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.

Any time you eat cereal out of a bowl this big, it's goblin mode.

What Is 'Goblin Mode'? Oxford’s Public-Voted Word of the Year Is All About Embracing Your Worst Self

Know the term so you can recognize when it's happening.

‘Gaslighting’ Is Merriam-Webster’s 2022 Word of the Year

You can finally put your Tomatometer knowledge to use.

Rotten Tomatoes’ ‘Daily Tomato’ Is the Perfect Wordle-Like Game for Movie Lovers

Looking to Chop Down a Fresh Christmas Tree This Year? This Map Can Help Locate the Nearest Tree Farm

Accent vs. Dialect vs. Language: What’s the Difference?

Any debate about how to pronounce ‘pecan’ could easily turn into a discussion about dialect—but that’s not just another word for ‘accent.’

13 Vegetables That Are Actually Fruits, Botanically Speaking

You may have already heard that tomatoes are a fruit. Here are 10 other vegetables that also fit the botanical bill.

And ‘Bambi’ was already a pretty dark story to begin with.

First It Was Winnie the Pooh—Now Bambi Is Being Turned Into a Bloodthirsty Killer in ‘Bambi: The Reckoning’

The lovable little fawn is now in the public domain—and he’s about to get a lot less lovable.

Taylor Russell and Timothée Chalamet in 'Bones and All' (2022).

Here’s What Timothée Chalamet and Taylor Russell Really Ate While Playing Cannibals in ‘Bones and All’

Hollywood’s latest cannibal movie required some culinary innovation—but less meat than you might’ve assumed.

To expert Wordlers, a five-guesser feels like a failure.

The 10 Hardest Wordle Stumpers of 2022

Wordle solutions aren’t all created equal—and if PARER was your streak-ending downfall, you’re in good company.

Not the most strategic guesses at play here.

This Wordle Board Game Lets You Play in Groups, Pick Your Own Words, and More

Because doing the daily Wordle alone on your phone sometimes just isn’t enough.

A photo illustration of Violet Jessop in front of the Olympic (left) and Titanic (right); she survived the wrecks of both ships—and the Britannic.

11 Amazing Historical Coincidences

Sure, you can claim that there is no such thing as coincidence. But just wait ’til you hear these stories.

Jennifer Coolidge and Jon Gries return for season 2 of ‘The White Lotus.’

The 30 Best TV Shows to Stream on HBO Max Right Now

‘The White Lotus,’ ‘Euphoria,’ ‘House of the Dragon,’ ‘Abbott Elementary,’ ‘Succession’ ... HBO Max has all that and more.

8 Facts About ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover,’ D.H. Lawrence’s Most Scandalous Novel

The story behind the publication of ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ is almost as dramatic as the novel itself.

Letitia Wright in ‘Black Panther: Wakanda Forever’ (2022).

Conquering the MCU: How to Watch the Marvel Movies and TV Shows in Order

Should you watch the Marvel movies in order of release or chronological order? And what about those Marvel TV shows? Here’s everything you need to know.

Michael Oliver stars in Problem Child (1990).

The 25 Worst Movies of All Time, According to Rotten Tomatoes

John Travolta’s ‘Gotti’ (2018) ranked fourth—but it’s not the only John Travolta movie on the list.

Why Is My Turkey Wearing Frilly Paper Hats On Its Legs?

Those frilly paper caps on your turkey's legs have been called “turkey frills,” “turkey booties,” and even “turkey panties.” Here’s where they came from.