Jake Rossen

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

13 Quick-Fix Facts About 'MacGyver'

Some fast facts about television's craftiest science nerd.... READ ON

Forceful Fashion: 'Star Wars' Suits Have Arrived

Never be underdressed for a 'Star Wars'-themed wedding again.... READ ON

Solved: The Mystery of Identity Thief Lori Erica Ruff

A six-year cold case was cracked by a former nuclear physicist.... READ ON

Better Change That Password: Yahoo Confirms Hack of Over 500 Million Accounts

The company confirmed a hack has affected hundreds of millions of accounts.... READ ON

The Self-Building Concrete Block System Anyone Can Use

This clever puzzle system could help solve low-income housing challenges in Mexico.... READ ON

6 Movies That Ruined Their Studios

George Lucas's first post-'Star Wars' movie was one of two films that signaled the end for one studio.... READ ON

Out of This World: An Oral History of ALF

He was invited to the White House. He sold $250 million in merchandise. And he nearly caused an actor to have a nervous breakdown on set.... READ ON

14 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of NYC Taxi Drivers

Be nice to them: A secret button under the dash can ruin your day in a hurry.... READ ON

A Turkish Company Built a Working Transformer

It's a robot in disguise—as a very slow-moving car.... READ ON

Memory Overload: SanDisk Announces New Massive 1 Terabyte SD Card

Now you can record your kitten doing adorable things for 1000 straight hours.... READ ON

14 Entirely Too Specific Netflix Hidden Categories

Looking for a good Scandinavian drama? Good news: The service will let you browse some very specific genres.... READ ON

Watch This Guy Make Evel Knievel's Snake River Canyon Jump

Eddie Braun just spent over $1.5 million to travel 4729 feet.... READ ON

7 Epic Toy Heists

If you plan on going on a Toys 'R Us crime spree, you might want to stop using your Rewards card.... READ ON

Which State Has the Most Millennials Still Living at Home?

A growing number of young adults are choosing to stick with their parents, but one state's population has the rest beat.... READ ON

Easy, Time-Saving Ways to Incorporate Meditation Into Your Daily Routine

You can get yourself focused and relaxed any time of day: no apps needed.... READ ON

Thbbft! Talking with 'Bloom County's' Berkeley Breathed

The cartoonist revived his popular 1980s strip thanks to a letter from Harper Lee.... READ ON

This 1950s Time Capsule House Hasn't Aged a Day

It was built in 1954—and hasn't aged a day.... READ ON

Bananagrams Releases Branded Beer

Now you can slur your words while you build them.... READ ON

FAA: Fire-Prone Samsung Galaxy Note 7 Phones Not Welcome on Airlines

The FAA is wary of allowing exploding phones in checked luggage.... READ ON

What You Should Know About Pet Health Insurance

Is comprehensive puppy coverage worth the expense?... READ ON

Hasbro Wants Your Board Game Ideas

Nothing is better than Candy Land. But if you think you've got something, Hasbro might give you $25,000.... READ ON

Who Was 'Metroid's' Justin Bailey?

The name is the most famous cheat code of the '80s. But was Justin Bailey a real person?... READ ON

The 1866 Chicago Sextuplets Hidden From the World

Jennie Bushnell was terrified her six children would be seen as freaks—so she kept their remarkable birth a secret.... READ ON

This Robot Bear Will Control Your Household Devices

Bearbot might help you consolidate your household remotes—when he's not sleeping or sneezing.... READ ON

U.S. Navy Files Patent for Ships Powered by Bacteria Farts

It proposes using gas-producing microorganisms to propel ships through the water.... READ ON

10 Highly Unconventional Guard Animals

Got a radiator warehouse that needs protecting? Consider a skunk.... READ ON

14 Behind-the-Scenes Secrets of Sports Mascots

Yes, they can get fleas.... READ ON

Why Are Airplane Windows Round?

Believe it or not, the shape of the window is a matter of life and death.... READ ON

Tokyo Begins Testing Robots as Airport Guides

Hitachi's EMIEW will make sure visitors to Tokyo's Haneda Airport never get lost again.... READ ON

Meet the First Documented Identical Twin Puppies

Cullen and Romulus are thought to be the first genetically confirmed twin puppies.... READ ON

BetaHeads: The Betamax Fanatics of 1970s Ohio

Before rental stores and video streaming, movie lovers daisy-chained 18 Betamax recorders in the ballroom of a Ramada Inn to record 'Love Story.'... READ ON

Should You Still Be Using Bar Soap?

More and more households are giving up solid soap in favor of liquid. Is the latter really safer?... READ ON

Acer Launches World's Thinnest and Fattest Laptops

The Swift 7 is nearly half the size of the MacBook Air.... READ ON

16 Things You Might Not Know About Wegmans

The regional grocery chain has plenty of devotees, but not all of them appreciate the awkward punctuation. There's a good reason they refuse to use an apostrophe.... READ ON

Here's What It Costs to Grant a Make-A-Wish

Traveling and celebrity meet-ups can get expensive, and the organization will soon launch a crowdsourcing platform for help footing the bill.... READ ON

5 Can't-Miss Documentaries Hitting Netflix in September

Five more reasons to avoid fresh air and sunshine.... READ ON

How the New York DMV Nabs Identity Thieves

Some clever new technology is making it even less likely to obtain a driver's license under false pretenses.... READ ON

This Running App Will Guide You Through Unfamiliar Cities

RunGo can make sure you're taking the most scenic route while running on vacation.... READ ON

Can Washing Machines Really Eat Socks?

Your orphaned socks are victims of technology and your own deeply rooted psychological issues.... READ ON

Fizzled Out: The New Coke Protests of 1985

Everyone was mad about Coke Classic's disappearance, but only one man spent $100,000 doing something about it.... READ ON

Are You a Coffee Fiend? It Might Be in Your DNA

Some people might be genetically wired to get more wired.... READ ON

A Family Scrapbook May Have Unearthed KFC's Secret Recipe

The Colonel's secret is out.... READ ON

Beavers on the Moon: The Great Astronomy Hoax of 1835

New York's 'Sun' newspaper confirmed there was life on the lunar surface, including bat-people. And readers believed it.... READ ON

14 Surreal Facts About H.R. Giger

The 'Alien' designer wasn't always so revered: early reviews of his work involved spitting.... READ ON

This Artist is Making VHS Covers for Current Movies

So real, you can almost feel the disappointment of 'Drive' being all rented out.... READ ON

14 Justifiably Forgotten Milton Bradley Board Games

In the '70s, the family could settle in for a nice, relaxing game of 'Town Dump.'... READ ON

Japan's 2020 Olympics Will Make Medals From Smartphones

Gold, silver, bronze: They'll all be green.... READ ON

Why You Shouldn't Trust Password Strength Meters

They're not always a good test of password quality.... READ ON

Marvel-Themed Harleys Roll Out in Australia and New Zealand

The line of custom motorcycles depict the iconography of Captain America, the Punisher, Black Widow, Thor, Groot, the Wasp, and, naturally, Ghost Rider.... READ ON

7 Questions to Ask Your New College Roommate

What you should know about the stranger you'll be spending a lot of time with.... READ ON

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