Mental Floss: List Show

It’s a new year, and that means it’s time to start planning your 2020 calendar. After this episode of The List Show, you’ll want to pencil in time to throw roasted soybeans at your uncle, take in the wonders of carved radishes, and recognize the majesty of the farm-raised catfish. Erin (@erincmccarthy) explains those holidays and more as she breaks down 18 Weird & Wonderful Holidays To Celebrate in The New Year.

Weird clubs like Project Steve and the Putney High Tide Club exist for perfectly logical reasons. Other strange groups and secret associations, on the other hand—from The Bohemian Club to the Extreme Ironing Bureau— are a bit harder to explain. Erin breaks down those unusual clubs and more in this episode of The List Show. You’ll learn the answer to pressing questions, like “How do I join the Luxuriant Flowing Hair Club for Scientists?” And “What goes on at the Bohemian Grove?” …Sort of. You’ll also find out why the membership requirements for the Association of Dead People aren’t quite what you might think. Spontaneous Brits and despondent architects will want to watch.

The List Show has been one our favorite projects here at Mental Floss since it debuted almost seven years ago. In this episode, we answer audience questions, from "How many facts have you shared?" to "What's your favorite silly fact?" Erin shares all that and more as she answers 16 audience questions about The List Show.

Predictions from the past for how we’d live today run the gamut from the outrageously far-fetched to the eerily accurate. In this episode of The List Show, Erin talks about predictions for the 21st century from sci-fi writers like Isaac Asimov and public figures like Benjamin Franklin. You’ll learn which inventor thought coffee would fall out of favor by the year 2000 and how certain futurists believed we would be able to control the weather. How did people think we'd live in the year 2000? What predictions from the past turned out to be true?

Weird laws can place restrictions on your game of beach bingo and dictate how you can (and can’t) handle salmon. The silly laws and unbelievable ordinances in this episode of The List Show will have you asking yourself, “Am I a hardened criminal?”

Scientists and inventors don’t have to be household names to have had a meaningful impact on the world. This episode of The List Show shares the contributions of 19 scientists who have been overlooked for too long. You’ll learn who developed the idea of evolution by natural selection at the same time as Charles Darwin and the identity of the first woman to fly in space. Erin shares scientists whose work was overlooked in their time, as well as celebrated scientists who we’ve forgotten about over the years.

Millennials are a generation that has been blamed for the death of the American shopping mall and the rise of social media. What myths are there about millennials, and what true conclusions can we draw about this much-criticized generation (sometimes known as Gen Y)? In this episode of The List Show, Erin shares 100 facts about millennials.

The feel-good stories and fun facts in this episode of The List Show will hopefully give you a reason to smile in stressful times. From poop pranks to inspiring historical stories to good old fashioned cute dogs and cats, this list is engineered to put a smile on your face. These days, we can all use some good news (even if it's from 150 years ago).

The 1920s: a decade of no alcohol, scantily clad flappers, and Mickey Mouse. Unfortunately, it turns out that everything we thought we knew ... was wrong. Find out the truth behind all of these myths, mistakes, and misconceptions about the roaring twenties.

Taxes raise a lot of questions: How do I pay my taxes? Why did tax day change this year? And most importantly: Can I deduct that 15-pound tub of body oil? Erin (@erincmccarthy) isn’t an accountant, but she’ll touch on those questions and more in our list of 25 fascinating tax facts. We’ll dive into the history of taxes, and tell you about the first tax on record. We’ll discuss some of the weirdest taxes ever, like the beard tax imposed by Peter the Great. And we’ll mention some celebrities (and at least one transcendentalist writer) who got in trouble for not paying taxes.

The 19th-century parenting tips shared in this video range from the logical to the ludicrous. You’ll learn why opium was such a popular remedy for children of the 1800s, and why it was once perfectly normal to put your baby in a cage hanging outside your kitchen window. Erin shares some advice that kept kids alive, and lots of other advice that was, let's say ... less successful.

It turns out, we're all totally misquoting William Shakespeare. Also, Jane Austen is probably not like the woman you're imagining in your head. And the story of Frankenstein... well, we just have that entire thing wrong. In this episode of Misconceptions, we're covering famous books and authors. It's time to rethink what you know about our most classic stories.

