Mark Mancini

A native of fabulous Rochester, NY, Mark loves freelance writing, community theater, & anything dinosaur-related. He’s also obsessed with Denver Broncos football.

15 Christmas Gifts for Your Dad

Don't know what to get dear ol' dad this holiday season? We've got ideas for every personality and budget.... READ ON

10 Electrifying Facts About Michael Faraday

Michael Faraday's formal schooling was limited, but his work as a bookbinder allowed him to learn about chemistry, physics, and a mysterious force called "electricity."... READ ON

11 Outrageous Moments in Niagara Falls Barrel-Riding

For decades, thrill-seekers have fought the odds and common sense by going over the world’s most famous waterfalls in rickety containers—a trip that has claimed several lives.... READ ON

11 Inspiring Facts About Eleanor Roosevelt

On Eleanor Roosevelt's wedding day, then-President Theodore Roosevelt walked her down the aisle. Read on for more surprising facts about the first lady and diplomat.... READ ON

10 Facts About Whoopee Cushions

If elaborate pranks aren’t your style, you can’t go wrong with a good old-fashioned whoopee cushion. Before planting one, sit down (on a perfectly harmless chair) and enjoy these breezy tidbits.... READ ON

25 Facts About Bobcats

This wild North American cat thrives in regions from Canada to Mexico. And yes, their offspring are called bobkittens.... READ ON

10 Davy Crockett Facts

Davy Crockett, a.k.a. "King of the Wild Frontier" claimed to have killed 105 bears in one year, and also put a lot of effort into maintaining his wild image.... READ ON

10 Surprising Facts About Piranhas

After sharks, piranhas are one of the world’s most misunderstood fish. They have a reputation for ferocity that's not quite deserved.... READ ON

12 Facts About Gila Monsters

Meet the Gila monster, the largest native lizard in the United States. But watch out for its venomous bites.... READ ON

11 Fascinating Facts About Eels

Some eels are big, some are small, and more than a few come with nightmarish jaws. Naturalists have been probing the creatures' mysterious habits for millennia. Here's what you need to know.... READ ON

15 Incredible Destinations for Fall Foliage

Nothing beats gazing at an endless expanse of autumn leaves. You'll want to add these colorful places to your fall leaf-peeping bucket list.... READ ON

14 Revolutionary Facts About Bastille Day

On July 14, 1789, Parisian rebels stormed the Bastille prison. Its sudden fall kicked off the French revolution, an Earth-shaking event whose echoes we still feel today.... READ ON

9 Amazing Facts About Komodo Dragons

In addition to being Earth’s largest living lizard, behavior like man-eating and grave-robbing are the Komodo dragon’s biggest claims to fame.... READ ON

11 Landmarks “Built” by Paul Bunyan

Tall tales don't get much taller than America's most beloved lumberjack, Paul Bunyan. Here are 11 natural wonders he's said to have constructed.... READ ON

12 Surprising Facts About Mel Brooks

Mel Brooks is a 10,000-trick pony who has made us laugh as a performer, writer, musician, and, of course, a director.... READ ON

Al Capone's Hobby: Rewriting Songs

There weren’t many constants in Al Capone’s rocky life, but the crime boss had a love of music, and it never wavered.... READ ON

13 Memorable Facts About D-Day

The Normandy landings—an event better known as “D-Day”—became a pivotal moment in the Second World War.... READ ON

10 Expert-Level BBQ Gadgets to Buy This Summer

Outdoor barbecues are a beloved tradition, but that doesn’t mean you have to use traditional equipment. Here are a few of our favorite BBQ gadgets.... READ ON

10 Heroic Facts About Harvey Milk

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in California, and one of the first openly gay politicians elected to office in all of America. He also had a major issue with dog poop.... READ ON

13 Facts About Boris Karloff

'Frankenstein' made Karloff a superstar, especially within the horror genre. Here are 11 things you should know about the screen legend. ... READ ON

21 Memorable Virginia Woolf Quotes

With flowing prose and a courageous pen, Virginia Woolf wasn't afraid to dissect any topic, whether it was the idiocy of warfare or the joys of sex.... READ ON

11 Things You Should Know About the Sacco and Vanzetti Case

For more than a century, legal experts have argued that Sacco and Vanzetti didn't get a fair trial. Here are the facts in the landmark case.... READ ON

11 Courageous Facts About the Freedom Riders

Hundreds of civil rights activists calling themselves Freedom Riders bravely held the nation accountable to its rules against segregation in 1961. Here are the facts you need to know.... READ ON

10 Big Facts About Anacondas

Green anacondas can weigh more than 200 pounds, making them the world's heaviest snakes. Get wrapped up in more facts about these big beasts.... READ ON

Amazing Things Harper Lee Did After 'To Kill a Mockingbird'

