![Jesse Owens (right) starting the 100-meter sprint at the 1936 Olympic Games—which he would go on to win. Jesse Owens (right) starting the 100-meter sprint at the 1936 Olympic Games—which he would go on to win.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3072,h_1728,x_0,y_139/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/mentalfloss/01j2kq2j4c754s9kv3rd.jpg)
![Tim Brinkhof Tim Brinkhof](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_180,ar_1:1,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/f8b362a4-cefb-408a-a0bb-0683452e40c7_(3)_(1)-b6ec5803f11439e1828b402bd7743586.jpg)
Tim Brinkhof
Joined: Jul 19, 2023
Tim Brinkhof is a Dutch journalist based in the U.S. who has written about art and history for Vox, Vulture, Esquire, Big Think, and more.
![Jesse Owens (right) starting the 100-meter sprint at the 1936 Olympic Games—which he would go on to win. Jesse Owens (right) starting the 100-meter sprint at the 1936 Olympic Games—which he would go on to win.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_3072,h_1728,x_0,y_139/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/mentalfloss/01j2kq2j4c754s9kv3rd.jpg)
![Three human-like figures and a large pig are drawn on a limestone cave wall. Three human-like figures and a large pig are drawn on a limestone cave wall.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2500,h_1406,x_0,y_308/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/mentalfloss/01j1th6jxgec18yyaf34.jpg)
A 51,200-Year-Old Cave Painting Might Be the World’s Oldest Narrative Art
![Detail of a diorama of a Neanderthal mother and child at the Moravian Provincial Museum in Brno, Czech Republic. Detail of a diorama of a Neanderthal mother and child at the Moravian Provincial Museum in Brno, Czech Republic.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1280,h_720,x_0,y_40/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/mentalfloss/01j1anghk1hqn2nvbtqn.jpg)
Neanderthals Cared for a Child with Down Syndrome
![Sir Ernest Shackleton stands on the deck of the ‘Quest’ before it left for Antarctica. Sir Ernest Shackleton stands on the deck of the ‘Quest’ before it left for Antarctica.](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_1024,h_576,x_0,y_91/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/voltaxMediaLibrary/mmsport/mentalfloss/01j06tpkybws9fwea5cx.jpg)
The ‘Quest,’ Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Last Ship, Has Been Found Off Eastern Canada
Meet the Toddler Who Earned the Guinness World Record as Youngest Male Artist
Ace-Liam Nana Sam Ankrah is not quite 2 years old, but he has already sold several works.
What Is a Gift Horse, and Why Shouldn’t You Look Inside Its Mouth?
Not looking a gift horse in the mouth means being thankful for a gift, even if you secretly wished for something better—and it originated long before the invention of cars.
“A House Divided Against Itself Cannot Stand”: Deciphering Lincoln’s Warning About Civil War
In his famous 1858 speech, Abraham Lincoln warned that only civil war would resolve the issue of slavery in the U.S. He wasn’t wrong.
Alaska’s Rivers Are Turning Orange, and Yeah, It’s Probably Climate Change
A new study shows that rusty discoloration in Alaska’s otherwise pristine streams and rivers is likely due to melting permafrost—and that’s a problem for Arctic animals and people.
Egypt’s Giza Pyramids Might Have Been Built Next To A Now-Vanished River
A recent study claims that the pyramids of Giza were constructed alongside an almost 40-mile long artery of the Nile river that no longer exists today.
“Have You No Sense of Decency?”: The Question That Took Down Senator Joe McCarthy
Joseph N. Welch is credited with bringing down the fearmongering Sen. Joseph McCarthy during a congressional hearing in 1954. But his famous plea has since taken on a life of its own.
Beethoven’s Hair Reveals He Suffered from Lead Poisoning
Researchers speculate that ingesting lead may have contributed to the famous composer’s hearing loss and other unexplained ailments.
‘T. rex’ Might Have Been as Smart as a Crocodile (But Not As Smart As We Thought)
Previously, a study suggested that the king of the dinosaurs was as intelligent as a primate. New data hints that this may not have been the case.
Is Water Wet? The Answer is Surprisingly Elusive
It depends on the properties of water, the definition of wetness, and whether you can trust when your senses inform you if something is wet or not.
Unlovable Sea Lampreys Might Share Our Fight-or-Flight Instinct
The alien-looking, bloodsucking fish have cells that may form the same rudimentary nervous system we have.
Missouri Lawmaker Aims to Bring Back Dueling
The history of political dueling in the U.S. doesn’t end with Hamilton and Burr.
16 Sailing Terms for Landlubbers
A handful of centuries-old sailing words remain known only to the saltiest of seamen, but some have become part of our everyday language.