Meredith Danko

Joined: Aug 15, 2013

Former head writer of mental_floss on YouTube. Also writes for Crash Course and AFC Wimbly Wombly.

The Best Offbeat Museum to Visit in All 50 States

Jon Voight, Lee Marvin, and Charlton Heston.

8 Actors Who Could Have Starred in ‘Jaws’

Getting these projects done required a lot of Washingtons.

10 Projects Funded by the U.S. Government

21 Things You Might Not Know About ‘The Last of Us’

35 Surprising Facts About ‘The Office’

On March 24, 2005, American audiences got their first look at the scrappy team at Dunder Mifflin’s Scranton branch. Can you hear ‘The Office’ theme song already?

A giant Santa statue in North Pole, Alaska.

14 U.S. Towns With Christmassy Names

From North Pole to Bethlehem to Eggnog, here are 14 places in the United States with names that will remind you of the winter holidays.

Hip-Hop, Squatch, and the BrooklyKnight have all been retired.

19 Retired NBA Mascots

Some of these former mascots were beloved—and some have been gladly forgotten.

The 15 States That Produce the Most Christmas Trees

There are Christmas tree farms scattered throughout the United States. Here’s which states produce the most of the holiday-favorite evergreen.

What Do Referees Do Between Periods of a Game?

Spoiler alert: They’re not just sitting around.

Can You Really Get Your Tongue Stuck to a Metal Pole?

As anyone who has seen ‘A Christmas Story’ knows, licking a cold metal object can be dangerous. Here’s why you should never stick your tongue to a metal pole in winter.

Why Do We Call Dogs Fido?

“Fido” is a name that has become synonymous with all things dog. But where did the name come from?

Something to think about while you’re casting your ballot.

Why Do We Vote in November?

There were some very compelling reasons for choosing the first Tuesday in November as Election Day—at least, they were when that date was chosen.

The show shot its cast—including Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, David Schwimmer, Lisa Kudrow, Matthew Perry, and Matt LeBlanc—to mega-stardom.

40 Surprising Facts About ‘Friends’

In honor of its 30th anniversary, discover even more fun facts about NBC’s hit sitcom, ‘Friends,’ which helped turn its cast—including Jennifer Aniston, Matthew Perry, and Courteney Cox—into household names.

A sign for the South Of The Border rest stop located in South Carolina.

11 of the Best Rest Stops in the U.S.

Hitting the road this summer? Consider putting one of these rest stops on your travel itinerary for when you need a break.

The Origins of 10 LGBTQ+ Pride Flags

Many Pride flags have been created since Gilbert Baker made the first one in 1978. Here’s a rundown of the origins, evolution, and significance of just some of the LGBTQ+ Pride flags out there.

Thomas Edison, awaiting a ghostly phone call.

35 Lesser-Known Inventions of Famous Inventors

Henry Ford’s car made of soybeans and Thomas Edison’s ghost-detecting telephone are just two little-known creations of history’s most famous inventors.