Jake Rossen

Joined: May 6, 2013

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

Not something that the Property Brothers would want to see.

How to Clean Water Stains From Your Ceiling

10 Tips for Coping With a Heat Wave

Want a food truck recommendation? Yelp has 100 of them.

The 20 Best Food Trucks in the U.S., According to Yelp

Why Is It Called a “Ball Peen Hammer”?

Personal injury attorneys help keep up a system of legal checks and balances.

12 Secrets of Personal Injury Attorneys

Injured and need help? Here's why you actually want a billboard lawyer—and why you really, really don't want a big settlement.

Mowing your lawn requires a little know-how.

You’re Probably Mowing Your Lawn Wrong

Got a brittle, brown, sad lawn? You’re probably making one of these common mowing mistakes.

Why Are Gas Stations So Close to One Another?

Spot a surplus of pumps in one small area? You're seeing Hotelling's Law in action.

The Best Offbeat Museum to Visit in All 50 States

We love museums devoted to art, history, and science as much as the next person—but sometimes, our curiosity demands quirkier territory.

The Man with Bogarts Face 1980 Robert Sacchi Opening Scene

Robert Sacchi, the Man Who Looked Exactly Like Humphrey Bogart

The so-called Bogus Bogie made a career out of his uncanny resemblance to the ‘Casablanca’ star.

in H.T. Opsahl's classroom, bad kids faced serious repercussions.

H.T. Opsahl, History’s Worst High School Teacher

In 1924, H.T. Opsahl sentenced disruptive kids to a high-voltage electric chair. Parents were not amused. Discover more about the origins of one of history's worst high school teachers here.

Açaí berries are delicious. They're also hard to pronounce.

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."

Crunchy. Leafy. Exploding with flavor. (Just kidding.)

Why Is It Called “Iceberg” Lettuce?

Let’s explore the origins of America's most disrespected lettuce.

Up in the Air: When ‘Balloon Boy’ Took Flight

In 2009, the world was captivated by a little boy seemingly trapped in a runaway aircraft. As a new Netflix documentary reveals, the truth was a lot stranger.

Nickelodeon invaded schools throughout the 1990s.

When ‘Nick Takes Over Your School’ Let Kids Rule

In the '90s, Nickelodeon convinced a handful of schools to cancel class for the day and let kids go (somewhat) wild.

The 10 Best (and Worst) States for Road Trips in Summer 2025

Gas prices, road safety, and roadside attractions are all reasons to head for certain states (and avoid others).

Why Is It Called “New York-Style” Cheesecake?

All cheesecake is delicious. So why should you opt for New York-style over any other kind?