Jake Rossen

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

Chinese New Year Facts

Some celebrants call it the Spring Festival, a stretch of time that signals the progression of the lunisolar Chinese calendar; others know it as the Chinese New Year. For a 15-day period beginning January 25, China will welcome the Year of the Rat, one of 12 animals in the Chinese zodiac table.... READ ON

Sprint Will Fix the Cracked Screen on Your Samsung Galaxy for $49—Even if They're Not Your Carrier

The cell phone service provider is looking to stir up some goodwill with a screen repair program open to anyone.... READ ON

Paul Newman Actor Facts

Actor Paul Newman became a salad dressing magnate and accomplished race car driver before he ever won his first Oscar.... READ ON

Super-Venomous Spiders Could Surge in Australia

The venom of the Sydney funnel web spider can kill in as little as 15 minutes. And they might be lurking in Australian residents' shoes or laundry.... READ ON

Mr. Peanut Facts

In the 1970s, Mr. Peanut ran for mayor of Vancouver on the “Peanut Party” ticket. He was endorsed by novelist William S. Burroughs and received 3.4 percent of the vote—which isn't peanuts.... READ ON

FedEx Tracking Text Scam Wants Your Credit Card Info

The text message is duping smartphone users into thinking they have a package notification. The only thing being delivered is a scam.... READ ON

The Most Successful Entertainment Production in History

The most financially successful show in history isn't a Marvel movie. It's not Harry Potter. It's not a theme park ride. It's not what you think.... READ ON

Human Body Temperatures Are Dropping

The 98.6°F human body temperature may no longer be the standard. Scientists point to a marked decrease in inflammation.... READ ON

The Best Stephen King Movies and TV Shows to Stream

The modern master of horror is experiencing a resurgence in both theaters and on television. Check out these 10 King adaptations worth your time.... READ ON

Ben & Jerry's Has a New 'Netflix and Chilll'd' Ice Cream

The ice cream company figures you need to keep up your calories during binge sessions. This peanut butter, pretzel, and brownie concoction should do it.... READ ON

When Mississippi Banned 'Sesame Street'

'Sesame Street' ran into problems during its first season in 1970 when a small group of Mississippi television consultants decided it was too controversial. The reason? Black cast members.... READ ON

Your Cat Probably Would Eat Your Rotting Corpse

The idea of cats devouring their dead owners is no urban legend. A new paper documented these savage creatures dining out on human flesh.... READ ON

History of the T-Shirt Cannon

The apparel arms race at sporting events began when the San Antonio Spurs mascot wanted to blast people in the upper deck with free stuff.... READ ON

Chainsaw Invented to Assist With Difficult Childbirths

The serrated-chain blade we associate with striking down trees was originally invented to slice through pelvic bone during deliveries.... READ ON

Martin Luther King Jr. Facts

Martin Luther King Jr., the Atlanta native who became one of the most important figures in the civil rights movement, helped unite a divided nation.... READ ON

How the Pizza Saver Transformed Pizza Delivery

The tiny plastic disc costs less than a penny, but the number of pizzas it has saved from a cheesy demise is incalculable.... READ ON

Cows Have Unique Voices, According to Science

Bovine vocalization isn't just random bleating. New research suggests that cows can be identified by their individual moos.... READ ON

McDonald's Food Facts

The Golden Arches used to serve peanut butter sandwiches and chili instead of Chicken McNuggets and McRibs.... READ ON

18th Century Toilet Was Disguised as a Book

Not everyone wanted to stare at a chamber pot all day. With this volume, people could cover up their waste receptacle and seem well-read all at the same time.... READ ON

Why Button-Down Shirts Have Loops On the Back

Those strange loops on the back of your dress shirts actually serve a purpose, though it might not be the one you think.... READ ON

Best Documentaries to Stream

Working out with Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Hanging out in an ancient cave with Werner Herzog. Watching Lady Gaga prep for her Super Bowl Halftime Show. It's all possible.... READ ON

Sports Bra Inventors in Hall of Fame

In the late 1970s, three Vermont women saw a need for more athletic support. Their invention—the sports bra—changed athletics forever.... READ ON

Richard Nixon Facts

Although the Watergate scandal tends to overshadow much of his life, Richard Nixon almost forced a mistrial for Charles Manson.... READ ON

Movie Website Warns About Sad Dog Plots

Nothing ruins movie night faster than seeing a fictitious animal harmed. Now you can screen movies and television to make sure the good boy lives.... READ ON

Fukushima Nuclear Disaster Site Wildlife Thriving

The 2011 disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant led to the evacuation of 100,000 humans. But the animals don't appear to be going anywhere.... READ ON

Best Horror Movies on Hulu

If you're looking to binge a slate of new and classic horror movies this winter, Hulu has you covered.... READ ON

The World's Only Pinback Button Museum Lives in Chicago

With thousands of pinback buttons, the Busy Beaver Button Company is paying tribute to this unique form of expression that dates back to the 1800s.... READ ON

John Candy Facts

Versatile comic actor John Candy broke out in 1984's 'Splash,' but you might not know he was once targeted for a Sylvester Stallone movie.... READ ON

Is There an Ideal Movie Length?

