Jake Rossen

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

Scientists May Have Pinpointed How Much Exercise Your Heart Needs to Stay Healthy

It's probably much less than you thought.... READ ON

8 Things You Might Not Know About Hi and Lois

Hi, the middle-aged father of this long-running suburban strip, was originally a bit of a tough guy.... READ ON

Why Do Cats 'Blep'?

We investigate the adorable causes of the tongue-lolling phenomenon.... READ ON

The Top Excuses Employees Give for Being Late to Work

Sometimes, you just have to wait for your coffee to cool. (Actual excuse taken from actual employee.)... READ ON

7 Cases of Mistaken Dog Identity

Man's best friend can sometimes be a little hard to recognize.... READ ON

A New D.B. Cooper Suspect Has Emerged

He apparently got a taste for the outlaw life while robbing a Bob's Big Boy.... READ ON

One Small Leap: The Enduring Appeal of Mexican Jumping Beans

Is it an insect? Is it a toy? Or is it both?... READ ON

SpotMini, the Highly Capable Robo-Dog, Will Go on Sale Soon

The quadruped can open doors, climb stairs, and resist human interference with its tasks. Nothing to worry about.... READ ON

14 Secrets of Costco Employees

The best perk? Getting a chance to shop in an empty store.... READ ON

The Great Yanny vs. Laurel Aural War of 2018, Explained

The mysterious sound clip has a perfectly rational and non-demonic explanation.... READ ON

A "Shocking" Number of People in the UK Are Dying from Asthma

The mortality rate is more than twice that of the U.S.... READ ON

How To Get Past the iPhone-Crashing 'Death Emoji'

Receiving a simple text message can freeze your Messages app. Here's how to fix it.... READ ON

For Than a Month After Massive Egg Recall, People Are Still Getting Sick

More than 200 million eggs shipped to nine states carry the potential for foodborne illness, and the number of reported salmonella cases has tripled since April.... READ ON

The Real Reason the Lyme Disease Vaccine Had No Shot

The explanation might tick you off.... READ ON

11 Things You Might Not Know About Jackie Chan

The action star once claimed to have had a real-life stand-off with the Chinese Triad gang. They had knives; Jackie had grenades.... READ ON

The Best Strategy for Guessing on a Multiple-Choice Quiz

Get a separate sheet of paper ready.... READ ON

Michael Jackson's Moonwalk Turns 35

He might have made it famous, but Jackson was far from the first to perform what street dancers called the "back float."... READ ON

Traumatic License: An Oral History of Action Park

From 1978 to 1996, New Jersey hosted a ride-at-your-own-risk water park that earned it the nickname “Class Action Park.”... READ ON

The UK Wants to Ban Wet Wipes, And Parents Aren't Happy About It

The single-use wipes contribute to "fatbergs"—giant, sewer-clogging clumps of waste.... READ ON

8 Things You Might Not Know About Prince Valiant

It was originally called 'Derek, Son of Thane.'... READ ON

Calorie Counts Arrive in All Fast Food Locations Today

In the works since 2010, the regulation has officially gone into effect.... READ ON

How Frozen Peas Made Orson Welles Lose It

"You are such pests! ... In your depths of your ignorance, what is it you want?"... READ ON

The Best Homemade Remedy for Sunburn, According to a Dermatologist

Here's one way to feel better after being baked.... READ ON

Here's Why the UK is About to Ban Q-Tips

It's not because people are sticking them in their ears. (Don't do that.) It's for another reason entirely.... READ ON

Bottle Service: This Water Container Decomposes in Weeks

Both the shell and the inner waterproof lining are biodegradable, which could be a game-changer for ocean pollution.... READ ON

Love Board Games? Now You Can Invest in Them

Equity crowdfunding lets you have a little skin in the board game industry.... READ ON

Here's How Much It Costs to Have a Baby in America

The economics of baby-making might surprise you.... READ ON

10 Things You Might Not Know About 'Little Orphan Annie'

'Little Orphan Otto' didn't have quite the same ring to it.... READ ON

How Do Eyes Get Their Color?

It's not exactly thanks to Mom and Dad.... READ ON

Trying to Avoid Loud Restaurants? This App Can Help

Users of the SoundPoint app can check up on decibel readings at local hotspots to help guarantee a quiet night out.... READ ON

A Stretchy Past: Remembering Stretch Armstrong

"Shapely woman" was pitched as a possible spinoff toy, but fortunately never materialized.... READ ON

A Digital Reconstruction Reveals the Face of Famed Murder Victim 'Bella in the Wych Elm'

A forensic anthropologist has recently put a face to a tragedy that has fascinated people for decades.... READ ON

Report: Police Have Arrested a Suspect in California's Golden State Killer Case

The man arrested in connection with a string of murders in California is a former police officer.... READ ON

Amazon Will Now Deliver Packages to Your Car Trunk

Better get the dead body out of there first.... READ ON

Amazon Is Reportedly Working on a Home Robot

No word on whether its testimony will be admissible if it witnesses your murder.... READ ON

10 Things You Might Not Know About Hägar the Horrible

The lovable comic strip Viking was almost named Bulbar.... READ ON

Food Going Bad? How to Set the Correct Temperature For Your Fridge

The best way to chill out.... READ ON

Everything You Need to Know About Record Store Day

Over 1400 stores around the country will be celebrating all things vinyl this Saturday. Here's what you can expect to see.... READ ON

11 Secrets of Truck Drivers

They still use CB radios, but mostly just to talk trash.... READ ON

The Pom-Pom Hit: When Texas Was Struck By a Cheerleader Mom's Murder Plot

Gimme a "G"! Gimme a "U"! Gimme an "N"!... READ ON

The Sky Was No Limit: The WASP Women Pilots of WWII

In 1942, the Air Force allowed women to fly planes due to a pilot shortage. Then the government forgot all about them.... READ ON

Oat Milk Could Be the New Almond Milk

It's the latest attempt to put cows out of business.... READ ON

8 Things You Might Not Know About Ziggy

The put-upon little comic strip blob once won an Emmy.... READ ON

7 Highly Questionable Toy Commercials from the 1970s

A doll that simulates puberty is maybe not the best thing to advertise on national television.... READ ON

Bathroom Hand Dryers Might Be Blasting Us With Poo Particles

The wall-mounted dryers might be dirtier than a toilet seat.... READ ON

When Topps Fought Terrorism with Trading Cards

Three Rudy Giulianis might get you one Condoleezza Rice.... READ ON

How Can Live PD Show Suspects' Faces Without Consent?

People stopped by police on the popular A&E program often say they don't consent to be filmed. So how does the show find a way to do it?... READ ON

Detroit Startup Is Encouraging Residents to Invest In Their Own Neighborhoods

It's kind of like property taxes, except you get to decide how the money is spent.... READ ON

10 Larger-Than-Life Facts About André the Giant

Too famous to go out shopping, André loved watching QVC.... READ ON

Did a Typo Help End World War II?

One missing letter led to the Ministry of Defence accidentally hiring a seaweed expert instead of a codebreaker. Turns out that's just what they needed.... READ ON

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