Have you heard about the psychologist who decided to raise his baby son alongside a chimpanzee? It didn’t go exactly as planned. This episode of The List Show is all about Experiments Gone Wrong, from the funny to the fatal. Erin shares well-thought-out experiments that just didn’t pan out as originally envisioned, alongside some truly harebrained schemes that probably never should’ve been tried.

Do you know about the priceless Picasso that was lost in an airplane crash? Or the sad fate of some fundamental fossils found outside of Beijing? This episode of The List Show is all about Priceless Things We’ve Lost Forever, from natural wonders lost to the ravages of time to impressionist paintings lost to the ravages of…an overzealous dorm master. Erin discusses sad moments in history when unique and valuable objects were destroyed by human beings, as well some really cool things that were just lost through happenstance. She even throws in one item that a museum nearly lost track of entirely, before it was triumphantly returned to its place in the historical record.

Do opposites really attract? Did Hallmark invent Valentine's Day? Is "love at first sight" actually a real thing? If you've ever asked yourself any of these heartbreaking questions, you're in the right place.

Fart facts are like farts themselves: incredibly varied, potentially inconvenient, and not something you want to make a mistake with. Erin discusses the history of farts, from tasty Tudor-era cuisine to scientific research into the volume of a fart (you’ll have to watch the video to find out whether or not you could fit an average fart into a travel-sized toiletry bottle). Farts are also discussed as a medium for artistic expression and a topic of political debate. You’ll learn about “The Crazy Toot Trial” and discover that James Joyce really didn’t mind a bit of flatulence.

Do you know about the island that's off-limits because of its deadly snake population? Or the impenetrable vault that supposedly holds the secret Coca-Cola recipe? This episode of The List Show is all about Forbidden Places that humans are strictly barred from visiting. Some are forbidden to protect secrets, and others are forbidden to protect humans from an unseemly fate. Erin is here to help you explore all the places in the world that you can't explore in person. If you've ever wondered how close you can get to the Chernobyl reactor site, you're in the right place.

What happens if you die in your dream? How does one have a "lucid dream"? And was my mom right when she told me not to eat cheese before bed or I would have some really funky dreams? In this episode of Misconceptions, we're talking about those strange (and sometimes scary) movies that play in our heads at night. Let's debunk all of those false myths you've heard throughout your life. Join host Justin Dodd in an endless pursuit of the truth.

Conspiracy theories don’t always lend themselves to rational, unbiased information, but that won’t stop us from discussing 17 Facts About Conspiracy Theories in this episode of The List Show. Erin shares some conspiracy theories that turned out to be true, along with some of the factors that can give rise to a new conspiracy theory. For more conspiracy theory fun (without the tin foil hat) check out our article all about historical conspiracy theories: mentalfloss.com/article/588240/historical-conspiracy-theories

Do you know about the inventor who disappeared along with the lighthouse he designed? Or the daredevil whose contraptions vaulted him to fame and then cut his life short? This episode of The List Show is all about the sad but fascinating stories of inventors killed by their own inventions. Erin discusses inventors like Thomas Midgley, Jr. and Harry Smolinski, and tries to separate fact from fiction in the story of Thomas Andrews and the RMS Titanic.

Can you guess which of these iconic moments are a myth? Paul Revere screaming on horseback, The Pilgrims landing at Plymouth Rock, or the Founding Fathers signing the Declaration of Independence on July 4th. It turns out, the answer is ... all of them. Yikes. 'Misconceptions' is back with an all-new episode that will destroy and rebuild your perception of Colonial America. Join host Justin Dodd in an endless pursuit of the truth.

Who was Dolly Parton talking to when she wrote “I Will Always Love You?” And which power pop ballad was originally written for a vampire musical? You'll learn the answers to those questions and more as Erin discusses the unlikely origins of 12 popular songs. This episode of The List Show dives into the strange stories behind pop songs, from the real-life tragedies that led to catchy tunes to the time an imperfect translation gave Britney Spears a hit. In case you forgot, The List Show is a trivia-tastic, fact-filled show for curious people.

