Anne Boleyn’s headless ghost.

Ready Player Oink: Pigs Can Be Taught to Play Video Games

Researchers trained four pigs to move a cursor on a screen using a joystick for a food reward. The swine went full 'Pong.'

See How Many Balloons It Would Take to Lift the House from Pixar's Up

Using a computer simulation, this video visualizes the many millions of balloons that would be needed to lift the house from Pixar's 'Up' in real life.

Sea Cucumbers on One Coral Reef Drop Several Eiffel Towers’ Worth of Poop Each Year—and That’s a Good Thing

Slow clap for sea cucumbers, whose excretory achievements could help slow climate change damage to the Great Barrier Reef.

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