Jake Rossen

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

'Weekly World News' Oral History

The pioneers of fake news reflect on nearly 30 years of Elvis, aliens, and a half-human, half-bat child that earned them a very angry phone call from the very real FBI.... READ ON

Cheap Coronavirus Test Could Slow the Pandemic

Tests that offer low sensitivity and more false negatives are still valuable in the fight against coronavirus. But will the FDA agree?... READ ON

Fan-Made 'Friday the 13th' Saturday Morning Cartoon Is Killer

Artist Mike Chiechi envisioned what a Saturday morning animated series starring Jason Voorhees might look like. As you might expect, it looks like a crime scene.... READ ON

Fotomat History

The tiny photo processing kiosks could be found everywhere in the 1970s and 1980s. And that was the problem.... READ ON

The 'Orca' Boat From 'Jaws' Will Help Sharks

The familiar shark-hunting vessel from the 1975's 'Jaws' is being recreated for ocean research and to encourage shark conservation.... READ ON

Valuable Garbage Pail Kids Cards

The snot-covered Garbage Pail Kids trading cards were all the rage in the 1980s. Once just 25 cents a pack, rare cards can now command thousands of dollars.... READ ON

Wilford Brimley Actor Facts

Celebrated actor/oatmeal pitchman Wilford Brimley once showed his buttocks to Steve Guttenberg. Read on for more unexpected facts about the walrus-mustachioed actor.... READ ON

People Are Being Mailed Packets of Seeds from China

The seed packets, which have been mailed unsolicited to residents in at least seven states, have not been approved by agricultural officials and might be harmful to local plant life.... READ ON

The Most Overrated TV Shows, According to Each State

These critically acclaimed shows may have won lots of awards, but some viewers don't understand what the hype is all about.... READ ON

‘Maskne’ Is Causing Face Mask Users to Break Out

Once an issue limited to health care professionals, skin irritation from face masks is now everyone's problem. But there are ways to cope with it.... READ ON

Arnold Schwarzenegger Actor Facts

Bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger was once thrown in a military prison for running away to pose in a competition.... READ ON

Technology Plot Points in 'The Net'

The 1995 Sandra Bullock film 'The Net' predicted we'd all be using high-speed Internet to get pizza. And kill things.... READ ON

Living Near a Trader Joe's Can Increase Your Home Value

Popular grocery chain Trader Joe's appears to be an indication of a prosperous neighborhood, with home values near locations steadily rising.... READ ON

Each State's Favorite Junk Food, Mapped

A lot of states love Oreo cookies and candy bars, and a majority prefer their snacks sugary versus salty.... READ ON

'Highlander: The Series' TV Show Facts

'Highlander' ran from 1992 to 1998 and developed a cult following for its depiction of good-looking immortal beings lopping off each other's heads.... READ ON

Andy Kaufman's Bizarre Pro Wrestling Career

In the early 1980s, provocative stand-up comic Andy Kaufman decided to pursue an unlikely career path as a pro wrestler. It made him the most hated man in Memphis.... READ ON

Typo Helps Catch a Man Attempting to Fake His Own Death

Robert Berger tried to avoid a jail sentence by forging a death certificate. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as the Office of Vital Statistics and Regsitry.... READ ON

Do Carbon Filters in Face Masks Offer More Protection Against Coronavirus?

A growing number of cloth face masks for sale online are offering a carbon or other type of filter. Do they help?... READ ON

Why Do Cats Like to Sleep in Sinks?

The joy of pet ownership can decline when a cat refuses to budge from the place where you'd like to wash your face.... READ ON

Burger King Commercial About Cow Farts Has Farmers Upset

A Burger King ad spot, which features child yodeler Mason Ramsey insisting cow farts are responsible for methane emissions, has been criticized for taking a flippant approach to global warming.... READ ON

FDA Recalls Hand Sanitizers Due to Possible Toxicity

Some hand sanitizers have been found to contain methanol, which is toxic when absorbed through skin and potentially deadly if ingested.... READ ON

Why Do Cats 'Slow Blink' at People?

Attempting to decode cat behavior can lead to madness. But we do have some idea of why cats like blinking at us.... READ ON

Facts About "Rowdy" Roddy Piper

Pro wrestler "Rowdy" Roddy Piper was known for his Scottish kilt and bagpipes, but he was also a serious martial artist and even recorded a pop song.... READ ON

Rocky Balboa's Boxing Gloves Are Headed for Auction

The leather mitts used by Sylvester Stallone to pummel a heavy bag in 'Rocky' are expected to fetch up to $16,000 at an upcoming auction.... READ ON

Popular 'Back to the Future' Fan Theories, Analyzed

'Back to the Future' has enough time travel paradoxes to keep astute viewers busy for decades. Take a look at some of the most compelling—and disturbing—fan theories.... READ ON

