Mental Floss

Cold Spring Harbor: The Long Island Lab that Brought Eugenics to America The Eugenics Record Office thought pseudoscience could make more perfect humans. It led to unspeakable tragedy.

Charles Davenport’s Eugenics Record Office collected data on thousands of Americans, hoping to support a pseudoscientific theory that would create a more perfect human race. It led to unspeakable tragedy.

The ‘Star Trek’ Interracial Kiss That Made TV Executives Panic William Shatner’s lip lock with Nichelle Nichols wasn't TV’s first interracial kiss, but it might have been the most controversial.

Shouting and flared tempers accompanied Kirk’s historic lip-locking with Uhura.

10 Old-Timey Ways to Say You’re Pregnant Ever heard of 'apron-up'?

Forget ‘bun in the oven.’ How about ‘eating dried apples’?
https://bit.ly/4gUZgbG

Quiz: Can You Match the Fictional Place to the Movie? Film buffs know which famous movie takes place on Amity Island.

Film buffs know which famous movie takes place on Amity Island.
https://bit.ly/4nc1PYY

8 Post-Apocalyptic Novels You Need to Read From a 19th-century tale of catastrophe to a modern-day classic made into a film, these are books you’ll want to add to your TBR.

From a 19th-century tale of catastrophe to a modern-day classic made into a film, these are books you’ll want to add to your reading list. https://bit.ly/4gASHL2

School Commutes Are a Breeze in These 15 U.S. Cities Find out which cities are scoring an A+ for their school commutes.

Find out which cities are scoring an A+ for their school commutes.
https://bit.ly/4826AzJ

11 Things Found Buried Under Parking Lots Countless artifacts have been buried and then rediscovered under asphalt, from the feet of a pharaoh to the long-lost bones of an English king.

Countless artifacts have been buried and then rediscovered under asphalt, from the feet of a pharaoh to the long-lost bones of an English king.
https://bit.ly/3KpgQYQ

Study Reveals Surprising Dynamic Between Whales and Dolphins Whales and dolphins aren’t just neighbors. They’re also occasional playmates.

Whales and dolphins aren’t just neighbors. They’re also occasional playmates.

5 Ways Royals Shaped Fashion A look at some of the OG fashion influencers.

A look at some of the OG fashion influencers.

Yes, Cats Will Play Fetch, Too—But Only If They Feel Like It Toss some crumpled paper and maybe, if you're lucky, the cat will consider going to get it. Maybe.

Toss some crumpled paper and maybe, if you're lucky, the cat will consider going to get it. Maybe. https://bit.ly/4meAggy

Just Touching the World‘s Most Dangerous Tree Could Send You to the Hospital The “little apple of death” is the true forbidden fruit.

The manchineel tree’s sweet-looking fruit is the reason it‘s nicknamed the “little apple of death.”
https://bit.ly/3UTZ2r9

Why Is It So Hard to Sleep in a New Place? Whether you’re at a hotel on a trip or crashing at a relative’s house for the holidays, getting quality sleep on the first few nights can be a challenge.

Whether you’re at a hotel on a business trip or crashing at a relative’s house for the holidays, getting quality sleep on the first few nights can be a challenge.
https://bit.ly/4ghfefO

20 Maps That Changed the World How we illustrate the world affects how we experience it.

How we illustrate the world affects how we experience it.
https://bit.ly/41Hgzqc

10 Incredible Things That Were Invented By Accident A mix of human error and pure coincidence has led to some amazing inventions.

A mix of human error and pure coincidence has led to some amazing inventions.
https://bit.ly/4mfboVY

Light Pollution Is Tricking Birds Into Singing Later at Night Early birds are starting to sing even earlier.

Early birds are starting to sing even earlier.
https://bit.ly/3Jkv118

Update Your Vocabulary With the Most-Searched Slang Terms of 2025 Get the 411 on six-seven.

Don‘t know what ‘bop’ means? Neither do thousands of Google users.
https://bit.ly/48xkHgA

Quiz: Match the President to His Hometown in This Fiendishly Tricky Game It’s easy to name the state most associated with a president, but can you name his actual birthplace?

JFK and Massachusetts. Abe Lincoln and Illinois. It’s easy to name the state most associated with a president, but can you name his actual birthplace?

These Movie and TV Adaptations Were Better Than the Books, According to Audiences Not all book adaptations are a disappointment.

Not all book adaptations are a disappointment.
https://bit.ly/4nNbmFJ

Could Cockroaches Really Survive a Nuclear War? Cockroaches have a reputation for being indestructible. But they may not be as totally immune to radiation as people think.

Cockroaches have a reputation for being indestructible. But they may not be as totally immune to radiation as people think.
https://bit.ly/3VawfOU

Why So Many Old British Homes Have Bricked-Up Windows These odd architectural features are remnants of a time when people had to pay if they wanted to look outside.

These odd architectural features are remnants of a time when people had to pay if they wanted to look outside.
https://bit.ly/464UDH3

Why Motorcycles Are the Most Dangerous Mode of Transportation There’s a good reason your parents probably freaked out when they found out you took a little joy ride on someone’s Harley.

There’s a good reason your parents probably freaked out when they found out you took a little joy ride on someone’s Harley.

These little spaces often spark curiosity and nostalgia, though few people know their history. https://bit.ly/47zjYen

35 Celebrities Who Served in the Military You probably didn't know about a few of these celebrity veterans who served the red, white, and blue.

Steve McQueen was promoted to private first class in the Marine Corps, but was demoted multiple times due to insubordinate behavior.
https://bit.ly/3VqLaog

The 25 Dirtiest Cities in America, Mapped How did your city (or the one nearest you) fare?

How did your city (or the one nearest you) fare?

How a Misunderstanding Spawned a Medieval Mummy-Eating Fad Eating centuries-old mummies was a hot health trend in medieval Europe.

In the Middle Ages, Egyptian mummies were prescribed as treatment for myriad conditions. Europe’s fascination with Egypt—combined with a mistranslation—are to blame for the misguided health fad.
https://bit.ly/3IgW2Ct

Why Does ’Phony’ Mean Fake? The origins of the term come from the Irish word for “ring.”

Conmen are the reason the word exists.
https://bit.ly/4n5skyY

America‘s Favorite Gas Station Snacks, Mapped See if your state prefers salty or sweet snacks when hitting the road.

Beef jerky, Skittles, and Rice Krispies top the list of the country’s favorite road trip treats.

The Chrome Extension That’s Rekindling the 432 Hz Music Conspiracy Some believe that tuning our music to 432 Hz rather than 440 will make it sound better—and make us feel better. What gives?

Some believe that tuning our music to 432 Hz rather than 440 will make it sound better—and make us feel better. What gives?
https://bit.ly/48gmIh6

‘Animal Crossing’ Fan Builds Massive LEGO Island Filled With Hidden Features This “Animal Crossing” player’s “42-acre” LEGO island is a miniature masterpiece.

This “Animal Crossing” player’s “42-acre” LEGO island is a miniature masterpiece.

The Dark Theories Behind the “London Bridge Is Falling Down” Nursery Rhyme There are a handful of sinister suggestions—ranging from a Viking invasion to human sacrifice—about the rhyme’s inspiration.

People have speculated the nursery rhyme references everything from Viking invasions to human sacrifice.
https://bit.ly/4mrCwkN