Ellen Gutoskey

Ellen Gutoskey

Joined: Jun 24, 2019

Ellen Gutoskey is a Mental Floss staff writer who especially loves covering pop culture, not-so-popular culture, literature, really tiny things, really giant things, and anything that was previously thought to be lost. She used to work in publishing, she's usually laughing, and you can follow her on Twitter @ellengutoskey.

Where did this phrase come from, anyway?

Grab your magnifying glass.

You remember these.

Grab your magnifying glass.

It's bad when even your Halloween bucket is upset.

Test your knowledge of the best and worst Halloween candies in this timed quiz.

Counting sheep, unfortunately, isn't the cure.

Historical cures for insomnia were sketchy at best and outright dangerous at worst. Fortunately, modern medicine has discovered a few techniques that can help those suffering from insomnia.

You probably learned them at some point.

This quiz challenges you to name all the U.S. state capitals as fast as possible.

Good thing these places are fake.

From Springwood to Cuesta Verde, these fictional places serve as settings for some of the best horror movies of all time.

Calling all bookworms and movie buffs.

Each book was adapted (however loosely) into one of films listed below it. But which one?

Stephen King thinking up a storm.

From ‘Physician Slumber’ to ‘The Foreigner,’ these terms are technically synonyms of Stephen King titles. How many can you get right?

Grab your magnifying glass.

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

The Dolly Sisters in the 1920s.

From Paris's Mistinguett to Las Vegas's Lola Falana and beyond.

'Visitation' by Raphael, circa 1517.

Here are 10 fun historical alternatives to boring old ‘pregnant.’

Mark Rothko's 'No. 7' in the Macklowe Collection at Sotheby's in 2021.

The WPA helped everyone from Jackson Pollock to Louise Nevelson.

You’re a few words away from being able to order a caipirinha with confidence.

Here’s how to say everything from liquors like cachaça to brands like Moët.

The Oval Office in 2010.

This quiz challenges you to name all the U.S. presidents as fast as possible.