HBO's 'Oz' TV Show Facts

Before 'The Sopranos' or 'The Wire,' television’s golden age arguably began on July 12, 1997, when HBO premiered Tom Fontana's prison drama 'Oz.'... READ ON

Facts About Richard Simmons

An anonymous note left on Richard Simmons's car window changed the soon-to-be-superstar's life forever.... READ ON

Seniors in North Carolina Assisted Living Facility Are Looking for Pen Pals

Residents of Victorian Care Center in North Carolina are hoping to connect with people in a time when family visits are being restricted.... READ ON

Stouffer's Mac and Cheese Dispenser

The popular frozen dinner brand claims to have constructed a mac and cheese tap that can serve the gooey side dish on demand.... READ ON

Eldest vs. Oldest: What's the Difference?

We often use 'eldest' and 'oldest' interchangeably, but the words shouldn't be swapped out so easily. Here's how to use each.... READ ON

Bruce Willis Actor Facts

According to John Goodman, 'Die Hard' star Bruce Willis was once one of New York City's hottest bartenders.... READ ON

Do Politicians Need Permission to Play a Song at Campaign Events?

Plenty of musicians complain when a political candidate uses their work as part of a campaign event. How did they manage to play it in the first place?... READ ON

America's Founding Fathers Facts

George Washington's famous hairdo was not a wig, Benjamin Franklin liked to walk around nude, and 48 other facts no true patriot would want to miss.... READ ON

Wax Paper vs. Parchment Paper: What's the Difference?

These two paper goods are a common sight in kitchens, but there's an important—and potentially flammable—distinction to make between them.... READ ON

Remembering 'The Great Space Coaster'

The popular kid's show 'The Great Space Coaster' ran from 1981 to 1986, won awards, and employed some of the minds behind 'Sesame Street.' So why is it so hard to find?... READ ON

Each State's Motto, Mapped

Do you know your state motto? If not, check out this handy map of the slogans and phrases that help define each one.... READ ON

The Reason Apple iPads Don't Have Calculators

Apple's iPad is a versatile computing device that has pretty much anything a user could ever want—except a standard calculator. Here's why.... READ ON

Study: Women Are Less Attracted to Men With Cats In Profile Pics

A survey of hundreds of women demonstrated that dating profiles showing men holding cats are perceived as less desirable.... READ ON

Robert Stack Facts

Robert Stack, the popular host of the original 'Unsolved Mysteries,' had a long and storied career, including an Oscar nomination and an appearance in the first-ever 3D movie.... READ ON

You Can Buy Christopher Reeve's Superman Cape

The cape Christopher Reeve wore for the first three 'Superman' movies was used for flying sequences and even has holes for the wires.... READ ON

No, Your Face Mask Does Not Limit Oxygen Intake

Face coverings are everywhere, leading some people to speculate they might limit oxygen intake or cause carbon dioxide (CO2) poisoning. It won't happen. Here's why.... READ ON

Doctors Are Making House Calls Again Through the Heal App

The service, which is available in seven states and Washington, D.C., dispatches physicians to diagnose and treat patients who would prefer not to visit a walk-in clinic.... READ ON

The Most Valuable Blu-rays

If you have a very specific version of 2013's Sandra Bullock space thriller 'Gravity,' you might be able to get a premium for it.... READ ON

'Jurassic Park' Topped the Weekend Box Office—27 Years After Its Release

The Steven Spielberg dinosaur blockbuster is still drawing crowds nearly 30 years after it originally opened.... READ ON

Chuck Norris Facts

Celebrated martial artist Chuck Norris set his sights on Hollywood at the urging of Steve McQueen. He's also an honorary Texas Ranger.... READ ON

Richard Simmons Action Figure Is Coming

The 8-inch figure made by NECA sports the fitness guru's trademark tank top, shorts, and white sneakers. Deal-a-Meal cards not included.... READ ON

The Most Popular HBO Comedies In Each State

HBO has a large library of TV titles, but two of the premium cable network's shows in particular are proving to be favored by most of the country.... READ ON

Flushing a Toilet Could Create a Cloud of Coronavirus

Toilets have always sent contaminants into the air, but the coronavirus pandemic is giving new urgency to the practice of closing the lid whenever possible.... READ ON

Remembering Oregon's Exploding Whale of 1970

On November 12, 1970, a dead beached whale in Oregon needed to be disposed of. Experts determined the best method would be to blow it up using dynamite. It did not go as planned.... READ ON

Got $16,000 to Spare? Keanu Reeves Will Call You for Charity

The actor is auctioning off a 15-minute Zoom call to support Camp Rainbow Gold, a nonprofit devoted to supporting patients and families coping with cancer in Idaho.... READ ON

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