Mental Floss presents In the Beginning

From Big Hair to the Big Bang, mental_floss presents a Mouthwatering Guide to the Origins of Everything

de Will Pearson, Mangesh Hattikudur, Mary Carmichael

Sure, you know all about the birds and bees. But did Dad ever tell you that it wasn't a stork that put that shiny can opener in your kitchen drawer? Or paperclips started out as proud, Nazi-fighting warriors? And did he tell you how cruise control was originally conceived by a blind genius? From mullets to Silly Putty, lie detectors to karaoke, we've got the true stories behind everything you didn't think had stories. Because if you're looking for answers, In the Beginning is the place to start.