Authors' Archives and Bios

Charlotte Huff

Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is an award-winning journalist and social media fanatic currently living in Brooklyn, New York.

Courtney Humphries

Sean Hutchinson

Term Life Insurance

Travel Insurance

David K. Israel

David is one of the founding bloggers of mentalfloss.com. He's also an author, multi-media journalist, composer, teacher and film maker.

articles

The Guardian's "Open Journalism"

One of the more exciting things I learned at SXSW this past week was how The Guardian has launched a new "Open Journalism" approach to reporting. That is: journalism that encourages the input of the average bystander. With technology that allows anyone with a smartphone to report the news, first-hand, the common man often has a lot to contribute - to help shape the news. In the paper's own words: A man dies at the heart of a protest: a reporter wants to discover the truth. A journalist is seeking to... READ ON

articles

Dr. Visually's Automagical Facebook Monsterizer

I've been at SXSW the past week, so my next few posts will be about _flossy things I've discovered down there that you probably don't know about yet. First up, Dr. Visually's Automagical Facebook Monsterizer. With a name like that, you're already hooked, n'est–ce pas? It's a fun info graphic generator that uses your Facebook profile/data to produce a cool monster that presents things like, your top status update of all-time, your most popular photo, your top friends, a map of the world showing where... READ ON

lists

10 Outstanding Outdoor Spaces from Around the World

Because I'm married to an architect, I'm constantly sent links to wonderful architectural spaces and designs. Lately, I've been bookmarking them in groups. Below are my 10 favorite outdoor spaces collected over the last months. The only criteria for making this list: 1) The design must include some public, outdoor space. 2) Said space must be someplace I'd really want to hang out at and take my own photos. In the meantime, I give you these. Have you ever visited any of these places, especially the ones... READ ON

lists

10 Crazy Confusing Traffic Signs

It's all fun and games until someone loses their mind! These road signs are enough to make anyone stop and scratch their head. Have a favorite? Let us know in the comments below! 1. Take a right at... READ ON

lists

7 Different Types of Pizza From Around the World

We may debate which country invented pizza, but there's no denying that it's one of the most popular foods found throughout the world. The word pizza, which comes from the word pita, means 'pie.' So be careful: calling it a pizza pie is sort of like saying "I'll have the soup de jour of the day." The below list is by no means exhaustive. It's just meant to drop a little knowledge on you about some of the more popular permutations found in different regions of the world. 1. Lahma Bi Ajeen This scrumptious... READ ON

lists

10 Adorable Needle Feltings

I discovered the absolutely adorable needle feltings of Kit Lane via pokate.com and knew I had to post some of them here. When someone needle felts a huge Jabba the Hut, it's instant love over here. Have a favorite? Let us know in the comments below! And be sure to visit Kit Lane's flickr and... READ ON

lists

13 Scrumptious Miniatures

It's the little things in life... sometimes, right? If you agree, be sure to check out these 13 amazing miniatures by Kim Burke! And for her complete collection visit her at Etsy, deviantART,... READ ON

lists

The 9 Best Angelina Jolie Legs

It's official! Angelina Jolie's leg has itself a meme complete with more than 30,000 followers, @AngiesRightLeg, and a place for fans to get in on the fun with their own user-submitted pics on angelinajolieing.tumblr.com. But we know how busy you all are, so we've done the curating for you. Below, you'll find the Top 9 legs from the blog, with our stamp of... READ ON

articles

Peugeot's Paper Play: Just Add Fuel

If you live across the pond, you've likely seen the below Peugeot "Just Add Fuel" commercial (or should I say advert?). In all my years blogging for the _floss, I don't believe I've ever posted a bonafide commercial. That speaks to how impressed I was with this one. I've always felt like the U.K. does advertising better than we do - much better. But this is a whole other level of better. The following was created entirely out of paper by London designer Kyle Bean and director Joseph Mann. Check out... READ ON

lists

15 Unusual Beds

From a Millennium Falcon bed to a mousetrap bed (which just might be my favorite on the list!), here's 15 beds that will keep you up at night wishing you had cooler sleeping arrangements. Have a favorite of your own? Let us know in the comments... READ ON

Pages

Avi Isseroff

AJ Jacobs

Dave Jamieson

Erika Janik

Betsy Johns

Victoria Johnson

Victoria Johnson is a GIS analyst/cartographer in Washington, DC.

