Ellen Gutoskey

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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.

My Dance Card Is Full: How Victorian-Era Etiquette Spawned a Phrase

The Victorian era gave rise to puffy gowns, dance cards, and a fun new phrase for getting out of a date.... READ ON

$1 Houses for Sale in Italy Come With $30,000 Restoration Grants

Italian houses have been sold for $1 before, but these Sicilian ones boast a prehistoric past and views of Mount Etna.... READ ON

The Quest for the North Pole Episode 3 Podcast Transcript

British explorer George Strong Nares failed in his quest for the North Pole, but Norwegian genius Fridtjof Nansen got closer to the mythical point on the map than anyone before. The international competition was on.... READ ON

The Best TV Shows on HBO Max

From British crime dramas to sketch comedy series (and ‘Friends,’ of course), here’s what HBO Max has on the menu.... READ ON

See the Highest-Resolution Snowflake Images Ever Captured

Snowflake photography is a tricky business, so one innovative cameraman built a whole new device for it.... READ ON

Valentine’s Day Gift for 'The Golden Girls' Fans: 12 Red 'Roses'

Betty White’s Rose Nylund makes a great lawn decoration any day of the year—but especially on Valentine’s Day.... READ ON

The 20 Most Watched TV Shows of 2020

All but one of last year’s most watched shows were on Netflix. The single outlier features Baby Yoda.... READ ON

10 Foods You Can Safely Eat After Their Expiration Dates

While there's no single answer to how long eggs are good after their expiration date, they usually don't spoil right away.... READ ON

Virgin’s Hyperloop Trains Are in the Works: Watch the Concept Video

Virgin’s Hyperloop pods would be faster than bullet trains and way more comfortable than subway trains.... READ ON

The Most Popular ’90s Rom-Com Movie in Each State

When it comes to the best romantic comedies of the 1990s, opinions differ widely. But if you’re from Washington, you might be partial to ‘10 Things I Hate About You.’... READ ON

$20 Bills Featuring Harriet Tubman Are Finally in the Works

The plan to replace Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill with Harriet Tubman was announced in 2016, but it’s been delayed for a while.... READ ON

Microsoft Files Patent for Chat Bots That Mimic Dead Loved Ones

Anyone who’s seen the 'Black Mirror’ season 2 episode 'Be Right Back' might have mixed feelings about Microsoft’s fledgling technology.... READ ON

Virginia Woolf Essay Offers Advice on How to Read a Book

Virginia Woolf’s books didn’t follow writing conventions, and her rules for reading are just as flexible.... READ ON

Make Heart-Shaped Waffles and More With Dash’s Mini Waffle Maker

Heart-shaped waffles, paninis, hash browns, cinnamon rolls, and more—all from one extraordinary mini waffle maker.... READ ON

Why Do People Get Down on One Knee for Marriage Proposals?

Medieval knights (and Jon Snow of 'Game of Thrones') were known to bend the knee, which may have influenced modern-day marriage proposals.... READ ON

Quinto Tiberio Angelerio: The Doctor Who Mandated Social Distancing

COVID-19 restrictions are difficult, but at least we don’t have to carry 6-foot canes to make sure we’re properly social distancing.... READ ON

Explore Life Lessons From Around the World on This Interactive Map

Some of the best quotes about life come from regular people—this interactive map connects you with them.... READ ON

This Dream Job Pays $500 to Binge-Watch Netflix Shows and Eat Pizza

There is a list of some top Netflix shows to choose from, but you’re also entitled to pick your own at this potential dream job.... READ ON

Maya Angelou Barbie Is Mattel’s Latest ‘Inspiring Women’

‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ author Maya Angelou has landed a well-earned a spot in Mattel’s most prestigious Barbie collection.... READ ON

Jigsaw Puzzles Featuring Bob Ross Paintings Are Finally Here

The only thing more therapeutic than watching Bob Ross’s ‘The Joy of Painting’ is assembling a puzzle inspired by it.... READ ON

Why Does My Cat Love to Sit On My Computer?

This confounding cat behavior is mostly because our furry friends love warm spots and attention from you.... READ ON

Unexplained Mysteries That Scientists Don’t Understand

The world plays host to plenty of unexplained phenomena, from weird explosions to eerie ocean noises.... READ ON

Memorable Firsts From Mental Floss History

Mental Floss's first print cover featured Albert Einstein’s tongue, and our first Instagram post was about Rice-A-Roni. Would we do it differently today? Of course not.... READ ON

LEGO Sets for Adults Are Now All in One Place on LEGO’s Website

The best LEGO sets for adults—from the Roman Colosseum to Harry Potter’s Diagon Alley—are no longer scattered around the site.... READ ON

The World's 25 Most Powerful Passports

The Henley Passport Index tells you how many places you can visit with your passport. If yours is from Japan, we have good news.... READ ON

Vietnamese Egg Coffee’s Surprising Origin Story

The proprietary egg coffee recipe contains one secret ingredient and several surprising ones—including cheese.... READ ON

Definitions of ‘Titular’ and ‘Eponymous’: What’s the Difference?

