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.

History of Native American Heritage Month

Thanksgiving isn’t the only major November holiday—here’s how Native American Heritage Month first came to be.... READ ON

Get Paid to Watch 25 Christmas Movies in 25 Days

If you’re already planning on holding your own ‘25 Days of Christmas’ movie marathon, this dream job is perfect for you.... READ ON

Sarah Josepha Hale: The Mother of Thanksgiving

The history of Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete without mentioning Sarah Josepha Hale, the holiday’s biggest fan.... READ ON

6 Bizarre Turkey Attack Stories

Your Thanksgiving turkey is harmless, of course, but the live one stalking around your backyard might not be.... READ ON

Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas

From reusable produce bags to platypus-shaped tea infusers, here are the best zero-waste products to give this holiday season.... READ ON

Queen Elizabeth II’s Life Chronicled In TASCHEN Photo Book

A young Queen Elizabeth II was just as quick to smile and as fond of animals (Corgis, especially) as she is today.... READ ON

Why Turkeys Have Wattles on Their Necks

The loose flesh that hangs from a turkey’s neck isn’t the most attractive part of the bird—to humans, at least.... READ ON

Hendrick’s Gin Unveils Victorian Stationary Bike

Victorian penny-farthings weren’t exactly optimized for exercise—neither is the Hendrick’s High Wheel.... READ ON

Whole Foods Giving Out Gift Cards for Thanksgiving Turkey Fails

Whether your Thanksgiving turkey bursts into flames or just tastes bad, Whole Foods has you covered.... READ ON

Shirley Chisholm Movie to Star Danai Gurira

‘The Fighting Shirley Chisholm’ will chronicle the trailblazing politician’s presidential campaign of 1972.... READ ON

Middle Ages: Most Common Misconceptions

The medieval era wasn’t just a bunch of flat Earthers feasting, jousting, and exhibiting a gross disregard for personal hygiene.... READ ON

Why Babies Cry When You Sit Down

Wondering how to stop a baby from crying? Unfortunately, the answer doesn’t involve sinking into your comfiest armchair.... READ ON

National Parks Free for Veterans and Gold Star Families

Anybody can visit a national park for free on Veterans Day—now military veterans and their families can go for free whenever they want.... READ ON

'Lame Duck' Origin and Definition

Lame duck presidents date back to the beginning of U.S. history, but we didn’t start calling them that until the 20th century.... READ ON

Alex Trebek’s Favorite ‘Jeopardy!’ Contestant Interview

“Roses are red / Violets are blue / Some poems rhyme / And some don’t.” —Dana Venator at the 1987 ‘Jeopardy!’ Teen Tournament.... READ ON

Starbucks Gives Away Free Reusable Holiday Cups 2020

If you’ve been thinking about indulging in peppermint hot chocolate or a pumpkin spice latte, today’s the day to do it.... READ ON

Radio Stations Playing Christmas Music Early in 2020

If you’ve started blasting Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas Is You” already, the radio stations are right there with you.... READ ON

What's In a Can of Red Bull?

The caffeine in Red Bull can compete with your morning coffee, and Red Bull’s taurine has nothing to do with an actual bull.... READ ON

Grown-Up Play-Doh Smells Like Coffee, Spa, and More

With aromas as tantalizing as these, you’ll be wishing Play-Doh was edible even more than you did as a kid.... READ ON

Relaxing Sounds From 50 Popular Vacation Spots

Nature sounds, wave sounds, even city sounds—here’s background noise from whichever vacation you wish you were on.... READ ON

How Often to Wash Your Sweaters

Unfortunately, the answer is not “Never.” (That said, you can usually get more than one wear out of them before laundering.)... READ ON

What Happens if Someone Objects at a Wedding

It happened in ‘Shrek.’ It happened in ‘Four Weddings and a Funeral.’ What if it happens in real life?... READ ON

The List Show: English Language Mistakes

‘Irregardless’ is technically a word, and ‘dord’ technically isn’t (though it has shown up in a few old dictionaries).... READ ON

Jim Henson’s ‘Land of Gorch’ Muppets on ‘SNL’

“I don’t write for felt,” writer Michael O'Donoghue said, and John Belushi often called them “mucking Fuppets.”... READ ON

Why Tinfoil Has One Shiny Side

Understanding the manufacturing process will also help you decide whether that shiny side should face up or down.... READ ON