Find yourself getting restless during a film? It might be because we've become conditioned to expect movies to entertain us for a very specific amount of time.... READ ON

Twins Born in Different Decades

Twin siblings Joslyn and Jaxon will have a story to tell for the rest of their lives. They were born in two different eras.... READ ON

Best Action Movies on Netflix

Netflix has plenty of options for the action fan, from martial arts classics to action heroine Meryl Streep. Check out some of the best and most explosive movies you can stream right now.... READ ON

The Plan to Give Free Dr Pepper to Everyone in America

Dr Pepper tried to drum up publicity by promising a free bottle to everyone in America if Guns N' Roses came out with their long-delayed 'Chinese Democracy' album in 2008. No one expected the band to do it. When they did, Dr Pepper suddenly had to make good on their promise.... READ ON

Why Traffic Lights Are Red, Yellow, and Green

Traffic lights have origins on the railways, but they weren't always red, yellow, and green. There was once a white light, and that was not such a great idea.... READ ON

The History of the Ralstonism Health Movement

At the turn of the last century, author Webster Edgerly advised readers to achieve optimal wellness by never walking in a straight line and never marrying a woman less than 20 years their junior.... READ ON

Best True Crime Documentaries to Stream

Since Errol Morris’s 'The Thin Blue Line' premiered in 1988 and helped free an innocent man accused of murder, filmmakers and viewers have developed a bottomless appetite for movies based on true stories that shed light on some of the darker sides of the human condition.... READ ON

United Airlines Will Let You Trade in Your Unwanted Gift Cards for Airline Miles

The airline is offering a possible solution for gift cards for stores that you're not crazy about. They'll convert them into airline miles.... READ ON

This Extremely Rare Nintendo PlayStation Prototype Is Being Auctioned Off for Big Money

The prototype console was once dismissed as a myth. Now it's about to sell for a considerable sum of money.... READ ON

Cary Grant Actor Facts

Cary Grant took LSD more than 100 times and was prone to cutting the buttons off his dress shirts. Those two things are probably not related, but you never know.... READ ON

The Reason Airplane Seats Are Blue

Blue might be a soothing color, but there are a few other reasons so many airlines opt for the shade when selecting their seat fabric.... READ ON

A 16th-Century Shipwreck Was Found Under Stockholm

The likely remnants of the 'Samson' were discovered this year under a Stockholm park, where it's believed to have been hidden for hundreds of years.... READ ON

Thomas Nelson's 'Pride and Prejudice' Seasons Edition In Stores Now

The 1813 novel by Jane Austen has been published in a new limited edition by Thomas Nelson with a laser-cut cover.... READ ON

11 of the Best Podcasts of the 2010s

Podcasts came into their own and ushered in a new (old) era of entertainment during the 2010s. We select 11 of the best.... READ ON

The Queen Is Hiring a Housekeeper for Windsor Castle

If you're fond of housecleaning and eavesdropping on the royal family, your dream job may have just opened up.... READ ON

The Reason Why Airplanes Make You Gassy

Being an airplane passenger can mean feeling a bit pressurized even after stepping off. Here's why and here's what you can do to lessen the symptoms.... READ ON

North Carolina Couple Mistakes Their Robot Vacuum for an Intruder

Christmas was less than relaxing for the Milam household when a noisy robot vacuum was mistaken as an intruder.... READ ON

Best Horror Movies on Netflix

From Puritan paranormal thrillers to all-out zombie movies, these flicks are guaranteed to rattle your nerves.... READ ON

The Fascinating Reason There Are 100 Folds in a Chef's Hat

The number of folds aren't purely decorative. They're part of a tradition that dates back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries.... READ ON

Intriguing True Crime Stories of 2010s

The 2010s saw true crime come to the forefront of popular culture thanks to podcasts, books, and binge-worthy docuseries. These 10 cases prove it beyond a reasonable doubt.... READ ON

How Did Casper the Friendly Ghost Die?

The genial ghost has been trying to make friends with the living since 1945. But did he once walk among them as a real boy?... READ ON

When Santa Claus Robbed a Texas Bank in 1927

On December 23, 1927, a man dressed as Santa Claus walked into a bank and demanded money. Unfortunately, the bank was in Texas, and practically everyone in town was armed. Determining Santa was on the Naughty List, they opened fire.... READ ON

Popular on Mentalfloss