To celebrate the arrival of autumn, as they every year, the big animals of the Oregon Zoo (previously) enjoy the yummy treat of specially grown pumpkins. The resident elephants certainly were no exception. The giant pachyderms were invited to squash the living daylights out of 1,200 pounds of orange gourds…
The Origins of 22 Anecdotal Cryptozoological Animals
Mental Floss host Erin McCarthy explains the origins of 22 different cryptozoological animals from folklore, rumor and hearsay. These anecdotal animals are known as cryptids. Among the various cryptids that McCarthy analyzes are the Loch Ness Monster, the Olgoï-Khorkhoï (Mongolian Death Worm), Am Fear Liath Mòr (The Big Gray), The…
How Thousands of Independent Feet Work Together to Allow a Starfish to Uniquely Gallop Towards Its Prey
In a briny episode of the KQED series Deep Look, narrator Laura Klivans explains how starfish are able to function without a brain. Instead, starfish have thousands of ampulae that are connected to tubefeet. These thousands of tubefeet allow the starfish to sniff out and capture prey. They also allow…
How Different Cultures and Languages Tell Time
Joshua Rudder of the animated language series NativLang explains how different cultures and different languages interpret time. Because time is a human construct, there is no one right way to tell it. It can vary according to geography, tradition, and circumstances. Those who live near the equator use the reliability…
Japanese Store Installs Glass Panels In Ceiling For Resident Cats to Safely Watch From Above
A shopkeeper in Japan installed glass panels into the ceiling of their store so that the resident bodega cats can have an overhead view of the customers from a safe distance. (translated) When a friend modified the ceiling of the store for a cat, it was monitored. ???????????????????????????????? pic.twitter.com/rrHZjb9TkE —…
A Fascinating Documentary Short That Takes an Inside Look Into the Newly Redesigned NYC Live Subway Map
“The Map” is a short documentary by filmmaker Gary Hustwit (previously) that takes a fascinating look into the newly launched, technologically forward New York City Live Subway Map. Filmmaker Gary Hustwit documents the process as digital agency Work & Co creates a new “live map” — one that updates in…
Dublin Grocery Store Installs Glass Floor So Customers Can View an 11th Century Home Located Underneath
While a Lidl discount grocery store in Dublin, Ireland was being built, archaeologists discovered the remains of an 11th century medieval home that once stood in its place. Instead of razing the lot, the store decided to preserve the remains and share this wonderful discovery with its customers. The archeologists…
A Wobbly Rescued Baby Wombat Tentatively Explores the Living Room Couch in Her New Home
View this post on Instagram A post shared by @brindabella_the_wombat on Oct 25, 2020 at 9:20pm PDT An adorably wobbly rescued baby wombat named Uschi (Ursulah) tentatively explored the living room couch that she shares with a generous human from ACT Wildlife in Canberra, Australia. The little marsupial had never…