The Happiest Songs, According to Science

Music preferences are subjective, but there are certain quantifiable metrics that help us identify the best upbeat songs.... READ ON

How Costco's 'Kirkland Signature' Got Its Name

Unlike other stores, Costco only has one private label—but 'Kirkland Signature' wasn’t the founder's first choice.... READ ON

Spot the Hidden Helmet Among Motorcycles

Being able to find your actual motorcycle helmet in your own messy garage is a key part of motorcycle safety.... READ ON

Horace Greeley Loses Presidential Election, Then Dies

Horace Greeley’s sudden death sent the Electoral College—which had yet to vote—into a state of confusion.... READ ON

Woodrow Wilson Caught the 1918 Flu, But Hid It From the Public

Woodrow Wilson never publicly acknowledged the 1918 influenza pandemic—not even after he caught the virus himself.... READ ON

Bakers Revive Election Cake, an Old Election Day Custom

Before women could vote, they contributed to Election Day celebrations the old-fashioned way: by baking fruitcakes.... READ ON

Surprising Origins of TV Show Theme Songs

The 'Succession' theme song has a sleigh bell in it, and 'The Sopranos' intro is actually about a woman who killed her husband.... READ ON

‘American Psycho’ Business Card Scene Remade With Cats

If Patrick Bateman bragged about his pet instead of his business card, ‘American Psycho’ would’ve been a great cat movie.... READ ON

Reason for Daylight Saving Time

The long, winding history of Daylight Saving Time includes a few false starts and a cameo from Benjamin Franklin.... READ ON

Yarn Vending Machine Comes to Philadelphia

The vending machine, which lives in a barber shop, is full of brightly colored yarn skeins created by a local crochet designer.... READ ON

2020’s Most Popular Doughnuts by State

The glazed doughnut is the time-tested favorite in more than a dozen states, but the zeitgeisty cronut could soon take the lead.... READ ON

How Astronauts Vote From Space

Kate Rubins cast her ballot from the International Space Station with the help of a county clerk and a nifty technology known as the PDF.... READ ON

Evolution of Presidential State Car

From FDR’s modest Lincoln to Obama’s massive Ground Force One, here’s how the president’s car has changed over the years.... READ ON

Food History: Candy Corn

Depending on which survey you’re looking at, candy corn is either the best or the worst Halloween candy ever created. Either way, here’s how it came to be.... READ ON

Larry David Shares Favorite 'Seinfeld' Episode

“I was ready to pack the whole thing in if they didn’t let us do this show … Fortunately, they didn’t say a word. I was shocked,” David said.... READ ON

How to Suggest Names for Northern Lights Storms

Whether you’ve seen a northern lights show in Alaska, Iceland, or not at all, you’re eligible to suggest they name the next storm after your dog.... READ ON

When Long Island Trick-or-Treaters Got Ant Poison

Helen Pfeil thought some kids were much too old for treats, so she played a nasty trick on them instead.... READ ON

Why Freddy Krueger Wears Red and Green

Wes Craven didn’t actually intend for his classic horror film villain to look like he was headed to a Christmas party.... READ ON

Why Does the Supreme Court Have Nine Justices?

The Constitution never specified a number of Supreme Court justices, and it’s fluctuated quite a lot over the years.... READ ON

Target Parking Lots Will Host Drive-Thru Trick or Treating This Halloween

Target locations around the country will become “Boo Avenues,” a less germy way to celebrate the holiday.... READ ON

What Vladimir Nabokov Taught Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Before Vladimir Nabokov gained fame for ‘Lolita,’ he helped hone the writing skills of a future Supreme Court icon.... READ ON

See a LEGO Portrait of Andrew Scott's Hot Priest From ‘Fleabag’

Andrew Scott’s unforgettable performance in Phoebe Waller-Bridge's 'Fleabag' warrants a LEGO portrait or two.... READ ON

Most Searched Halloween Costumes 2020

Plenty of people want to go all out as Baby Yoda or Beetlejuice, but even more just want to throw on a pointy hat and call it a day.... READ ON

When a President’s Term Officially Ends

Inauguration Day isn’t just a matter of scheduling—presidential term limits are exactly four years, down to the hour.... READ ON

Best Colleges and Universities in the U.S.

It’s hard to compete with the Ivy League schools, but the institutes of technology are putting up a good fight.... READ ON

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