Mental Floss: Misconceptions
Season 2025
A weekly show where the Mental Floss crew debunks popular misconceptions.
Where to Watch Season 2025
6 Episodes
- Misconceptions About the Oregon TrailE1
Misconceptions About the Oregon TrailIf you spent hours playing The Oregon Trail on the computer back in the day, there’s probably one sentence you’ve seen a lot: “You have died of dysentery.” But what are the things we get WRONG about the infamous trail? In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd debunks myths about the Oregon Trail. So grab your food, ammunition, and spare wagon parts, and let's get rolling. - Misconceptions About CookingE2
Misconceptions About CookingDoes searing a steak really lock in its juices? Will cast-iron pan be unusable if you wash it with dish soap? And what pasta water practices do you actually need to follow? In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd breaks down some myths about cooking, from the terrifying ordeal of cleaning a cast iron skillet to whether or not microwaves are as harmful as people say. Preheat the oven, grab your mixing bowl, and subscribe to Mental Floss on YouTube for new videos every week. - Misconceptions About AntarcticaE3
Misconceptions About AntarcticaThere are a lot of mysterious things about Earth’s icy continent, Antarctica. Like, why aren’t there any polar bears? In this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd takes a look at a few more misconceptions about Antarctica, from its alleged populations of bears to its current ownership. - Misconceptions About the CIAE4
Misconceptions About the CIAThe CIA is shrouded in mystery, but there are some things we do know about the agency, and many things we all get wrong. On this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd takes a closer look at some common myths and falsehoods about the CIA, or Central Intelligence Agency. If you were hoping for the Culinary Institute of America Misconceptions video, you’re just going to have to wait. - Misconceptions About the ArcticE6
Misconceptions About the ArcticPeople often confuse the Arctic with Antarctica. Both are cold and icy, but that’s basically where the similarities end. On this episode of Misconceptions, host Justin Dodd corrects some myths about the Arctic, from its wildly varying temperatures to its complete lack of a certain bird.