Authors' Archives and Bios

Based in Portland, Oregon, Cole Gamble has written about the crimes of Willy Wonka and man-eating beds for The Daily Beast, The New Yorker, Cracked, The Huffington Post and Salon.

Steve Gartland

Steve Gartland started his career at The L Magazine in Brooklyn, where he was a copy-editor and writer of occasional movie reviews and short pieces about forgotten bits of New York City history.

Anna Gay

Anna Gay is a photographer and a grad student in the MFA program at the University of Georgia.

David Goldenberg

Dave Gonzales

Jeremy Gordon

Brian Gottesman

Brian Gottesman is a lawyer in Wilmington, DE.

Kenny Gould

Kenneth Gould, an undergraduate majoring in English at Duke University, generally goes by the more youthful nickname 'Kenny.' At Duke, Kenny is the Vice-President and business manager of

Jenn Grabenstetter

Jenn graduated from Wake Forest University in 2005 with a degree in Political Science.

DB Grady

D.B. Grady is the pseudonym of author David Brown.

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Retrobituaries: Jack Cover, Inventor of the Taser

You might not know Jack Cover, but you’re probably familiar with the Taser, a device he invented to help stop airplane hijackings. His contributions didn’t stop there, and the next time you resist arrest, you can tell the cops not only where the Taser they’re using came from, but also a little about the man who created it. Here is a look at the life of John “Jack” Higson Cover, Jr.... READ ON

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10 Things You Might Not Know About North Korea

Get to know the country on the other side of that multi-kiloton nuclear bomb that was tested yesterday.... READ ON

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6 Other Major Discoveries by the U.S. Geological Survey

Yesterday the USGS registered a 4.9 tremor in North Korea, suggesting the test of a nuclear bomb. Detecting nuclear tests is one of many missions for the USGS.... READ ON

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Retrobituaries: Elizabeth "Lizzie" Magie, Inventor of Monopoly

In 1904, Elizabeth "Lizzie" Magie designed a board game to demonstrate the tragic effects of land-grabbing. She named her grim reflection of life The Landlords’ Game, but you probably know it better as Monopoly.... READ ON

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5 Fictional Companies Owned by Microsoft

Microsoft runs an entire corporate empire you might not know about, but are probably hosting somewhere on your computer. They are the companies of Access and SharePoint, of Excel and SQL Server, and comprise all of that sample data included to give you some idea of how the software works.... READ ON

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7 Songs for Inauguration Day and Other State Ceremonies

Every four years, the U.S. continues the Great Experiment and inaugurates a president. Music plays an important part in the festivities.... READ ON

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The Diabolical Motivations of 11 Video Game Villains

In video games, every violent gang and alien race in the known universe (this one and parallel) cannot stand human civilization. Have you ever wondered why, though? ... READ ON

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The Criminal Lives of 5 Classical Musicians

If you want to see the right way to stick it to the man, you’ve got to look at the greats of classical music.... READ ON

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5 Fictional Ways to Go Very Fast in Space

Space operas would be pretty boring without some way to go very far, very fast. Traveling at 40,000 miles per hour—the speed at which Voyager is zipping along—it would take around 17,000 years for the Vulcans to fly to Earth and make first contact. Chances are, by the time they got here we would have already bombed ourselves to extinction and been replaced by evolved apes. Nobody would pay to see a movie like that. To keep things interesting, here are a few fictional ways to go very fast in science... READ ON

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12 Things You Might Not Know About World of Warcraft

Last month, Blizzard Entertainment's World of Warcraft turned 8—which means that kids who started playing it when they were in middle school are now graduating from college. (Excluding the serious players, who will probably need a couple of extra years to catch up on their classwork.) In that time, a lot of weird things have happened in Azeroth (the game’s world) and on Earth (our world) as a result of the game’s enduring popularity. Here are a few of them. 1. Azeroth, USA Azeroth is operated... READ ON

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Monica Granados

Elijah Granet

Elijah Granet has always loved trivia. At the age of 12, he went on Kids Jeopardy! and won $18,300.

Amanda Green

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The Working Dead: The Posthumous Career of Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut was one of the most influential American writers of the 20th century. All signs point to the author holding the same place in the 21st century, despite the fact that he died April 11, 2007. The late Vonnegut has accomplished more dead than most of us will alive, from social media celebrity to indie film success. We’d expect nothing less from the ironic author who wrote in Slaughterhouse Five, “How nice—to feel nothing, and still get full credit for being alive.” 1. RT... READ ON

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From Classics to Graphics: 6 Literary Masterpieces Turned Into Graphic Novels

Abridging classic novels for younger readers is nothing new. But in recent years, classic literature has been graphic novel-ized, making it more accessible for readers young and old while preserving the plot, themes, and sometimes even the author's voice. English class will never be the same, thanks to these classics gone graphic. 1. The Picture of Dorian... READ ON

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A Brief History of Political Halloween Masks (and What They Tell Us About the Election)

You can't visit a Halloween store without seeing the vinyl visages of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. Dressing up as the incumbent president on October 31 dates back to the 1960s at least, though some beloved political figures, like George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, have been imitated long after their administrations. Debating whether to dress up as your favorite presidential candidate this year? Read more about political Halloween masks before you cast your... READ ON

