Jake Rossen

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

Best TV Shows on Amazon Prime

From 'Wayne' to 'The Boys' to 'Fleabag,' Amazon's streaming service has something binge-worthy for every taste.... READ ON

The Ebony Anglers Are Changing the Face of Competitive Fishing

After noticing a lack of Black participants in North Carolina fishing tournaments, Gia Peebles decided to do something about it.... READ ON

ColdSnap Wants to Be the Keurig of Ice Cream for Your Countertop

The countertop ColdSnap can make soft-serve or regular ice cream from aluminum pods in under 90 seconds.... READ ON

8 Things You Might Not Know About Andrew Johnson

Abraham Lincoln's successor—and the first United States president to be impeached—liked to tend to a family of mice.... READ ON

Remembering Clara Peller, Wendy's 'Where's the Beef' Lady

In the 1980s, 83-year-old Clara Peller became a star after uttering her famous "Where's the beef?" line for Wendy's. But her decision to peddle spaghetti sauce ground that relationship to a halt.... READ ON

How Martial Artists Get Hit in the Crotch Without Getting Hurt

Ancient kung fu techniques seemingly allow experts to absorb groin strikes without flinching. Is it a trick, or are they just nuts?... READ ON

How Martin Luther King Jr. Kept 'Star Trek' Flying High

Civil rights activist and stealth Trekker Martin Luther King Jr. had an intense conversation with one of the show's main cast members in order to keep the series intact.... READ ON

U.S. Intelligence Agencies to Share Everything They Know About UFOs

A new omnibus spending bill includes a requirement for government agencies to disclose what they've learned about UFOs.... READ ON

Hit Songs Musicians Have Refused to Play

Owing to boredom, spite, or just plain artistic growth, some recording artists won't give audiences what they want.... READ ON

The Bedazzler: A Sparkling History

The Bedazzler—a rhinestone-stamping arts and crafts tool—promised to turn plain pairs of jeans into designer duds. If you squinted.... READ ON

Parents Who Had Babies in 2020 Could Receive an Extra $1100 in Stimulus Cash

Early stimulus payments may have only accounted for babies you had in 2019, not babies that arrived in 2020. Here's how to monetize your moppet.... READ ON

25 Things You Might Not Know About the Birds in Your Backyard

The inside scoop on birds that use tools, have built-in grooming devices, and even fart strategically.... READ ON

Watch Birds As They Snatch Food in Slow Motion

A Michigan photographer has filmed birds normally too quick for the human eye while they enjoy a snack.... READ ON

Why Are Marines Called 'Jarheads'?

The slang term has been around for decades, but its origins might have less to do with appearance and more to do with mules.... READ ON

Why Do Cats Head Bump Humans?

Cats seem to enjoy booping humans on their foreheads. Is it a sign of affection, or yet another sign of condescension?... READ ON

John F. Kennedy on Why 'We Choose to Go to the Moon'

John F. Kennedy's stirring speech on September 12, 1962, sparked a passion for space exploration that eventually led us right to the moon.... READ ON

When McDonald's Went to War With the Dictionary

The fast food behemoth took issue with how The Oxford English Dictionary and Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary defined 'McJob.' It was not a flattering description.... READ ON

Tokyo Is Home to a Museum Full of Parasites

The Merugo Parasitological Museum has more than 300 life-sucking species on display, including a 28.9-foot long tapeworm. It's got date night written all over it.... READ ON

James Baldwin's Record Collection Is Now a 478-Track Spotify Playlist

The celebrated author of 'Go Tell It on the Mountain' used music to inspire and influence his work. Now you can listen, too.... READ ON

West Virginia Is Home to the Country's Newest National Park

The New River Gorge National Park has over 70,000 acres of lush forest land and 53 miles of whitewater rafting.... READ ON

How to Return Amazon Packages Without Mailing Them Back

If you've discarded the box and don't have a printer handy, you can still return items to Amazon for a refund. Here's how.... READ ON

How Elvis Presley Eased People's Minds About the Polio Vaccine

In 1956, the singer agreed to be photographed taking the vaccine in order to drum up public support.... READ ON

When a Failed Balloon Lift-Off Led to an All-Out Riot in 1864

Aeronaut Henry Coxwell thought the people of Leicester would be happy to see him take flight in a balloon. Instead, they ripped it to shreds.... READ ON

Surprise! Alligators Can Regrow Their Tails

A small study of four young American alligators demonstrated that they can regrow damaged tails up to 9 inches in length.... READ ON

Got Gift Cards You'll Never Use? Get Cash Instead

Unwanted gift cards can pile up during the holiday season. Here's how to exchange them for what you really want—cash.... READ ON

Does Putting Sugar in a Car's Gas Tank Kill the Engine?

