

Jake Rossen
Joined: May 6, 2013
Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.


Blubber Bath: When Dead Whale Carcasses Were Used as Health Cures

10 Surprising Facts About Val Kilmer

Why Do Mirrors Have Black Spots?
How to Clean Your Cast Iron Skillet the Right Way
Cast iron cookware can last for decades—unless you screw up.
10 April Fools’ Pranks That Went Horribly Awry
Everyone loves a good April Fools’ prank—unless it results in armed law enforcement surrounding your home.
Written in Stone: 14 Facts About the Vietnam Veterans Memorial
The towering granite tribute to fallen soldiers of a controversial war was the result of a design contest won by a 21-year-old college student.
When DC Comics Killed Off Superman
The Man of Steel was mortally wounded in 1992. So was the comic book industry.
Why Do We Need to Pass Through Three Glass Doors at Airport Exits?
Leaving an airport involves getting briefly stuck between glass doors. There's a reason for that.
When Isaac Asimov Decided to Secretly Write Under the Name Paul French
Sci-fi author Asimov feared embarrassment might come out of one project, so he decided to create an alter ego.
Why Do Basketball Players Wear Arm Sleeves?
The sleeves might be performance enhancers. Or not.
5 Old-Timey Word Games You Can Play Today
Tired of Wordle? Give these word games a try.
How Do Cars Get Their Names?
Naming a car is like naming a baby, only with a few hundred million dollars at stake.
When ‘Garfield Minus Garfield’ Subtracted the Strip’s Title Character
How an experimental journey into the dark mind of Jon Arbuckle became an internet sensation.
‘The Simpsons’ Is Now Streaming 24/7 on Disney+
The long-running animated comedy can stream for two weeks without repeating an episode.
What Happens If You Shoot a Gun in Space?
Space shootouts are possible. The Soviets proved it.