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Can You Handle The Tooth? 10 Things You Didn't Know About Teeth

The average adult has 28 to 32 teeth, depending on their "wise" set of third molars or lack thereof. But besides the importance of brushing and flossing, how well do you know your chompers? From LED braces to pearly whites in hard-to-reach places, we bring you the tooth, the whole tooth, and nothing but the tooth. 1. Some babies are born with teeth. About one in every 2000 babies is born with natal teeth, so sometimes baby's first dentist appointment is only a few days after birth. Natal teeth usually... READ ON

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Boo-reaucrats: 8 Presidential Families—And Pets!—Dressed Up for Halloween

Politicians have to dress the part. Before public appearances, they meet with image consultants to ensure that they're wearing the perfect power tie and accessorizing with American flag memorabilia that's noticeable without being ostentatious. But what might impress the average American even more than a tailored suit? An awesome Halloween costume. Hollywood celebrities aren't the only famous people who get dressed up on October 31. Sometimes politicians don wigs, makeup, and weird clothes to get their... READ ON

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6 Flight Attendants Gone Wild

They're authoritative, courteous, and could win an Olympic gold in Complimentary Beverage Pouring. But flight attendants have baggage, too. Read on for 6 first-class examples of flight attendants who brought their own turbulence to the job. 1. Attention Passengers: This Is Captain Morgan Speaking Atlantic Southeast Airlines flight attendant Sarah Mills didn't have to leave the ground to reach a comfortable boozing altitude. In 2007, she showed up to work with a blood alcohol level which was technically... READ ON

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Arin Greenwood

Arin Greenwood is a writer (and, alas, lawyer) living in Alexandria, Virginia.

Danny Groner

FlossGuest

Joel Haas

Josh Halbur

Josh Halbur has been living a life full of knowledge and wordplay, from hosting games of “Wheel of Fortune” with his alphabet blocks when he was a kindergartener, to writing crosswords and contests

Kristen Hall-Geisler

James Hamblin

James Hamblin, MD, is a writer and physician in Los Angeles, where he also improvises at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre.

Toby Hansen

Nick Hansen

Lauren Hansen

Jill Harness

Jill Harness is a freelance writer, amateur chef, and a sucker for animals.

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Can Cats See Optical Illusions?

We know animals see differently than we do and that their brains process visual messages in a different manner—which has led many to wonder if animals can see optical illusions.... READ ON

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Castles Built By Only One Person

Designing and building a castle is hard work, even with a whole team of skilled craftsmen, but that doesn't mean some people haven't tried constructing one all by themselves.... READ ON

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11 Great Geeky Umbrellas

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Artistic Takes on 9 Classic Fairy Tales

We’re all familiar with the classic Disney and Brothers Grimm versions of fairy tales, but with a little artistic skill and imagination, it’s amazing how drastically these tales can change—at least visually. Need proof? Look no further than this collection of fantastic artistic versions of some of the most common fairy tales.... READ ON

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Stained Glass Made From Paper

Stained glass tends to be made from, well, glass. But artist Eric Standley makes gorgeous and intricate designs reminiscent of the finest stained glass windows on earth using only one material—paper. ... READ ON

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13 Fun and Impressive Pieces of Doctor Who Fan Art

In honor of the longest running sci-fi series in history, let’s take a look at some of the fantastic creations made by the show’s worldwide legion of fans.... READ ON

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Could A Coconut Save Your Life?

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11 Brilliant Scientist Tattoos

We’ve brought you literary tattoos, math tattoos and librarian tattoos, but now it’s time to take a look at the tattoos of scientists. From astronomers to biologists and from physicists to geographers, these tattooees do a great job at representing the wide array of scientific pursuits.... READ ON

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22 Formal and Fantastic Geeky Cufflinks

If you want people to be able to tell exactly what kind of geek you are from your first handshake, these great cufflinks are a perfect way to literally wear your geek on your sleeve.... READ ON

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11 Tasty Geek Pizzas

Elevensanity continues! Next up on our lists of 11 for the 11th, we'll whet your appetite with a lunchtime list. ... READ ON

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Lauren Harrell

Originally from Cincinnati, Lauren recently graduated from Ohio University where she studied journalism and political science.

Adam Harris

Tim Harrod

Tim Harrod has written for The Onion, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and Star Wars Insider Magazine. He lives, and periodically works, in Brooklyn.

Monica Hartley

Mangesh Hattikudur

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SNEAK PEEK #1: The Truth about Chickens

Our ninth annual 10 Issue hits newsstands next Tuesday, and to celebrate we'll be previewing it here all week. This year's 10 issue includes a whole range of wonderful lists from 10 ways Video Games will Change Your Life (they can make you rich and help you find love!), to 10 Things You Definitely Don't Know about Afghanistan, to 10 Ridiculous Feats of Literature. Plus, we've got stories on outsider artists, the wild wild west, and so much more. Here's a sneak peek at one of my favorite stories from the... READ ON

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Eiffel Tower Blueprints!