Can vengeance be yours for just a few dollars? Can some sugar in a gas tank really cause a car to stop working?... READ ON

The Right Way to Pronounce Açaí

Açaí, a popular superfood, can be easy for people to mispronounce. Here's a hint: It's definitely not "ack."... READ ON

The New York Librarian Who Hated 'Goodnight Moon'

Anne Carroll Moore was an influential librarian in the world of children's books. That was bad news for 'Goodnight Moon,' since she refused to recommend it.... READ ON

Surprising Facts About Jim Carrey

Elastic comedian-turned-actor Jim Carrey once had to defend himself in comedy clubs with broken beer bottles. He also had to endure the wrath of Tommy Lee Jones.... READ ON

Bats Argue a Lot, According to Science

The winged creatures are a mainstay of the macabre. But bats are probably too busy yelling at each other to bother you.... READ ON

When Red M&Ms Went Missing for More Than a Decade

In 1976, red M&Ms were pulled from shelves. In 1987, they staged a comeback thanks to an enterprising college student.... READ ON

Pfizer to Supply the U.S. Government With 100 Million Additional Coronavirus Vaccine Doses

The deal will create a total of 200 million vaccine doses from Pfizer to combat the coronavirus pandemic.... READ ON

A Lost Shirley Jackson Story, 'Adventure on a Bad Night,' Is Being Published

Shirley Jackson finished writing the story around 1944. It's been residing in a box at the Library of Congress since 1965.... READ ON

Octopuses Have Been Observed "Punching" Fish Silly

Researchers at the University of Lisbon have confirmed that octopuses will not hesitate to check a fish by smacking it senseless.... READ ON

Are Christmas Trees Dangerous to Pets?

Pets are a welcome part of the holidays, but a little care is needed to make sure they don't have problems with your decorations.... READ ON

A History of Celebrating Christmas in Space

The space program often calls for astronauts to be in orbit for the holidays. Here's how they do it.... READ ON

'A Christmas Dream': Mr. T and Emmanuel Lewis's Lost Holiday Special

'A Christmas Dream' aired in 1984 and sees Mr. T as a sidewalk Santa who teaches Emmanuel Lewis a little something about the kid's 'bad attitude.'... READ ON

What's the Difference Between a Snowstorm and a Blizzard?

Both snowstorms and blizzards involve snow (obviously) and hazardous conditions, but one has a few requirements to make sure it blows extra hard.... READ ON

In Texas, Pancho Claus Is the One Coming to Town

The character of Pancho Claus, which originated in Texas in the 1970s, trades a zoot suit for a red jacket and a lowrider in place of a sleigh.... READ ON

Facts About Jane Austen

More than 200 years after her death, English novelist Jane Austen continues to be celebrated for her sharp, biting prose on love's various entanglements.... READ ON

Band Aid: The Controversial History of 'Do They Know It's Christmas?'

The charity song enlisted everyone from Sting to Bananarama, but its efforts to help the Ethiopian famine didn't go exactly as planned.... READ ON

The Curious Tradition of Hanging a Christmas Pickle on Trees

Every family has its own holiday traditions. Maybe they open Christmas presents after dinner. Some might hang stockings up for their pet. Others might hide a Christmas pickle ornament in their tree.... READ ON

'A Charlie Brown Christmas' TV Special Facts

Charles Schulz thought 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' was a "disaster." CBS hated it. But it's the most beloved Christmas special of all time. Nice work, Charlie Brown.... READ ON

When Can You Get the COVID-19 Vaccine? This Interactive Tool Will Tell You

As states begin to get Pfizer's vaccine, certain groups will be prioritized. Here's who might be ahead of you in line.... READ ON

Remembering the Baby Alive Toy Fad of the 1980s

Baby Alive, a popular realistic doll, boasted of what toy company executives referred to as the "eww factor." It made a number two in its diaper.... READ ON

Why Is There a Coin Shortage in America?

Merchants aren't too eager to give customers exact change at the moment. Here's why coins are in such short supply.... READ ON

The Mystery of the Circleville Letters

For years, residents in and around Circleville, Ohio were plagued by a mysterious letter writer who seemed to know their darkest secrets. Death followed.... READ ON

Mt. Everest Just Got a Tiny Bit Taller

The legendary summit is now nearly 2 feet taller, thanks to China and Nepal thawing out their contentious debate over its size.... READ ON

TV Hosts Who Walked Off Their Shows

Drunk guests, network censorship, and being preempted by tennis are just a few of the reasons some TV show hosts decided to walk off their own sets.... READ ON

Figure Out How Many Lights Your Christmas Tree Needs

Don't get stuck struggling with a ball of green cords year after year. Here's how to buy and store only the lights you need to make your Christmas tree shine.... READ ON

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