Nathan Johnson

Eric Johnson

Eric Johnson is a history major at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. As a child, he wanted to be a pirate, Jedi, and/or velociraptor.

Casey Johnston

Casey Johnston, born of Albany, NY, is a 22-year old female student at Columbia University majoring in Applied Physics. Weird, right? All the boys in her classes think so too.

Mark Juddery

Mark Juddery is a Australian writer and journalist who, having worked for some prestigious journals in the past, has been allowed to add "historian" to his job title (which sounds pretty important).

articles

5 Classic Movie Moments That Weren't in the Script

Here are five great unscripted scenes that our movie memories couldn't do without. 1. Beginning a beautiful... READ ON

lists

8 Miraculous Super-Hero Resurrections

In recent months, some popular comic-book super-heroes "“ including Batman, the Martian Manhunter and the Wasp "“ have died in the line of duty. Yeah, right. Death means nothing for super-heroes, who have a habit of returning to life in various inventive ways. Here are some of the most memorable examples. 1. Lightning... READ ON

lists

7 Great Oscar Night Surprises

Every year during Oscar season, you can always safely guess one thing: Before the awards are presented, critics will complain about how predictable the Oscars are. But while every year seems to have a few obvious results, you do get the occasional shocker. Take the 1996 awards, for example, when Lauren Bacall was expected to be named Best Supporting Actress because, frankly, she was getting old. Instead, young Juliette Binoche's name was announced, which was a problem, because she hadn't even... READ ON

lists

10 People We Lost in 2008 (Who Are Worth Remembering)

At the end of each year, the media reflects on the famous people who died over the past 12 months. This year's notable losses include Paul Newman, Edmund Hillary, Tim Russert and Arthur C. Clarke. But many others have been ignored by most news outlets. Here are ten more people who passed away in 2008 who are certainly worth remembering, including a Civil War widow, the world's oldest blogger and the man behind the McMuffin. 1. Irena Sandler: Cunning War... READ ON

lists

9 Other Things That Happened Christmas Day

1. Lots of Notable People Were Born For at least 1,656 years, Jesus's birthday has been celebrated on Christmas day. As a result, those born on December 25 have complained that they only get one set of gifts each year. At least they have some good company. Christmas day is also the birthday of (among many other notables) scientist Isaac Newton, cosmetics tycoon Helena Rubenstein, Egypitian president Anwar Sadat, and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan. It is also the birthday of several... READ ON

lists

5 Vastly Overrated Historical Events

Many events live on in history for their greatness and significance. And some of those events, quite frankly, don't deserve all the fuss. When writing the book Busted! The 50 Most Overrated Things in History, I discovered a few such events. Here are five of my favorites. 1. The Signing of the Magna Carta The legend goes that, after King John of England was forced to sign The Magna Carta ("Great Charter") in 1215, he (and his successors) could no longer ride roughshod over their... READ ON

lists

8 Great TV Christmas Specials (But Not The Ones You're Probably Thinking)

As Christmas approaches, there is one thing on which we can always rely, year after year: festive television specials. For those who are tired of cute Christmas episodes where everyone from the Brady Bunch to Buffy the Vampire Slayer gets into the festive spirit, or don't need to see yet another broadcast of the much-loved Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, here is some alternative Christmas programming, with clips that are definitely worth watching this holiday season. 1. Dragnet "“ The Big... READ ON

lists

10 Uncanny Sets of Birth Twins

Blame astrology, numerology or just coincidence—some people who share a birthdate have more in common than the day they were born. Witness the following 10 sets of birth twins. 1. Charles Darwin and Abraham Lincoln (February 12,... READ ON