Boingboing linked to these beautiful blueprints straight from Gustave Eiffel's pen, and I completely fell in love with... READ ON

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Venting Machine

Forget stress balls and punching bags. If you're feeling destructive and simply want to break something, check out the Anger Release Machine. Created by artistsÂ Katja Kublitz and Ronnie Yarisal, Anger Release is basically a traditional vending machine stuffed full of glassware and china. When someone pays money for a particular product (say, the beautiful vase at D4, or the porcelain cat at C3), the coils slowly push the fragile piece to the front. And then it drops just like a bag of potato chips... READ ON

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The Wonderful Tale of Louis Armstrong and his first Christmas Tree

One of the facts that we hear repeated with some frequency is that trumpeter Louis Armstrong got his first Christmas tree at age 40, and loved it so much that took it on tour with him for a month. While it's a great bit of trivia, I was curious to double check it. Turns out, the story's even better the way his wife tells it: "We finally went to bed. And Louis was still laying up in the bed watching the tree, his eyes just like a baby's eyes would watch something... So finally I said, "Well, I'll turn... READ ON

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On the Blessed Origins of Festivus

While most people in the US will be celebrating Christmas today, I'm guessing a few of you out there will be gathering around the olde Festivus pole. For those of you indulging in Festivus (A Holiday for the Rest of Us!), you might be interested in learning that the Costanza clan's strange celebration of choice-- popularized on Seinfeld-- actually existed long before the show. The holiday, which features a stark aluminum pole instead of a Christmas tree, "The Airing of Grievances" where... READ ON

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The Search for an Indian Santa

One of my favorite scenes from John Green's wonderful novel Paper Towns is when the character Radar doesn't want to invite a girl over to his house because he's embarrassed by his parents. More specifically, he's embarrassed by their enormous collection of Black Santa figurines, with Black Santas crammed onto every windowsill and bookshelf in the house. Until I read the passage, I had no idea that there was such a tremendous market for Black Santas, although it makes complete sense. Why not imagine Santa... READ ON

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The New Issue Is Out!

That's right, folks. The new issue is out on stands today, and it's pretty darn wonderful. But if all my story descriptions (Steven Hawking's Revenge Tactics, the Dangerous World of Animal Smuggling, a Tunnel That Saved Bosnia!) and overuse of exclamation points hasn't enticed you, maybe this peek at the new cover will.Â Also, here are a few other things you'll learn from the new issue: -Why 10 month-old babies learn to fake smiles -The (actual) pros and cons of Swedish socialism -How Greenland... READ ON

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Sneak Peek #7: Heating Your Home With Bunnies

The new issue's almost here (stay tuned for the big cover unveiling later today!), but we can't stop the show and tell just yet! Here's a sneak peek at our Spinning the Globe tour of Sweden. The story covers so many things, from how Sweden's socialism actually works, to why Swedes don't really like ABBA, to why 1950's nostalgia is taking the country by storm. Of course, one of the other things we cover is how the nation is way ahead of the rest of the world in... READ ON

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Sneak Peek #6: Stephen Hawking's Drive-bys

Our Jan/Feb issue hits newsstands tomorrow (ish), so we're giving you another reason to go out and pick up a copy! One of the things I love is when you hear stories that make heroes a little more human. The new issue's got a little feature on nerdy celebs with anger management problems. Here's the section on Stephen Hawking: Wheel Power While renowned mathematician and physicist Stephen Hawking can't show his anger through the inflections of his electronic voice, he manages to... READ ON

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Sneak Peek #5: The Tunnel That Saved Bosnia

The Jan/Feb issue of mental_floss hits newsstands soon, so we're continuing with our week-long preview of the magazine's stories. While I have a vague understanding of the Bosnia-Serbia conflict, the truth is, I know very little about the history. But the story of this tunnel, which was dug under the house of middle-class family man Bajro Kolar and led to a garage in the city, was utterly fascinating to me. Here's just a glimpse at the impact: Saving a City The Sarajevo Tunnel was... READ ON

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Andrew Heiting-Doane

Joe Hennes

Eleanor Herman

Judith B Herman

Judith B.

Erica Hersh

Matthew Hickman

Matthew was born and raised near Savannah, Georgia. After graduating from UGA he made several questionable career decisions.

Chris Higgins

Chris Higgins is the author of

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11 "Schoolhouse Rock!" Hits

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Hyperlapse Videos

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Behold, the Google Street View Hyperlapse

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Make Your Own Magic Crystal Tree

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25 Things Turning 25 This Year

If you're turning 25 this year, good news—you can now rent a car in the US without paying a weird fee <i>and</i> you're as old as the California Raisins. Read on, before your quarter-life crisis hits.... READ ON

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The Rabbit of Seville

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The Basics of Parallel Universe Hypotheses

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Fans Pulled Onstage to Rock

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AOL Fixes Everything in 1995

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The 1957 Spaghetti Harvest

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Patrick Hildebrandt

Daven Hiskey

Daven has a B.S. and M.S. in Computer Science and a background in mathematics, physics, astronomy, history, literature, electrical engineering, and music.