Until 2015's 'Go Set a Watchman,' the late, great Pulitzer Prize-winning author Harper Lee was known as a literary one-hit wonder.... READ ON

Beverly Cleary Author Facts

Moving, relatable, and frequently hilarious, Beverly Cleary’s stories have been captivating readers of all ages for more than 60 years.... READ ON

11 Animals You Wouldn't Expect to Glow

Sometimes the trick goes unnoticed. But at least we can use blacklights to recognize the biofluorescent beasts who lay hidden in our midst.... READ ON

15 Facts About 'Dune'

Learn more about author Frank Herbert's sci-fi classic, including a canceled film project that could have been scored by Pink Floyd.... READ ON

25 Facts About Puppies

In honor of National Puppy Day, here are 25 things everyone should know about these very good four-legged snuggle buddies.... READ ON

11 Things You Might Not Know About 'Moby-Dick'

Whether you've read 'Moby-Dick' cover to cover or just have it propping open your door, here are some little-known facts that will surprise you.... READ ON

10 Hard-Shelled Facts About Horseshoe Crabs

The ancient sea creatures have weird blood, mate en masse in May and June, and harbor a secret weapon that’s probably saved your life.... READ ON

10 Facts About Upton Sinclair's 'The Jungle'

'The Jungle' was a muckraking novel conceived as a political game-changer, a book that would get people talking and instigate major reforms.... READ ON

10 Inspiring Facts About the Tuskegee Airmen

The first African American pilots to serve in the United States military, the Tuskegee Airmen helped the Allies win World War II and put the U.S. armed forces on the road to integration. ... READ ON

16 Facts About James Madison

At 5 feet 4 inches, Madison was America’s shortest commander-in-chief—but he left behind a towering legacy.... READ ON

10 Giant Facts About 'King Kong'

On March 2, 1933, a beast proudly dubbed “the Eighth Wonder of the World” made his grand debut at Manhattan’s Radio City Music Hall and its sister theater across the street.... READ ON

20 Amazing Animals Discovered in the Last 20 Years

In the two decades since Mental Floss first hit newsstands, some pretty incredible animals have entered the world of mainstream science.... READ ON

7 of John Adams's Greatest Insults

John Adams had a reputation for articulate jabs and razor-sharp put-downs at the expense of his rivals and allies alike. Here are a few of his best zingers.... READ ON

10 Fun Recipes from Books, Movies, and TV Shows

Enjoy these real-life recipes for once-fictional delicacies featured in some of your favorite books, movies, and TV shows.... READ ON

11 Facts About 'King Kong vs. Godzilla'

'Godzilla vs. Kong'—a new slugfest from Legendary Pictures—is set to be released on March 31, 2021. But it won't be the first time these monsters have faced off; they met once before in 1962’s 'King Kong vs. Godzilla.'... READ ON

11 Literary Fart Jokes

Throughout history, the chance to make an occasional fart joke has often proven irresistible, even to such influential authors as Aristophanes, Shakespeare, and Mark Twain.... READ ON

11 Organisms Scientifically Named After Fictional Characters

Fictional characters provide the inspiration for the names of hundreds of plants and animals. Here are 11 of the most unusual.... READ ON

11 Surprising Facts About Thomas Edison

You may know that Thomas Edison was a prolific inventor who revolutionized the electric light bulb. But have you heard about his creepy talking dolls?... READ ON

55 Facts About the Super Bowl

Want to be the smartest person in the room while watching this year's Super Bowl? Bust out a few of these fun facts about Big Games past.... READ ON

5 Weird Things Done During Filibusters

Politicians have done some unusual stuff during a filibuster, from giving cooking lessons to reading the phone book and beyond.... READ ON

How to De-Ice Your Driveway

For safety’s sake, if you have a driveway on your property, ice eradication should be a top priority. Here are four tried and tested strategies you can choose from.... READ ON

10 Surprising Facts About Benedict Arnold

That fact that Benedict Arnold defected to the British Army in 1780 is common knowledge. But before he switched allegiances, he led a pretty interesting life.... READ ON

11 Fascinating Facts About Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Most people know that Franklin Delano Roosevelt was the only U.S. President who served more than two terms. Here are some other FDR facts you may not have learned in your history classes.... READ ON

11 Surprising Facts About Alexander Hamilton

Even if you've seen the Broadway musical 'Hamilton,' there's probably a lot you don't know about this enigmatic founding father.... READ ON

New Year’s Eve Facts

Read on for some fascinating facts about New Year's Eve and how we celebrate it, whether it's with champagne, pickles, or red underwear.... READ ON

Great Gifts for Comic Book Fans

Discover 10 great gifts to get comic book fans for the holiday season, from busts of DC's Batman to a Funko Pop! figurine of the Hulk.... READ ON

Popular on Mentalfloss