Mental Floss

By Mental Floss

Amazing facts about history, science, and pop culture from Mental Floss magazine.

Sam Elliott
11 Fascinating Facts About Sam Elliott
mentalfloss.com - BY Jake Rossen
Hirsute. Rugged. Laconic. For more than four decades, actor Sam Elliott has practically trademarked the persona of a latter-day cowboy. When Patrick …
Culture
8 Oscar Nominations That Were Revoked
mentalfloss.com - BY Rudie Obias
Although Oscars are usually set in stone (or gold-plated britannium, as it were), there have been some very rare instances where the Academy of …
15 Facts About Singin’ in the Rain
mentalfloss.com - BY Eric D Snider
Singin’ in the Rain isn’t just an upbeat musical from 1952. It’s also a history lesson about Hollywood in the late 1920s, when silent pictures were …
Smart Shopping | Mental Floss
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Houseplants
Grow Up to 90 Fruits and Vegetables in Your House With This Auto-Watering Indoor Garden
mentalfloss.com - BY Emily Petsko
If you've always wanted to start your own herb or vegetable garden but don't have the yard space or the "green thumb" to pull it off, there's now …
Harry Potter
The Reason Harry Potter's Eyes Changed From Green in the Books to Blue in the Movies
mentalfloss.com - BY Olivia Montine
When it comes to Harry Potter's appearance, dedicated fans of the series have no doubt noticed a major discrepancy between the books and the movies. …
Game of Thrones
New Game of Thrones Fan Theory Says Cersei Will Save Westeros From the Night King
mentalfloss.com - BY Hannah Wigandt
With less than two months left until the final season of Game of Thrones premieres, fan anticipation is at an all-time high—as are the number of …
George Washington
25 Things You Probably Didn't Know About George Washington
mentalfloss.com - BY Arthur Holland Michel
You know that George Washington was the first President of the United States. Is that where your knowledge of this fascinating guy's life and history …
Charlie Chaplin
30 Best Picture Winners You Can Stream Right Now
mentalfloss.com - BY James L Menzies
Picking any given year’s Oscar winners is far from an exact science. Of the nearly 90 movies that have been named Best Picture since the very first …
Aladdin
The Reason Why the Genie From Aladdin Is Blue
mentalfloss.com - BY Emily Petsko
Ever since Disney’s original Aladdin movie debuted in 1992, the Genie has always been blue. The Genie in the Broadway musical wears a royal blue …
The Oscars
Why Are the Academy Awards Statuettes Called "Oscars"?
mentalfloss.com - BY Daven Hiskey
In 2013, the Academy Awards were officially rebranded as simply The Oscars, after the famed statuette that winners receive. "We're rebranding it," …
New York City is Fighting Fatbergs in Sewers with a New PSA Campaign
mentalfloss.com - BY Jake Rossen
There are certain consequences to living in an age of convenience. Plastic straws are filling up landfills, prompting widespread bans and …
Dothraki
11 Dothraki Words and Phrases Every Game of Thrones Fan Should Know
mentalfloss.com - BY Erin McCarthy
You know the words khal and khaleesi, but consider working these other words and phrases from the Dothraki language—which was created by linguist David …
Helmets
The Pope's Swiss Guards Are Now Outfitted in 3D-Printed Helmets
mentalfloss.com - BY Michele Debczak
The Popemobile isn't the only innovative piece of gear used by the Pope and his posse. Though they still look traditional, the outfits worn by the …
Great Barrier Reef
For the First Time Ever, a Mammal Has Been Declared Extinct Due to Climate Change
mentalfloss.com - BY Emily Petsko
An Australian rat-like rodent called the Bramble Cay melomys is the first known mammal wiped out by manmade climate change, The Hill reports. The …
U.S. Army
A Fort Hood Mule With 12 Years of Army Experience Is Looking for a Forever Home
mentalfloss.com - BY Michele Debczak
Attention, animal lovers: A mule in Fort Hood, Texas with more than a decade of U.S. Army experience is up for adoption. Tina the Army mule has been …
Oxford Dictionary
13 Facts About the Oxford English Dictionary
mentalfloss.com - BY Lucas Reilly
This year marks the 135th birthday of the Oxford English Dictionary (though the eminent reference book is hardly looking its age). As the English …
Comic Books
These Rugrats Sneakers Will Bring Out Your Inner '90s Kid
mentalfloss.com - BY Michele Debczak
There's a new way for grown-up '90s kids to express their love for their favorite show from childhood. The characters from Rugrats are highlighted in …
Supermoon
A Super Worm Moon Is Coming on the First Day of Spring
mentalfloss.com - BY Michele Debczak
So far, 2019 has been a treat for astronomy fans. The last supermoon (and the brightest one of the year) was visible on February 19, and the next one …
Steve Irwin
13 Facts About Steve Irwin and The Crocodile Hunter
mentalfloss.com - BY Jennifer M Wood
In 1996, Australian wildlife expert Steve Irwin—who is the subject of today's Google Doodle—came from seemingly out of nowhere to become one of the …
Geek
Here’s the Keyboard Waffle Iron You’ve Been Waiting For
mentalfloss.com - BY Michele Debczak
A keyboard waffle iron may not sound like an essential kitchen appliance, but once you see it you’ll wonder how you’ve lived without one for so long. …
James Bond
A Private Island With Ancient Ruins Just Hit the Market in Ireland
mentalfloss.com - BY Michele Debczak
You don't have to go someplace tropical to buy a luxurious, secluded island. High Island, or Ardoileán in Irish, is located two miles off the west …
Warby Parker
11 Secrets of Opticians
mentalfloss.com - BY Shaunacy Ferro
Whether they need glasses or not, most people understand what an optometrist does. The same doesn’t always apply for the optometrist’s in-office …
New Orleans, LA
Is This the Original Name of a Famous Band ... or Just a Dive Bar in New Orleans?
mentalfloss.com
Music Videos
Queen Throws Its Support Behind a Breakthru-Inspired LEGO Set
mentalfloss.com - BY Emily Petsko
A fan-made, motorized LEGO set that pays homage to the Queen song "Breakthru" just made its own breakthrough, so to speak. As WROR in Massachusetts …
Comic Books
Move Over, Eleven: Stranger Things Prequel Comic Will Introduce Readers to Test Subject Six
mentalfloss.com - BY Natalie Zamora
The first season of Netflix’s Stranger Things pulled viewers in with the help of Eleven, Millie Bobby Brown's pint-sized test subject with a shaved …
Entertainment
19 People Who Won Oscars For Their First Movie
mentalfloss.com - BY Amanda Green
For any aspiring filmmaker—be it an actor, writer, director, or beyond—getting one's first big break is the key to finding success in Hollywood. For …
National Parks
Indiana Just Got Its First National Park
mentalfloss.com - BY Emily Petsko
We have good news for outdoor enthusiasts in Indiana: The state just got its first national park. As Condé Nast Traveler reports, the Indiana Dunes …
George Washington
15 Things You Might Not Know About the Washington Monument
mentalfloss.com - BY M. Arbeiter
It's the tallest building in Washington, D.C. and it honors the first U.S. president, George Washington. Here are a few more Washington Monument …