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.

Jif Peanut Butter Recalled After Salmonella Outbreak: Here’s How to Check If You Should Toss Yours

She's dreaming about a giant insect melting into goo.

What Exactly Is a Fever Dream?

How Many Words Per Minute Does the Average Person Speak?

Paramedic vs. EMT vs. EMR: What’s the Difference?

Earwax Lip Balm, Egg Laundry Detergent, and 27 Other Old-Timey Life Hacks

Sure, the Victorians had some odd life hacks for cleaning and cooking that actually worked. But should you pour borax in your milk? No.

Heading on Vacation? Let Iceland’s Horses Write Your Out-of-Office Message For You

Icelandic horses have a reputation for being extra intelligent and independent—qualities that make for great office assistants.

Listen to a Rare Recording of Shirley Jackson Reading “The Lottery”

Shirley Jackson recorded her classic horror story for vinyl back in 1959—and it’s on YouTube for free.

(L to R) Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Cholmondeley, Colin Firth as Ewen Montagu, and Johnny Flynn as Ian Fleming in 'Operation Mincemeat' (2022).

The True Story Behind ‘Operation Mincemeat’: How Hitler Fell for Britain’s Most Daring—And Disgusting—Deception

Major William Martin was a Roman Catholic Welshman who enjoyed the theater and loved his fiancée, Pam. He also didn’t exist—but the Nazis didn’t know that.

They're talking about cows, cats, and curls.

9 Dirty Words With Completely Appropriate Secondary Definitions

From ‘titty’ to ‘boner,’ these rude words aren’t actually always rude.

Big Spring International Park in Huntsville, Alabama.

The 50 Best Places to Live in the U.S. Right Now

Huntsville, Alabama, has more to offer than a very important NASA space flight center.

A Third Round of Free At-Home COVID Test Kits Is Now Available

The previous rounds of free at-home COVID test kits maxed out at four. This time, the USPS will ship eight to each household.

'The Boating Party' by Mary Cassatt, circa 1893-1894.

The National Gallery of Art’s New Game—Artle—Is Basically Wordle for Art Lovers

Games like Wordle continue to proliferate—and thanks to the National Gallery of Art, art lovers now have an ‘-le’ of their own.

How On Earth

What’s the Thickest (And Thinnest) Layer of the Earth?

Thanks in large part to seismic waves transmitted during earthquakes, scientists have been able to size out the layers of the Earth.

Rob Schneider stars in 'Real Rob' (2015-2017).

ENTERTAINMENT

50 of the Worst TV Shows Ever Made, According to Rotten Tomatoes

‘Fleabag’ and ‘The Wire’ are objectively great. These TV shows are the opposite of that.

LIVE SMARTER

This iPhone Keyboard Hack Makes One-Handed Texting Much Easier

Your iPhone keyboard settings can give you more than emojis and multiple alphabets.

'Henry VIII's First Interview With Anne Boleyn' by Daniel Maclise, 1835.

HISTORY

Did Henry VIII Regret Executing Anne Boleyn? Some Historians Think So

Anne Boleyn’s execution freed Henry VIII up to marry his mistress and try again for a male heir. But he might’ve felt bad about it later.