Mental Floss
@mental_floss
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Home for all things curious, including surprising facts; answers to life's big questions; and untold stories from history, science, pop culture, and beyond.
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As far as we're concerned, that is Ben Franklin's baby now.
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Please take a moment to see what a penguin weigh-in looks—and sounds—like:
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This Illustrated Periodic Table Shows How We Regularly Interact With Each Element —
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In 1996, Hillary Clinton won a Grammy for the spoken word version of her book, "It Takes A Village."
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"Death is one moment, and life is so many of them." —Tennessee Williams, who was born on this day in 1911
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If at first you don't succeed, try these gift-wrapping hacks. 🎁
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'The Dark Knight' Is Returning to Theaters for a 10th Anniversary IMAX Re-Release —
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We cannot stop watching this video of a mom getting startled by her baby. 😂🐆
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Meet Stevie the Wonder Dog. The blind lab who can't resist a puddle.
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This is the remarkable Halitrephes maasi jellyfish, also known as deep sea fireworks.
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Emma Watson passed on 'La La Land' to make 'Beauty and the Beast.' Ryan Gosling passed on 'Beauty and the Beast' to make 'La La Land.'
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"The most dangerous creation of any society is the man who has nothing to lose." —James Baldwin, who was born on this day in 1924
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"There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them." —Ray Bradbury
#BookLoversDay
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Kids Whose Parents Read to Them Understand Up to 1.4 Million More Words —
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Henry Winkler’s father begged his son to tell his 'Happy Days' co-workers about his past as a water ski instructor. When he finally did, the writers wrote his skills into the show. Which is how the Fonz ended up "jumping the shark."
#Emmys
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Bong Joon Ho is responsible for three of South Korea's 25 highest-grossing movies of all time: 'The Host,' 'Parasite,' and 'Snowpiercer.'
#Oscars
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“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.” —Ray Bradbury
#BookLoversDay
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In the 2014 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, Betty White was awarded the title of Longest TV Career for an Entertainer (Female) for her more than 70 years (and counting) in show business.
#Emmys
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France Hires Two Cats to Get Rid of Rats in Government Offices —
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In 1992, 25 million
#SuperBowl
viewers changed the channel at halftime to tune into a Doritos-sponsored live episode of 'In Living Color.'
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What’s the Difference Between an Alligator and a Crocodile? —
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This video from the Peninsula Open Space Trust captured a surprising pair of pals—a coyote and a badger—making their way through a culvert together to safely pass underneath a California highway.
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Every date this week reads the same backwards as it does forward.
9.10.19
9.11.19
9.12.19
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9.17.19
9.18.19
9.19.19
Here's hoping
#PalindromeWeek
brings some order to your life!
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This Scuba Diver Has Been Visiting the Same Fish for 30 Years —
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"I do believe something very magical can happen when you read a book." —J.K. Rowling
#BookLoversDay
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Michael Jackson's 1993 Super Bowl performance marked the first time network ratings went up during halftime.
#SuperBowl
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The ‘Scully Effect’ Is Real: Female 'X-Files' Fans More Likely to Go Into STEM —
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For more than a decade, 'Ghost Adventures' has been "capturing groundbreaking proof of the paranormal" in hundreds of haunted destinations around the globe. Now,
@Zak_Bagans
is sharing some behind-the-scenes secrets with us.
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Just because: Here's the cutest little Northern white-faced owl going into intimidation mode 😈
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Last year
@jaythechou
said he’d Photoshop
@Paddington
into a different movie or TV show every day until he forgot. He hasn’t forgotten yet.
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Naomie Harris shot all of her scenes for 'Moonlight' in just three days, in the middle of an international publicity tour for 'Spectre.'
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Brett Goldstein was initially hired solely as a writer on 'Ted Lasso.' Yet in writing Roy Kent's character, Goldstein said he grew an attachment to the role and “just started to think I could play Roy.”
#Emmys
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On This Day in 1953, Jonas Salk Announced His Polio Vaccine —
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Michael Jackson's 1993 Super Bowl performance marked the first time network ratings went up during halftime.
