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.

Esmeralda and Phoebus in 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame' (1996).

Quiz: Only a True Disney Fan Knows Who Voiced These Disney Characters

What it feels like to fly out of Atlanta.

The 10 Busiest Airports in the World

Can you guess the facts based on these context-less images?

200 Random Facts Presented Without Context

Grocery Stores vs. Supermarkets: What’s the Difference?

The Clever Reason Why Grocery Stores Change Their Layouts So Often

A grocery store’s layout strategy is very calculated—and rearranging inventory is meant to confuse you.

15 of the Top Restaurants Around the World With a 3-Star Michelin Rating

One way to determine the best Michelin star restaurants is just to look at how many people are moved to leave good reviews after they visit.

McDonald’s Is Testing Out Plastic-Free Restaurants in Germany and Canada

Sustainability innovations include grass-made burger wrappings, edible waffle cups as condiment containers, and more.

What Really Happens If You Can’t Pay Your Restaurant Bill?

Restaurant employees probably won’t make you wash dishes to settle the debt. Here’s what they might do instead.

Where does your state fall in the lineup?

Do You Know When Your State Was Founded? Find Out With This Interactive Map

See all 50 states in order from oldest to newest—and test your knowledge with a quiz.

Dutch field hockey player Lars Balk during the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Why Is the Olympic Field Hockey Pitch So Wet?

Here’s why high-level field hockey competitions keep the turf nice and watered.

The Reason Reading Makes You Sleepy

If you’re trying to teach yourself how to fall asleep faster, reading before bed is a good habit to pick up—here’s why.

Definition Detective Quiz #50: Guess the Meanings of These Obscure Words

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

What’s the Little White Thing in an Egg?

The stringy white glob hanging off an egg yolk is a chalaza. Here’s what it does and when you should remove it.

Definition Detective Quiz #49

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

Lin-Manuel Miranda and the cast of 'Hamilton' performing at the 2016 Tony Awards.

Can You Guess the Lyrics of These ‘Hamilton’ Songs?

This fill-in-the-blank quiz tests how well you really know 'Hamilton' songs, from "My Shot" to "Burn" and beyond.

Stopping to smell the flowers isn't all it's cracked up to be.

25 Worst U.S. Cities for Allergy Sufferers

If you suffer from allergies, here are the worst—and the best—places to be.