Jake Rossen

Joined: May 6, 2013

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

The monarch butterfly is facing challenges.

Monarch Butterflies May Soon Be Protected By the Endangered Species Act

Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder in 'Blazing Saddles,' which inspired a short-lived TV adaptation.

The ‘Blazing Saddles’ TV Show That Was Supposedly Kept Hidden From Viewers

Defunct Tex-Mex Restaurant Chain Chi-Chi’s Is Mounting a Comeback

Why Do We Call It an “Allen Wrench”?

Costco Is Now Selling Preserved ‘Century’ Eggs

They’re not actually 100 years old.

When People Thought the ‘Back to the Future II’ Hoverboard Was Real

The Mattel hovercraft was a figment of imagination, but that didn't stop kids (and their parents) from demanding where to buy one.

Elf vs. Gnome: What's the Difference?

These two tiny titans of folklore might appear similar, but they couldn't be more different.

The world's best cheddar cheese has been chosen.

The World Cheese Awards’s No. 1 Cheddar Might Be at a Grocery Store Near You

Hundreds of judges braved a very pungent slate of contestants to determine the best cheddar cheese in the world.

Juggalos often claim to be misunderstood.

Down to Clown: When Juggalos Were Declared a Criminal Gang by the Department of Justice

Fans of the horrorcore group Insane Clown Posse find themselves on the outskirts of society. They like it that way.

Why Do So Many Products Come With ‘Do Not Eat’ Packets?

And what happens if you chow down on one anyway?

11 Defunct Sports Teams

From the Macon Whoopees to the Piedmont-Westernport Drybugs and beyond.

Brain rot can be a consequence of too much TikTok.

‘Brain Rot’ Is the Word of 2024, According to Oxford

The phrase for being terminally online is not flattering, but it is Oxford’s Word of the Year.

Super-thin pasta has medical usefulness.

The World’s Thinnest Spaghetti Could Have Surprising Medical Applications

It's 200 times thinner than human hair, and you won't find it at Olive Garden anytime soon.

Living Room vs. Family Room vs. Den: What’s the Difference?

You can binge Netflix in any room you like, but there are some key differences between these living areas.

(L-R) Thomas Edison, Temple Grandin, and Charles Steinmetz .

12 Scientists With Disabilities Who Made the World a Better Place

You don’t have to follow science news to be familiar with Thomas Edison or Temple Grandin, who are just two of the many innovative scientists who have experienced disabilities and viewed them as assets.

10 Adorable Facts About Cabbage Patch Kids

The holiday toy craze of 1983 inspired a line of counterfeit Kids that were stuffed with flammable rags.