The definition of ‘eponymous’ has changed over time, and ‘titular’ has more than one. Here’s how to use each word correctly.... READ ON

How to Reverse a Cavity Before It’s Too Late

Those white spots on your teeth might be trying to tell you something (like that your mouth is suffering a plaque attack).... READ ON

Why Your Hair Changes Color As You Age

You can chalk it up to hormone changes, but your genes aren’t so innocent when it comes to hair color.... READ ON

The Netherlands’s Coolest Houses Look Like Giant Golf Balls

For golf (or ping-pong) enthusiasts, Netherlands’ ‘bolwoningen’ could be the coolest houses of all time.... READ ON

The Best and Worst States for Millennials to Live

Millennials in North Dakota are saddled with much less student loan debt than their California counterparts.... READ ON

Martin Luther King Jr. Was One Sneeze From Death After 1958 Stabbing

With a letter opener protruding from his chest, Martin Luther King Jr. reassured everyone that everything was ok. One sneeze later, it would not have been.... READ ON

The Quest for the North Pole Podcast: Polar Exploration Timeline

From Leif Eriksson’s chance continental landing to Ralph Plaisted’s trailblazing snowmobile adventure, here’s how Arctic exploration unfolded.... READ ON

Game of Thrones’ Dire Wolves Existed, But May Not Have Been Wolves

New research suggests that the real-life inspiration for Ghost from 'Game of Thrones' wasn’t a wolf species.... READ ON

Presidents Day 2021: What’s Open? What’s Closed?

Presidents Day is a federal holiday, so lots of government-run offices are closed. Retailers, on the other hand, are not.... READ ON

Roman Empire Misconceptions, From Togas to ‘Et Tu, Brute?’

Did Julius Caesar really say “Et tu, Brute?” Did Nero fiddle while Rome burned? What was with the togas? Justin Dodd is answering all these questions in more in this edition of 'Misconceptions.'... READ ON

The CIA’s Declassified UFO Documents Are Available to Download

The CIA has been investigating UFO news and sightings for decades, and you can now use their intel for your own research.... READ ON

Ben & Jerry’s Launches Ice Cream for Dogs

Ben & Jerry’s latest flavors include “Rosie’s Batch” and “Pontch’s Mix,” named after actual employees’ dogs.... READ ON

The U.S. Capitol Building Houses an Empty Crypt for George Washington

Beneath the ornate Capitol Rotunda is a drafty crypt with 40 Doric columns, a dozen statues, and zero human remains.... READ ON

11 Old-Fashioned Marijuana Nicknames and Slang Terms

If someone handed you an “Alice B. Toklas brownie” in the 1960s, you were in for an extra special treat.... READ ON

David Hasselhoff’s 'Knight Rider' K.I.T.T. Car Is Up for Auction

David Hasselhoff was the star of ‘Knight Rider,’ but his sentient sidekick (voiced by William Daniels) often stole the show.... READ ON

Viennetta Ice Cream Cake Is Headed Back to Shelves

For many American Millennials, a slice of Viennetta ice cream cake was the height of luxury—and they’ll finally get the chance to experience it again.... READ ON

26 Bizarre Tales of Animals Involved in Crimes

When it comes to weird animal stories, it’s hard to beat the one about the parrot who got arrested for cursing out an old woman.... READ ON

The 25 Highest-Grossing Movies of 2020

Between pandemic-prompted theater shutdowns and straight-to-VOD releases, 2020’s list of top box office movies is a strange one.... READ ON

Help Massachusetts Choose a Possible State Dinosaur

Massachusetts already has its fair share of state symbols (including Boston cream pie and Boston cream doughnuts), but you can never have too many.... READ ON

Alex Trebek’s Final ‘Jeopardy!’ Episodes to Air This Week

Beloved ‘Jeopardy’ host Alex Trebek passed away in November 2020, and his permanent successor has yet to be chosen.... READ ON

The 40 Best-Selling Books of 2020

Some popular books—especially ones written by Barack and Michelle Obama—practically lived on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2020.... READ ON

Why Do Dogs Hate Vacuums?

Just like fireworks and thunderstorms, vacuums are unexpectedly loud—but that’s not the only reason your dog hates them so much.... READ ON

6 Fee-Free Days to Visit National Parks in 2021

Here’s when to plan your next free trip to Yellowstone National Park, the Grand Canyon, or anywhere else run by the National Park Service.... READ ON

The 25 Highest-Grossing Movie Sequels of All Time

It’s hard to compete with the Avengers, but you stand a good chance if your sequel features lightsabers or Pixar characters.... READ ON

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