Mental Floss

Tom Cruise in 'Born on the Fourth of July'

ENTERTAINMENT

12 Facts You Probably Don’t Know About ‘Born on the Fourth of July’

QUIZZES

Definition Detective Quiz #34

BIG QUESTIONS

Why Does Airplane Coffee Taste So Bad?

VIETNAM WAR

7 Women Who Played Key Roles in the Vietnam War

Nellie Bly, pioneer of investigative journalism,

RETROBITUARIES

Remembering Nellie Bly, Rabblerouser and Pioneer of Investigative Journalism

Hello.it‘s leash combines renewable energy with dog walking.

DOGS

This High-Tech Leash Comes With an “Emergency Brake”

These cities are ideal for Easter lovers.

LISTS

The 10 Best Cities for Easter Celebrations in 2025

An American Huey helicopter sprays Agent Orange over Vietnam.

HISTORY

Agent Orange: Its Toxic History in the Vietnam War

LANGUAGE

1

Why Is Easter Called “Easter”?

2

Why Is a Tariff Called a “Tariff”?

3

6 Common Terms That Mean Something Different in Courtrooms

4

Why Do We Call a Dollar a “Buck”?

5

Why Do Cowboys Say “Yee-Haw”?

HISTORY

SEE MORE

‘Greatest Escapes With Arturo Castro’ Episode 12: Destination Cuba

Not a dire wolf.

Does De-Extinction Actually Work?

Taxidermied kurī on display.

11 Dog Breeds That No Longer Exist

'The Things They Carried' by Tim O'Brien.

12 Facts About ‘The Things They Carried’

QUIZZES

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Can You Put All the U.S. Presidents in the Correct Order?

Ken Jennings.

What’s the Kennection? #162

Can you figure it out?

Can You Solve This Old-Timey Riddle? #33

See if you can decipher this twisted tune.

Tune Twist Quiz #37

FEATURES

In space, it isn’t just number one and done.

To Boldly Go: The Science Behind Pooping in Space

The Dame of Sark, Sibyl Hathaway, in March 1953.

How the World’s Only Feudal Lord Outclassed the Nazis to Save Her People

Robert Kennicott, pictured against Alaska’s Kennicott Glacier, was a key figure in the Smithsonian’s formative years.

Death of a Scientist: The Mysterious Demise of Smithsonian Pioneer Robert Kennicott

BIG QUESTIONS

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Tick-tock, the deadline is coming up.

What Happens if I Don’t File My Taxes on Time?

Put your money on the bull.

What’s the Difference Between a Bull and a Bear Market?

Look out below!

Where Does Astronaut Poop End Up?

Here‘s the dreaded wisdom tooth doing its thing.

Why Do People Have Wisdom Teeth?