#SuperBowl
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Despite persistent rumors that he might be immortal, today is Keanu Reeves' 55th birthday. So let's pay tribute to the actor, musician, and poet...
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Michael Jackson's 1993 Super Bowl performance marked the first time network ratings went up during halftime.
#SuperBowl
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Homosexuality was still classified as an illness in Sweden in 1979. Swedes protested by calling in sick to work, claiming they felt gay.
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Michael Jackson's 1993 Super Bowl performance marked the first time network ratings went up during halftime.
#SuperBowl
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"Love makes your soul crawl out from its hiding place." —Zora Neale Hurston, who was born on this day in 1891
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Oh to be a little tree frog sittin' in a bottle cap full of water.
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"There is no terror in the bang, only in the anticipation of it." —Alfred Hitchcock, who was born on August 13, 1899
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Bikini designer Louis Reard said a two-piece bathing suit couldn't be called a bikini "unless it could be pulled through a wedding ring."
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The
@TowerOfLondon
Welcomes New Baby Ravens for the First Time in 30 Years — (And
@ravenmaster1
is pleased as punch!)
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In 1972, jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald was the first African American woman to sing during the halftime show.
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Katy Perry and the infamous Left Shark's halftime show at Super Bowl XLIX drew even more viewers than the game itself. Her performance was watched by 120.7 million people, making it the most watched halftime show ever.
#SuperBowl
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Michael Jackson's 1993 Super Bowl performance marked the first time network ratings went up during halftime.
#SuperBowl
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Since residents of Seoul can’t exactly enjoy the sight of ocean waves breaking on the shore during their lunch hour, a design house is bringing them the next best thing: An enormous screen that plays realistic waves on a loop in the middle of the city.
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Happy
#NationalBossDay
to the best boss a Northeastern Pennsylvania-based mid-size paper company has ever seen.
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"God gave us mouths that close and ears that don't. That should tell us something." —Eugene O'Neill, who was born on this day in 1888
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Scenes from the buddy comedy
@BillGates
and
@RealJohnGreen
filmed in Ethiopia —
http://t.co/zAzYQKC8CG
http://t.co/UumshZrD5O
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The city of Melbourne, Australia assigned trees email addresses so citizens could report problems. Instead, people wrote thousands of love letters to their favorite trees.
#OpeningCeremony
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In case you're wondering: The Windsor Grey Horses pulling that royal carriage are named Sir Basil, Tyrone, Milford Haven, and Storm.
#RoyalWedding
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Today's morning moment of zen brought to you by fluttering dragontail butterflies. 🦋
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Amazon has added a 'Samuel L. Jackson' voice option for Alexa.
What other celebrities would you like to see added to Alexa?
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We will be rewatching this video over and over again until further notice.
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Happy Be Nice to New Jersey Week! Why don't we go around the room and everyone say one nice thing to kick it off.
We'll start: The Garden State gave us Bruce Springsteen. We are thankful.
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On this date in 1942, Anne Frank received a diary for her 13th birthday.
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The Top Language in Each State Besides English and Spanish —
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Today’s moment of zen: a boy and his porcupine best friend. 🧡
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When Hattie McDaniel became the first black artist to win an
#Oscar
in 1940, she was seated at a segregated table at the back of the room.
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His name is Wandi. And we are melting. 14/10
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No, this isn't a Disney movie. This is a real herd of deer relaxing among some cherry blossom trees in Nara, Japan. 🌸😌
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The Fonz is 75 years old today!
Happy birthday to the coolest guy to ever drink a glass of water with one hand, Henry Winkler.
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"Forgive your enemies, but never forget their names." —John F. Kennedy, who was born 100 years ago today
#JFK100
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"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." —Douglas Adams, who was born on this day in 1952
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Today's moment of zen is brought to you by smol frolicking raccoons in a field of flowers. 🥺
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The Washington Post Style Guide Now Accepts Singular ‘They’ —
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'Theater Mode' Could Be Coming Soon to an iPhone Near You —
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