Mental Floss

When ‘Mad TV’ Challenged ‘Saturday Night Live’ for Sketch Comedy Supremacy The humor magazine transitioned to TV in 1995, hoping to unseat NBC's sketch comedy dynasty.

The humor magazine transitioned to TV in 1995, hoping to unseat NBC's sketch comedy dynasty.
https://bit.ly/45UvlLt

Why Are St. Bernards Always Depicted With Barrels Around Their Necks? If you happened to see a St. Bernard while lost in the Alps, it probably wouldn't have a barrel around its neck.

A teenage artist's creative liberties spawned an enduring legend.
https://bit.ly/485q5r1

The Mystifying Origins of Heavy Metal’s “Devil Horns” The symbol was once meant to ward off evil, not conjure it.

The symbol was once meant to ward off evil, not conjure it.

Quiz: Can You Guess the Movie Title Based on a Synonym? From ‘Oblivious’ to ‘Residence Unaccompanied.’

From ‘Oblivious’ to ‘Residence Unaccompanied,’ these terms are technically synonyms of famous film titles. How many can you get right?

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

Why Is It Called a ‘Grandfather Clock’? The imposing clocks have an origin story, but it doesn’t have much to do with any actual grandfathers.

The imposing clocks have an origin story, but it doesn’t have much to do with any actual grandfathers.
https://bit.ly/4lX4Cnz

Why Does Costco Open So Late? The popular warehouse chain won't let customers in until 10 a.m. Early birds want answers.

Prefer to get your shopping done early? Costco isn’t having it.

Here's What the 'A' Button Does in Your Car Worried about pressing strange buttons in your new car? Us, too. But you'll probably like this one.

The button deactivates a controversial feature in modern cars.
https://bit.ly/4mWLB5X

The Entertaining History of Dog and Pony Shows The phrase doesn't usually refer to dogs and ponies anymore.

The phrase doesn't usually refer to dogs and ponies anymore.
https://bit.ly/41OlMfX

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

Why is Connecticut Called the “Nutmeg State”? Several associations between the state and the spice emerged during the 18th and 19th centuries.

No, the state does not actually grow the spice.
https://bit.ly/46iMWyc

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.

Stooky Bill, the Ventriloquist’s Dummy Who Became the First TV Star One hundred years ago, John Logie Baird successfully transmitted the first clear TV image:  the unsettling grin of Stooky Bill.

One hundred years ago, John Logie Baird successfully transmitted the first clear TV image: the unsettling grin of Stooky Bill.
https://bit.ly/4nGtTDP

The Most Popular Aesthetics to Pair With Coffee Photos, According to Google Trends Discover the most popular coffee photo aesthetics people are searching for, from lattes and books to cappuccinos on the Amalfi Coast.

Coffee drinks are often the stars of photo sessions, but which trends are most popular?
https://bit.ly/46CKnWz

The 20 Most Commonly Confused Word Pairs in America, According to Google Data If you’ve ever Googled any of these words to figure out the difference between them, you are far from alone.

If you’ve ever Googled any of these words to figure out the difference between them, you are far from alone.

Why Body Composition Scales Aren’t the Best Way to Measure Fitness Body comp scales may not give you the best reading of your health.

“Smart scales” claim to measure how much body fat and muscle you have, but they may not give an accurate picture of health. Here’s why.

Map Shows the Cities That Have the Most Dogs Waiting to Be Adopted Some cities have dogs waiting much longer than 30 days to make it to their forever homes.

Some cities have dogs waiting much longer than 30 days to make it to their forever homes.
https://bit.ly/4mmOE6u

Mapped: The Word Each State Has the Most Trouble Pronouncing We all have that one word we’re not sure how to say.

We all have that one word we’re not sure how to say.
https://bit.ly/4mnQBzx

When the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Went On a Live Concert Tour In 1990, kids went crazy for lip-syncing Turtles who were rocking out live on stage--and trying not to pass out in the process.

Please, no flash photography, dudes!
https://bit.ly/4gI7zr6

Why Is the Pacific Northwest So Rainy? Blame it on two particular factors.

Two factors explain why Seattle, Portland, and surrounding areas get all that precipitation.

Guided by Voices: 7 Books Supposedly Written by Ghosts From famous authors to a Roman emperor, these spirits sure had a lot to share.

From famous authors to a Roman emperor, these spirits sure had a lot to share.
https://bit.ly/46zDWn3

11 Words You Might Not Know Are Portmanteaux Prepare to be surprised.

Prepare to be surprised.
https://bit.ly/46cx28i

Your Luggage Is Absolutely Disgusting—Here’s How to Clean It Can't remember the last time you washed the handles or the interiors? That’s a solid sign that it could be time to give your suitcase a good scrub-down.

Can’t remember the last time you washed the handles or the interiors? That’s a solid sign that it could be time to give your suitcase a good scrub-down.
https://bit.ly/4g074bp

What It Means When Ground Beef Is Red on the Outside and Brown on the Inside Brown hues aren‘t always signs of spoilage.

Ground beef that’s brown in spots may look odd, but will it make you sick?

11 of the Best Waterfall Trails in the U.S. From a Yosemite icon to a Grand Canyon hidden gem, there are epic waterfall hikes to be found across the country.

Whether you’re chasing thunderous drops, secret splash zones, or just want a trail that ends with a killer view and some mist, these epic cascades have what you’re looking for.

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?

Quiz: Can You Match These Official Symbols to Their States? It Might Be Harder Than You Think At least one state in the union has designated fried calamari as an official symbol. Can you match these concepts to the state that they honor?

At least one state in the union has designated fried calamari as an official symbol. Can you match these concepts to the state that they honor?
https://bit.ly/4gIYluN

8 Places the Romans Failed to Conquer Even the mighty Romans couldn’t bring these peoples to their knees.

Even the mighty Romans couldn’t bring these peoples to their knees.
https://bit.ly/41p4dmA

This 50-Year-Old Footage Shows New York in the 1970s Long gone are the days of graffitied subway cars and cigarette ads in Times Square.

Whether or not you were alive in the 1970s, it‘s hard not to feel nostalgic while watching this 50-year-old footage of New York City. The cars, fashion, and dancing in the video perfectly capture the era.
https://bit.ly/3JPn6ZZ

Why Don’t Cars Have Hood Ornaments Anymore? Cars used to sport exquisite pieces of art on their hoods. What happened?

Why did we stop putting animals on our car hoods?
https://bit.ly/48hsCPh