Mental Floss: List Show

Do you know what the Boy Scouts have to do with barcodes? Or how Mother Nature inspired the creator of Velcro? The interesting origins of household items may surprise (and, at times, even horrify) you. Erin shares the unusual origins of everyday items, from the air conditioner to saccharin.

The amazing coincidences in this episode of The List Show are drawn from the worlds of astronomy, politics, literature, and more. We've got well-known historical coincidences like the day John Adams and Thomas Jefferson passed away, along with some lesser-known (or less-considered) coincidences. You'll learn why dinosaurs didn't enjoy total solar eclipses and find out that Galileo had an idiosyncratic (and let's just say it, kind of annoying) way of communicating with his science buddies.

Some of the sickest burns in history have been delivered by writers, but in this episode of The List Show we also cover historic insults from a famous actress, a pop star, and even a Valentine's Day card (sort of). Would-be lover-boys and aspiring film critics will want to watch. You'll learn what Truman Capote said to a man who revealed a bit too much of himself and find out why you didn't want Dorothy Parker penning your eulogy.

Unsolved crimes are exhaustively covered throughout the media, but we have an inkling we'll share at least one unsolved crime from history in this episode that you're not familiar with. From unsolved art heists to mysterious crimes committed against (or by?) royals, you'll be wishing for a 17th century Robert Stack.

The term UFO has become a catch-all for any unidentifiable aerial phenomenon. Floating lights in the sky, strange readings on aircraft radars, and supposed sightings of little green men on the side of the road. How long have humans been seeing things in the sky? You'll learn about the time the White House had a close run-in with UFOs, the origin of the phrase "flying saucer," and the truth behind the UFO sightings in Roswell, New Mexico.

These adorable animals will steal your heart (and possibly your life). Jaida Elcock takes us on a tour of some cute-but-fearsome creatures. You'll learn to respect moose and find out why the blue-ringed octopus is best admired from afar.

No list of paradoxes would be complete without the liars paradox and the Ship of Theseus. But what about Hilbert's paradox of the Grand Hotel, or the sorites paradox? Erin breaks down 9 mind-melting paradoxes in this episode of The List Show, from visual tricks to irresolvable thought experiments.

This episode of The List Show features some of the unluckiest people in history, from baseball grabbers to lottery losers. You'll learn why Roy Sullivan had a hard time maintaining a good head of hair and find out that inventing the saxophone was just one unbelievable moment in the life of Adolphe Sax.

A titanic list of Titanic facts in honor of the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Erin, who has seen the 1997 Titanic film more times than a person should probably admit, shares everything you could want to know about the Titanic, from who was on board to what they ate to how they did (or didn't) manage to survive. You'll learn facts about the Titanic disaster, the media it inspired, and the real-life plans for a Titanic II.

The battles that changed history we cover in this episode of The List Show include some of the usual suspects, like the Battle of Yorktown. But Erin also covers battles that changed history in more unexpected ways, from the World War II engagement that helped instigate a medical breakthrough to the devastating attack that indirectly contributed to the Renaissance.

This list of random facts bounces around from history to science, pop culture to geography. You'll bone up on your trivia and maybe even be inspired to Google why Poland was once partitioned out of existence.

The historical life hacks Erin covers in this episode of The List Show might not cure your head cold or provide a palatable use for stale bread, but you'll at least have to award some points for creativity. You'll learn about toast water and questionable laundry methods, and of course find out that people were recommending cocaine for ... something. These historical life hacks are mostly better left in the past, but we're brining a couple into the present.

Conspiracy theories aren't a modern phenomenon. In fact, some fascinating (if less than convincing) conspiracies have been circulating for thousands of years. Was Queen Elizabeth I a man? Are we leaving in the year 1722? The answers may be obvious, but the stories behind them are interesting and illuminating.

The uncracked codes in this episode of The List Show include the famous (or infamous?) Voynich Manuscript, the slightly lesser-known Beale Ciphers, and some unsolved potential codes with real implications for criminal justice. Voynich Manuscript-obsessive Erin McCarthy shares those moments from the history of cryptography and more. You'll learn how famous cryptanalysts feel about some of the most vexing uncracked codes in history and why Kevin James may be a secret cryptography enthusiast.

Watch this video at your own risk. We've got 15 unfortunate facts that you may end up wishing you'd never learned (we could certainly have gone our whole lives without learning about anesthesia awareness.) Erin shares 15 fascinating, but potentially regrettable, facts. You'll learn about the parasites that call your face home and how a real-life Finding Nemo would've been much less family-friendly. Recreational swimmers and cruise ship enthusiasts will want to (or not want to?) watch.

The deadliest toys ever made include "what were they thinking?" oddities like a children's laboratory kit that included uranium; but other, more seemingly innocuous recreational offerings, make the list—including the Slip 'N Slide and trampolines. You'll learn why you should always heed the age limits printed on toy packaging, wonder why lawn darts ever seemed like a good idea, and hear about an awful incident in Victorian England that may have helped inspire future safety reforms.

Amelia Earhart may be the most famous explorer who got lost, but she's hardly the only one. Lost explorers from history include Roald Amundsen, who led historic (successful) expeditions before disappearing, and Raleigh Rimmel, who may have been looking for a city that didn't even exist.

The planet Venus has been called "Earth's evil twin." It spins "backwards" compared to most planets in our solar system, it's hot enough melt lead, and yet it's the destination for two upcoming NASA missions. The facts about Venus you'll learn in this episode of The List Show cover interesting science, unbelievable history, and even some art. These Venus facts will hopefully have you appreciating the Morning Star (and understanding that erroneous nickname) a little bit.

These animals, no matter how terrifying, have something wholesome in store. Jaida Elcock shows us some creepy-but-cute creatures. You'll learn what makes scary scorpions so sweet, and find out why the some sharks should be loved instead of feared.

Animal sex is as natural as anything can be. Two flatworms engage in a spirited round of penis fencing before one gets hypodermically inseminated against its will; a male antechinus takes part in a marathon sex session leading to its imminent demise; a giraffe checks in with a potential mate's urine to make some important reproductive decisions. In this episode of The List Show, Erin shares facts about animal sex that leave you better informed and perhaps unwilling to make eye contact with your cat.

Spite may not be a productive impulse for emotional well-being, but it's been oddly productive in creating businesses, buildings, and even some new paint pigments. In this episode of The List Show, Erin shares 17 odd things done out of spite from Connie Mack's Spite Fence to the Ford GT40.

Many of the animals living in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone are not only surviving, but thriving, despite their hazardous environment. In the years since the nuclear disaster, these radioactive rodents, experimental equines, and mutated mutts are returning to nature against all odds. In this episode of The List Show, host Erin McCarthy shares some fun facts about the animals of Chernobyl.

The unusual words in this episode of The List Show will make a strong case to enter your vocabulary immediately. You'll learn a great archaic word used to describe a coward and some foreign terms that can't quite be translated into English.

Mass hysteria is a very real phenomenon with very hard to identify causes. Whether an entire town can't stop dancing or people suddenly start worrying about minor marks on their windshields, these seemingly unbelievable events have had some surprising (and sometimes devastating) effects.

This perspective-warping episode of The List Show will make you reassess time. You'll learn about how Cleopatra is more modern than you may think, how relatively recent the guillotine is, and that your favorite dinosaur species probably weren't friends.

Interesting facts about science, math, and much more comprise this episode of The List Show. You’ll learn fun 2022 facts about archeological discoveries and the world of entertainment. You'll glean insights from cutting-edge research in a number of fields as Erin (@erincmccarthy) lays out 100 interesting facts we learned this year.