lists

7 More Superpowers The World Can Do Without

In August, I revealed some of the more obscure superpowers of comic book heroes and villains over the years. The list attracted plenty of comments from people who named other ridiculous superhero powers, inspiring me to write a sequel. Here are seven more powers bestowed on superheroes "“ not just in comic books, but also on television "“ that should be remembered. 1. The Power to Stop Timepieces A forgotten character from the Golden Age of comic books, Mister Midnite first appeared in... READ ON

lists

5 TV Shows that Predicted the Future

Sitting around watching television might not be as useless as you think. Certain shows have been remarkably accurate in their forecasts of the future. The list suggests that British TV producers are far more prophetic than their American counterparts. But that's OK; when someone invents Warp Drive, I'll revise the list. 1. The Troubleshooters... READ ON

Pages

James Kakalios

Kevin Kampwirth

Miss Kathleen

articles

At the Libraries: Cheating at Where's Waldo?

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a comment! First off, I have to know: Did you see The Hunger Games?! Please oh please let me know if you liked it. I can't decide if I want to spend the $10 or not. * Ah, the written word: it's so inspiring. In fact, it inspired a cool-looking exhibit at the Galway City Museum. Anyone near Ireland who wants to take a look-see for... READ ON

articles

At the Libraries: Library Memes

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a comment! Happy Hunger Games Week! Are you going to see it? Hope you already have tickets -- advance sales are record-setting! * Bye-bye Britannica! Will you miss it? * Remember when we learned about the Espresso self-publishing machine? Well, guess which oh-so-hip borough's public library has its very own? Brooklyn, you've... READ ON

articles

At the Libraries: No Donations Welcome

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a... READ ON

articles

At the Libraries: Little Libraries Abound

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a... READ ON

articles

At the Libraries: RIP Jan Berenstain

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a... READ ON

articles

At the Libraries: Finding a Home for 30,000 Books

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a... READ ON

articles

Have You Read 'Downton Abbey'?

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a... READ ON

articles

Things Crashing Into Libraries

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a comment! A 3-D painting? Why yes, it's true, and the subject is definitely worthy. You guys MUST watch this video! (Warning: It autoplays.) Thanks to 100 Scope Notes for the... READ ON

articles

At the Libraries: Panem Geography

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a... READ ON

articles

At the Libraries: Library Movie Scene Supercut

Each week Miss Kathleen provides links to a variety of stories about libraries, authors, and books. If there’s something noteworthy going on in your local library, leave us a comment! Librarians took over Dallas, and "damn near" drank all its tequila, too! If you were there, please let us know how the drinking, erm I mean, the conference went. And look out Anaheim, you are next! * Slow food, slow travel, now... slow reading? Can you savor an e-book, or does it have to be... READ ON

Pages

Allison Keene

A long-time mental_floss contributor, Allison is also a TV critic for The Hollywood Reporter, Collider and Creative Loafing Atlanta.

articles

Weekend Links: Halloween Postcards

Most certainly a conversation-starting piece: photographs of Marines' faces before, during, and after serving in Afghanistan. Behold is a really great photo blog in general, so be sure to check out some of their other links. * Walken for Walken's Sake: Christopher Walken’s 10 Most Insane Performances.... READ ON

articles

Weekend Links: Put a Poe On It

Charting the various incarnations of James Bond in terms of booze, bonks and bodies. Apparently not all Bonds are created equal (some are more cold-hearted killers while others may qualify as lushes). * Fantastic infograph of the human body as a subway map (and station delays suddenly seem much, much worse).... READ ON

articles

Weekend Links: A Softball-Sized Eye

Tunnel your way through the human brain with this rad new interactive site from? NOVA and PBS.? * Robot Revolution Update: They are lulling us into complacency! 100 years ago children's relationship with machines was for work. Now of course, it's more likely to be related to play. * EW predicts the future of the Taken series, and its unfortunate family vacations that don't end up anything like National Lampoon's. * Weave silk in this beautiful, colorful interactive site with soothing music.... READ ON

