Lucas Reilly

Joined: Nov 21, 2012

Lucas proudly worked on mental_floss magazine for four years, where he served as a senior editor. For two years, he worked as a longform feature writer for the web. He's embedded with professional eclipse chasers in Nebraska, interviewed feudal lords in Britain, hunted for buried treasure in Virginia, and once profiled a man who had tried to turn into a goat. Chances are, you can find him at the library.

The Dame of Sark, Sibyl Hathaway, in March 1953.

How the World’s Only Feudal Lord Outclassed the Nazis to Save Her People

You Probably Have a Favorite Burner—and You’re Probably Using It Wrong

Gregory Peck as Captain Ahab during the shooting of the 1956 film Moby Dick

George Pollard Jr., Unlucky Captain of the Ship That Inspired ‘Moby-Dick’

It was not the first time someone has sued a deity.

The Politician Who Sued God

2008 Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin had a concession speech written up for election night—but wasn’t allowed to deliver it.

12 Historical Speeches Nobody Ever Heard

For every speech, there are a bunch of versions that ended up on the writers' room floor. Here are 12 speeches that were written but, for a variety of reasons, never delivered.

It was about modernization—and also politics.

Why the Letters Q, W, and X Were Once Illegal in Türkiye

Sometimes the letter of the law has tough things to say about, well, letters.

The 1925 Cave Rescue That Captivated the Nation

On January 30, 1925, Kentucky cave explorer Floyd Collins went underground—and didn’t come out. The epic effort to rescue him gripped national headlines and transformed into a battle between heroism and folly, selflessness and selfishness, life and death.

The Bizarre Story of Britain’s Last Great Auk

Was the animal a bird, or a witch?

Illustration of people enjoying wassail, circa 1800.

What Is Wassailing, Anyway?

Here‘s everything you need to know about this beloved Christmas tradition, from how it evolved to a fun guide for doing it yourself.

‘Boo’ didn’t originate as a ghostly saying.

Why Do Ghosts Say “Boo”?

If linguistics is any indicator, it would appear that everybody in the spirit realm speaks Scots English.

Assault, Robbery, and Murder: The Dark History of “Bedsheet Ghosts”

Pretending to be a ghost was a popular pastime in 19th century England. But in London's neighborhood of Hammersmith, it could also get you killed.

Dwight Eisenhower Wrote a Letter Accepting Blame for D-Day's Failure, Just in Case

D-Day occurred on June 6, 1944, and kicked off the Battle of Normandy. Though it was a success, General Eisenhower was preparing for the worst.

14 Surprising Facts About William Shakespeare

Despite his many contributions to English literature, surprisingly little is known about William Shakespeare's life. Here’s what we do know about the celebrated actor, poet, and playwright.

An (Almost) Comprehensive History of Rat Kings

Myth, hoax, or Mother Nature's freak accident? Here's the story of nearly every rat king ever discovered.

8 Conspiracy Theories and What They Get Right

Grab your tinfoil hats. It’s time to get paranoid about mind control, CIA agents in the media, and other conspiracy theories with small grains of truth behind them.

Stephen King owes his career to the support of his wife, Tabitha.

How Stephen King’s Wife Saved ‘Carrie’ and Helped Launch His Career

Take a look back at the surprising origins of “Carrie,” Stephen King’s first book—and more importantly, discover how his wife Tabitha King played a pivotal role in its creation.