Why do you keep waking up at exactly 3 AM? How did one handwritten note empty a national bank of nearly $1 billion? Can a car really jump over a semi truck? Mustard digs up the real answers, checks every fact, and explains it all in a few minutes.
Most viral lists of crazy American laws are full of myths. These ones are real: Kentucky officials swear they've never fought a duel, Wisconsin restaurants can't swap your butter for margarine, California's frog jumping law…
Three stops that show what Mustard Explains is all about. Follow the trail.
Stop 1 of 3
Our biggest deep dive: scams, heists and forgeries that relied on brains, not force.
Start HereStop 2 of 3
Ten facts that start at the Sun and end at the edge of the universe.
Next StopStop 3 of 3
Real American laws that sound made up, from duel oaths to a county that protects Bigfoot.
Last StopThings everyone “knows” that turn out to be wrong.
Ripping the tag off your mattress is against the law.
The law is aimed at sellers. Once you own the mattress, you can tear the tag right off.
See the StoryIf the Sun vanished, Earth would go dark instantly.
Sunlight takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach us, so the sky would look normal for over eight minutes.
See the StoryEveryone notices when you embarrass yourself.
In a famous study, students in an embarrassing T-shirt guessed half the room noticed. The real number was closer to a quarter.
See the StoryTesla's new Roadster can fly.
It jumps and flips using compressed-air thrusters, but the air runs out in seconds. It can't stay in the sky.
See the StoryThose viral lists of crazy American laws are all true.
Many are made up. Real ones do exist, like Kentucky officials swearing they've never fought a duel.
See the Story
How We Make Each StoryMost “fun facts” online are half true. Every story here starts with a real question, gets checked against real sources, and is explained the way you'd tell a friend.
You think you understand how big space is. You don't. Nobody does. This playlist is here to help, a little.
Watch the PlaylistSome of the most important things ever invented happened by mistake. This playlist tells their stories.
Watch the PlaylistThe week's biggest, weirdest and most interesting stories, squeezed into one show. The Weekly Squeeze is Mustard Explains' weekly news show.
Watch the PlaylistThe headlines say one thing. The facts usually say something a little different. This playlist explains the difference.
Watch the PlaylistSome criminals are geniuses. Some are spectacularly not. This playlist has both. True Crime & Heists is Mustard Explains' collection of real,…
Watch the PlaylistWeird, surprising and 100% true. This is the playlist for anyone who loves saying "wait, really?" Crazy Facts is the Mustard Explains mix of our most…
Watch the PlaylistYour brain is running a lot of the show without asking you first. This playlist shows you how it works, and how to use that to your advantage.
Watch the PlaylistBig questions answered in under a minute.
Why You Can't Pump Your Own Gas in New Jersey ⛽ #shorts
Kentucky Officials Swear They've Never Fought a Duel 🔫 #shorts
Burglar Went to Police to Get His Phone Back 📞 #shorts
Wanted Man Sent Police a 'Better Photo' 🤳 #shorts
This World Series Makes History No Matter Who Wins 🏆 #shorts
Baseball’s Longest Active Drought Could End This Year 📅 #shorts
The Cubs Waited 108 Years to Win a World Series 🐐 #shorts
The Brewers Have NEVER Won a World Series ⚾ #shorts
Fugitive Asked Why He Wasn't on the Most Wanted List 📱 #shorts
He Checked Facebook During a Burglary 💻 #shorts
Thieves Stole a $3 Million Painting… It Was Fake 🖼️#shorts
He Tried to Steal the Crown Jewels and Got Rewarded 👑 #shorts
They Stole a 100kg Gold Coin… on a Skateboard 🪙
They Tunneled Into the Wrong Building… a KFC 🍗 #shorts
He Robbed a Bank, Then Deposited the Money 🏧 #shorts
He Robbed the Bank Across From the Police Station 🚓 #shorts
The Podcast
Every week, Mustard picks the weirdest, biggest and most interesting stories of the week and explains them simply. Around 15 minutes, perfect for a commute.
Play the Latest EpisodeThe short version of questions people ask us most.
About 8 minutes and 20 seconds to cross roughly 150 million kilometers. You always see the Sun as it was a few minutes ago.
Full StoryNot really. Compressed-air thrusters built with SpaceX let it jump and flip over obstacles, but the air runs out in seconds, so it can't stay in the sky.
Full StoryYes, in New Jersey, where it's been the law since 1949. Since Oregon loosened its ban in 2023, it's the only state left with a full ban.
Full StoryThe feeling that everyone notices your mistakes. In one study, people in an embarrassing T-shirt guessed half the room noticed; it was closer to a quarter.
Full StoryMake the first step tiny. Put on your gym shoes instead of planning a workout, or write one sentence instead of a book. Starting is the hard part.
Full StoryIn 1982. They swept the two-time defending champion Dodgers to get back in 2026, and they've never won a title in 57 seasons.
Full StoryAn explainer channel and website that answers big questions in a few minutes, hosted by Mustard, a curious round yellow character in a hoodie.
Yes. Each story is researched from news reports, court records, scientific papers and official data. When a popular fact turns out to be a myth, we say so.
New videos and Shorts go up every week on YouTube, and each long video gets its own story here.
No. Sleep and health stories are general information. If something is worrying you, talk to a doctor.
Please do. Use the Ask Mustard box on the homepage; many videos start as a reader's question.
For collaborations, sponsorships or press, use the contact page and pick the reason that fits.