Facts about puberty can be a little like puberty itself: difficult to understand and a little uncomfortable for everyone involved. In this episode of The List Show, Erin McCarthy endeavors to share cringe-free facts about puberty that will teach you a little bit about sexual maturation and development without once uttering the phrase “the birds and the bees.” Erin discusses the many way animals can change during puberty and discusses a syndrome that can cause delayed or even absent puberty in human beings.

Do planes really fly themselves? Is turbulence dangerous? Can you (or your intestines) get sucked into an airplane toilet? These are the important questions we all ask ourselves as your plane leaves the tarmac (which, by the way, isn't called the tarmac). Let's get into it. Planes are a marvel of modern technology, but when you're on one, they can often feel like terrifying metal deathtraps. Let's break down the most common myths and misconceptions about flying.

Facts about Earth can touch on geology, biology, and astronomy, among many other subjects. The surprising Earth facts in this episode of The List Show will hopefully give you a little more appreciation (and many more fun facts) about our planet. Erin shares a whole lot of facts about the planet Earth, from the etymology of the word earth to weird gravitational anomalies (and the reasons behind them). You’ll learn which type of organism makes up the majority of life on Earth, and which planet inspired albums by Joe Walsh and Marvin Gaye (hint: it isn’t Mars).

What are the real-life origins of urban legends? Why are there so many stories about babysitters in distress? And how did a real human corpse end up on display at an amusement park haunted house? Erin breaks down the origins of the Mothman and the Goatman, along with some scary stories you probably heard at a sleepover at some point in your life.

What's the difference between depression and sadness? How do antidepressants work? And do ALL therapists wear tweed jackets? Depression is a mental illness that affects millions of people, so let's try our best to really understand it. Time to break down some common myths and misconceptions about mental illness.

Cryptids, or animals that have been claimed to exist without proof of their existence, span the globe. From world-famous sea beasts like the Loch Ness Monster to more obscure creatures like the Mongolian Death Worm, these stories have popped up over the years in many cultures. Why are there so many questionable claims about the existence of apemen around the world? How do stories of cryptids spread and mutate over time? And if you’re a disobedient kid, how do you make sure you don’t get eaten by a rougarou? Erin explains 22 cryptids, from the Pope Lick Monster to chupacabras.

Does the word "irregardless" send a shiver down your spine? Does poor grammar *literally* drive you up a wall? You'll want to watch this episode of The List Show, all about notables English language mistakes. Erin dives into everyday errors and once-in-a-lifetime mistakes, from a copy of the Bible that proved costly for two printers to tricky homophones that pique your interest.

Medieval Europe was a glorious epoch of jousting, feasting, and poor hygiene. Right? Well, as it turns out, we might not understand the Middle Ages as well as we think we do. Let's rethink this pivotal time in world history. 'Misconceptions' is back with an all-new episode that will challenge your perception of the Middle Ages to a deadly jousting match. Or... something like that.

From partially-drawn presidential portraits to an entire castle that was never completed, this episode of The List Show is all about interesting projects that never quite came to be. You'll learn about the man who tried to give new meaning to the term "ghostwriting" and find out what happened to the Cincinnati subway. Erin shares tales of unfinished novels, buildings, and more. Some projects still have hope of being completed, while others have been lost forever.

Canola oil doesn't come from a canola plant. There's no such thing. In fact, "canola" is an acronym. It's one of 25 acronyms and initialisms that you may not have even known existed, so let's get into it. Justin breaks down all of these words-within-words for you on this episode of The List Show. If you have an idea for a future episode of The List Show, throw it in the comments below ASAP (that's an acronym joke).

Will listening to Mozart make your baby smarter? How about playing them some educational DVDs? Turns out, there might be a bit more to helping your baby become the next Einstein. Join Justin in an endless pursuit of the truth in this all-new episode of Misconceptions. Today we break down some myths and misconceptions about our favorite tiny humans, babies.

Interesting facts about science, math, and much more comprise this episode of The List Show. You’ll learn fun 2020 facts about archeological discoveries and the world of entertainment. You'll glean insights from cutting-edge research in a number of fields as Erin lays out 100 interesting facts we learned this year. Glowing newts and gene-manipulating scientists will want to watch. You’ll learn more than you wanted to know about cow poop and less than you wanted to know about life on Mars. This 2020 rewind focuses on the steps human beings continue to take in advancing our understanding of the world around us.