articles

Weekend Links: The Crazy Journey of an MMS

Tis the season: 11 Essential DIY Pumpkin-Carving Hacks. * I love How Stuff Works articles, both the literal site but also the general genre, such as this from Gizmodo: the crazy journey of an MMS from your phone to your friends. * The Avengers. With Pugs. For reasons that should be obvious.... READ ON

articles

Weekend Links: Where The Streets Are Paved With Gold

This falls under the banner of "mind = blown" -- apparently, we've been using ketchup cups all wrong. Ok, seriously, how many of you knew this is how they were supposed to be used? * It's likely by now you've seen this Worst Death Scene in a Movie Ever ("ever?" you say … just watch), but it's worth seeing over and over again. It is, after all, the worst. * Were you told in your formative years that water spins in a different direction in the southern hemisphere than in the northern because of the... READ ON

articles

Weekend Links: Cocaine, and Other First Aid Items for Polar Explorers

Phil Plait keeps sharing amazing time lapse videos, and I will keep loving them and passing them on to you. This one is particularly great -- it starts out pretty typically but soon has a bit of a twist! * Did you pack the cocaine? For snowblindness, of course! ... and other things the polar explorers packed for first aid. * What If Looper Were a Disney Movie From 1994? "Kids chase the darndest loopers!" Fantastic.... READ ON

articles

Weekend Links: The Accuracy of an Internet Self-Diagnosis

The New Yorker's Atul Gawande shared a link for us self-diagnosers to consider: a study of Googling for medical advice reveals that in tests, 1/4 of sites offer outright wrong / unsafe information, and only 40% are indeed accurate. * Who is better known, the world's most powerful woman, or a 90s sit-com character? It's Merkel vs. Urkel! * "This video is eight and a half minutes long. It is also a beautifully shot, hypnotic look inside a DSLR lens, which is easily worth your time. Oh, and it’s a... READ ON

articles

Weekend Links: The Story of a Minor League Lifer

Fascinating migration data within the United States -- you can see where people are coming from or moving to county by county. Anything surprise you? * From Holly, a fantastic story on a minor league lifer who is 38 years old and has lasted 20 seasons. "The AP photo is a nice summation of his career in baseball: a man standing in, on the blurry margin, while the lens locks its gaze on someone much more famous." * And while on the subject of baseball -- from James, "here's a POV video of a Navy SEAL... READ ON

articles

Weekend Links: 50 Greatest Chase Sequences

No "best of" list is going to be exhaustive or totally inclusive and they usually deserve a little side-eye but nevertheless this 20 Best Small Towns in America feature is pretty interesting. Did your town make the list? What great communities did they leave out? * Another list that will probably leave out your faves and be in the wrong order to your tastes but hey, that's just the way! And it's a fun start: the 50 Greatest Chase Sequences. * I really love this: underlined book quotes become clever... READ ON

articles

Weekend Links: Disgusting Cartoon-Themed Snacks

From my friend Alexis, "a strange, well-written, utterly chilling story with a haunting central image: that of a Japanese prodigy performing to an American audience on Nov. 11, 1945, months after Hiroshima was bombed, the music of a composer, Mendelssohn, who was banned by the Nazis, on a violin -- a mysterious possible Stradivarius, likely stolen -- that was gifted to her by one of Hitler's most evil henchmen." Settle in! * These NBA Doppelganger GIFs are pretty terrifying(ly accurate). * It's been a... READ ON

