Michele Debczak

Joined: Aug 11, 2015

Michele Debczak is a Senior Staff Writer for Mental Floss. Some of her favorite subjects include defunct theme park rides, weird-looking sea creatures, and fast food history. When she's not writing, she's probably reading about unsolved mysteries on Wikipedia.

Katherine Johnson at NASA's Langley Research Center, 1980.

10 Fascinating Facts About Katherine Johnson

The One Word You Can't Say on Star Trek

A map of the 63 National Parks in the U.S.

1 Fact About All 63 U.S. National Parks

Watch the Only Surviving Footage of the Titanic Before Its Doomed Voyage

Did the Northern Lights Play a Role in the Sinking of the Titanic? A New Paper Says It’s Possible

The northern lights were spotted the night the 'Titanic' sank, and the solar storm that caused them may have contributed to the ship's demise.

NOAA/Institute for Exploration/University of Rhode Island

Submarine Expedition Reveals Parts of the Titanic Have Fully Decayed

The salt, currents, and metal-eating bacteria of the ocean are breaking down the wreck of the 'Titanic,' and it could be gone completely as soon as 2030.

Lexie de los Santos, National Geographic

How a Cold War Mission Led to the Discovery of the Titanic

The 'Titanic' is one of the most famous shipwrecks on the seafloor. Its discovery was part of an unrelated Navy investigation.

First-class passengers feasted on poached salmon with mousseline sauce.

11 Items From 'Titanic’s' Final Menus

From foie gras to consommé, this is what first-class passengers ate for their last meals aboard the RMS 'Titanic'.

Where did this weather-related idiom come from?

Why Do We Say “Right as Rain”?

Where did this curious expression come from, and what’s so right about rain, anyway?

The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images

Watch Titanic Survivors Tell Their Stories in This Rare Video

In this rare clip from 1970, three Titanic survivors tell their stories from that fateful night in April 1912.

The wreck of the RMS Titanic at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Watch Newly Released Footage of the ‘Titanic’ Wreck Shot in 1986

In honor of the 25th anniversary of James Cameron’s ‘Titanic,’ WHOI has released never-before-seen footage of the real-life shipwreck.

Cat standing in front of ship's porthole window.

The Legend of Jenny, the 'Titanic' Cat Said to Have Predicted the Ship's Fate

Jenny the ship cat likely didn't make it off 'Titanic' alive, but according to one legend, she anticipated the disaster and saved the life of a crew member.

Titanic sinking on the cover of Showman's Guide for the Rank Organisation film ' A Night to Remember ' with Kenneth More.

Women and Children First: How a Rarely-Used Maritime Practice Caused Confusion On Board the 'Titanic'

Over 100 years after 'Titanic' sank, the origins and true meaning of “women and children first” remain a source of confusion.

You’re Probably Brushing Your Teeth All Wrong

It’s easy to make these common mistakes when you're brushing your teeth, but here’s how to do it the right way.

How to Pack Winter Clothes, According to Travel Experts

Packing sweaters, coats, and other winter clothing can be tricky, but these expert-approved travel tips can help you navigate it with ease.

The burnout is real—but so are these solutions.

7 Ways To Follow the News Without Experiencing Media Burnout

Has the news cycle got you stressed? Here are some crucial tips for how to balance your mental health while still staying top of current events.