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.
13 Facts About Opossums
7 Unattractive Facts About Blobfish
10 Fascinating Facts About Katherine Johnson
9 Misconceptions About Popular Songs and Misheard Lyrics
Pop songs get misinterpreted all the time, and we're here to break down the real stories behind your favorite bops, from Nirvana to Bruce Springsteen.
How Did Jelly Beans Become an Easter Candy?
Jelly beans are a staple of Easter baskets, but how did they get there?
Why Are Wendy’s Burgers Square?
The shape of Wendy’s square burgers has nothing to do with taste and everything to do with marketing.
The Man Who ‘Invented’ the Labradoodle Called the Dog Crossbreed His Biggest Regret
The Labradoodle is a beloved designer dog breed, but in the eyes of the dog's creator, it's a 'Frankenstein['s] monster.'
Millennial Slang: 16 Terms You Should Totes Know
From adulting to doggo, you can thank Millennials for popularizing these slang terms.
These Revised Guidelines Redefine Birth Years and Classifications for Millennials, Gen Z, and Gen Alpha
The age ranges and birth years for Gen Z and Gen Alpha—along with Millennials—are clearer (so we can all quit fighting about it now).
There Are Only 25 Blimps Left on Earth—Here’s Why
There are 25 blimps left in existence as of 2022, and only half of them are in use.
14 Fascinating Facts About Rabbits
Rabbits are much more than the cute, carrot-munching creatures pop culture makes them out to be.
Why the Filet-O-Fish Sandwich Has Been on McDonald’s Menu for More Than 60 Years
The McDonald's Filet-O-Fish sandwich was introduced as an alternative for Catholics avoiding meat on Fridays during Lent—and it almost lost its spot on the menu to a pineapple burger.
How to Play Instagram’s Secret Emoji Game
If you get bored scrolling through Instagram reels, play the secret game built into your DMs.
This Map Shows the Literal Translations of U.S. Place Names
From California to Boston, here are the literal translations of every American state and capital city name.
Rough Play: The Dirty and Dangerous History of McDonald's PlayPlaces
Following a string of PR nightmares, McDonald's began quietly removing its PlayPlaces in the 2000s.