Pages

Katie Kelly

Jason Kersten

Brian Kevin

Pat Kiernan

Carl King

Maggie Koerth-Baker

articles

How To: Win a Duel

First: Get Embroiled in a Love Triangle Lord Edward Bruce loved Venetia Stanley. So did Edward Sackville, Earl of Dorset. This being 1613, the disagreement quickly turned to impassioned slapping, which was, of course, an invitation to duel to the death. Second: Evade The Wrath Of Your King Besides commissioning a translation of the Bible, King James I of England is also well known for disliking the "barbaric" tradition of dueling. He had banned it from England, so Lord Bruce and the Earl of... READ ON

articles

Hooked on Tonics: Snake Oils, Hangover Cures, and Other Questionable Medicine

Stick Out Your Tounge Snakes, you just can't trust "˜em. First they go around getting us humans kicked out of paradise, then they (or, rather, their oil) become synonymous with quacks and patent medicine. Snake fat, you see, was once believed to have curative powers and no snake fat solution was more curative than "Stanley's Snake Oil," the brainchild of cowboy Clark "The Rattlesnake King" Stanley. The King made a name for himself hawking his wares at the 1893... READ ON

articles

How To: Build a "Dynasty"

YOU WILL NEED Leadership skills Innovative ideas Worshipful subjects Descendants to carry on your... READ ON

articles

When Hell Froze Over

How the Hells Angels Conquered... READ ON

articles

How To: Be Misquoted

Like George Washington "I cannot tell a lie." Except, of course, for that one. We've all heard the story about how young George Washington was bad enough to chop down a neighbor's cherry tree, but not bad (or, perhaps, smart) enough to lie about it"¦but it turns out that the story itself is a big, fat fabrication. Washington's first biographer, the questionable Anglican minister "Parson" Weems, cut the tale from whole cloth. It's the most famous... READ ON

articles

How To: Change Your Name

Because the Government's Making You Naming your baby Brooklynn, America, or Lindsee might be acceptable (if mockable) in the good ol' US of A, but don't try a stunt like that in Denmark. Of all the European laws regulating baby names, Denmark's are the strictest. Danish parents must choose from a state-approved list of 7,000 names, which seems like a lot, until you fall in love with a name that isn't on there. And bucking the system means months of slogging through a... READ ON

articles

How To: Be An Astronaut

Take Your Aspirin Here's the secret they don't tell you about space travel: It hurts. Spacesickness is common, particularly for first-timers and anybody who launches into a bunch of fancy spins or soaring across the station before they've had time to get acclimatized. And trust us, hurling in zero-G is no fun. Worse, the effects of weightlessness can really do a number on your body. One symptom is lower back pain, caused by your spine stretching as the fluid within it floats. You get... READ ON

articles

How To: Get A New Word In the Dictionary

GOOD NEWS: It's Possible New words pop up in the dictionary all the time, thanks to a handy—and almost maniacally extensive—editorial system. If you want your word to make into the big books, you'll need to get it past the gate-keepers. Step 1: Invent a Word and, More Importantly, Get It In Print Over at the Oxford English Dictionary, the life of a new word starts out in the Reading Program department, where about 50 people spend their 9 to 5 lives gobbling up all the... READ ON

articles

How To: Thwart A Bio-Terrorist Attack

YOU WILL NEED Some Llamas Step 1: Recognize the Awesomeness That is the Llama Push those vile stereotypes out of your mind. Llamas are more than just South America's walking sweater. For one thing, they jump—many reaching Jordan-like heights of as much as four feet. They also make excellent golf caddies and scientists have developed a way to make a dandruff control treatment out of the llama's immune system. Step 2: Draw Blood From Several Of Your New Furry Friends Then head to... READ ON

articles

How To: Use All Of Your Brain

Tip #1: Be Alive Actually, that's pretty much all you have to do. Despite what the Uri Gellars of the world would have you believe, you're already using all of your brain. Everybody (from otherwise respectable media mavens to shamefully misinformed teachers) has probably told you at some point that humans only use 10 percent of their grey matter, but that couldn't be further from the truth. The myth most likely originated from the phrenology craze of the early 19th century, when... READ ON

Pages

Andrew Koltonow

Orrin Konheim

Orrin Konheim is a freelance writer for community newspapers, an avid magazine reader, and an Olympic Enthusiast.

Kara Kovalchik

Kara Kovalchik was born in Detroit and currently lives in the leafy suburb of Birmingham, MI, where she and her husband Sandy Wood spend their days ferreting out fun, fascinating trivial facts for