Authors' Archives and Bios

Rick Marshall

Rick Marshall is a freelance writer, professional geek, occasional photographer, indentured servant to incestuous cats, speedy talker, and

Jessica Bloustein Marshall

Jessica Bloustein Marshall is a writer, editor and multimedia producer. Her work can be found on MTV News, Newsweek, Guideposts and NPR.

Mario Marsicano

NYC advertising account guy turned blogger, Mario was one of the original contributors at YesButNoButYes, and is now proud to add mental_floss to his resume.

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The Late Movies: Jousting

Yesterday's backyard fun videos ended with some extreme ball jousting. This compelled me to seek out other joust videos, displaying equal or greater amounts of carnage. I was not disappointed. We'll start with the Sir Lancelot/Medieval Times version we're all familiar... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Backyard Mishaps

This past weekend was the unofficial start of summer. Let's continue the summer theme with some backyard mishaps. (But don't try any of these at home...ouch!) Remember Slip 'n Slide? There are lots of homemade versions out... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Viral Video Classics

Before you head out for your Memorial Day festivities, have some fun watching the some of the biggest viral video stars of all time. The Dramatic... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Ronco Commercials

With all the Shamwow, Slapchop and Snuggie excitement this year, you'd think no one had ever seen a Ronco ad before. Time to bring them back into the light Kids, before iPhones, people used to carry fishing equipment in their dungarees. It's the Ron Popeil Pocket... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Newsroom Bloopers

Tonight we take a look at one of the reasons YouTube was invented in the first place...newsroom bloopers. Did you know Tony Danza isn't the biggest fan of local... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Animal Races

Last week, I took a look at 10 Great American Animal Races. Today, I provide the video footage. We'll start with Camel Racing. All the fun without the tar and... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Batman Window Cameos

With Christian Bale's opening in Terminator Salvation just a few days away, I was reminded he recently signed on for Batman 3. These clips of celebrities at the window from the old Batman TV series will help get us in the mood. Jerry Lewis was the first guest star to pay Batman and Robin a quick... READ ON

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The Late Movies: The Rat Pack

Have you heard the latest Frank Sinatra news? Martin Scorsese has signed on to direct the biopic. Martie wants his boy Leo DiCaprio to star, but the studio wants Johnny Depp. While they work it out, here are some Rat Pack videos to get you in the mood. From the duets album, here's Frank with Bono singing "I've Got You Under my... READ ON

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10 Great American Animal Races

Growing up in upstate New York, my dad and I would go to the Saratoga Races every August. There's nothing like watching your horse come around the final turn, battling for the lead. So events like this weekend's Preakness Stakes always bring back some very cool memories. But horses aren't the only animals with a racing tradition. Here are ten examples. 1. Calaveras County Jumping... READ ON

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The Late Movies: More Educational Programming

Yesterday's educational clips seemed fairly popular, so I thought we'd try another round. Loripop asked for a Fargo North clip. Here he is with special guest, Big... READ ON

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Genie L. Mata

Kevin Mattson

Brian McCarthy

Sean McCarthy

Erin McCarthy

MentalFloss.com Deputy Editor. Karaoke and tsunami obsessive. Nerd. Future crazy cat lady.

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SXSW Q&A: The Filmmakers of Lunarcy!

It's been 40 years since we've sent anyone to the Moon, but that doesn't mean people have stopped dreaming about going there—and Lunarcy!, which played the SXSW film festival this week, explores how these lunar dreamers plan to make the trip.... READ ON

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SXSW: These Days, Libraries Are About More Than Just Books

When I arrived for Libraries: The Ultimate Playground, it was immediately clear that this session would not unfold like your typical SXSW panel. ... READ ON

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SXSW Q&A: Penny Lane, Director, Our Nixon

Super 8 footage filmed by Nixon aides H.R. Haldeman, John Erlighman, and Dwight Chapin was seized during the Watergate investigation and forgotten for almost 40 years. Now, in the documentary Our Nixon—which played at the SXSW Film Festival—audiences will get a chance to see that footage for the first time. We sat down with director Penny Lane to chat about finding the tapes, using an all-archival format, and why this footage turn preconceived notions about the people behind Watergate on their heads.... READ ON

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T-Shirt Sale for Pi Day!

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Starting at Midnight, Shop our Pi Day Sale!

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SXSW: The Myth of the Lone Inventor

When we imagine the creation of an object, be it a light bulb or an iPad, we typically imagine a sole inventor, toiling away in a room to build it. But it's never that simple. ... READ ON

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The mental_floss YouTube Channel is Live!

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SXSW Q&A: Emily Hagins and AJ Bowen, director and star of Grow Up, Tony Phillips

Emily Hagins is just 20 years old, but she’s already written and directed four feature films. Her latest, Grow Up, Tony Phillips, had its world premiere tonight at the SXSW film festival. ... READ ON

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Pi Hard This T-Shirt Tuesday!

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11 Beautiful and Creative SXSW Film Posters

These 11 film posters from the 2013 SXSW Film Festival creatively and beautifully capture the essence of their films—and would look great on anyone’s wall.... READ ON

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Dr. Craig McClain

Dr. Craig McClain is an expert on the science of body size in animals. His work has been featured in Miller-McCune, Cosmos, Science Illustrated, Wired, io9, and American Scientist.

Will McGough

Virginia C McGuire

Virginia C. McGuire writes about a lot of things, especially houses. She lives in Philadelphia.

Kate McKay

Brett McKay

Conor McKeon

Conor McKeon is a writer living in Brooklyn.

Carol McLaughlin

Brian McMahon

Timothy Mercer

Timothy Mercer currently lives in Dallas, Texas where he is a wine buyer for Cork Fine Wines (corkwines.com).

Anna Merlan

Anna Merlan is a journalist, writer, and recovering record store clerk living in New York City.

Sam J. Miller

Sam J. Miller is a writer and a community organizer. His work has appeared in numerous zines, anthologies, and print and online journals. He lives in the Bronx with his partner of six years.

Jenni Miller

Jenni Miller has been writing for fun and profit since the age of six.

Laurel Mills

Lindsey Mitchell

Maureen Monahan

Tim Moodie

Dakota Morrison

Andrew Moseman

Jonathan Mulinix

LoquaciousMuse

Editor of All Things Fangirl, home of the Fangirl Academy; writer for Film.com and Gaming Blend.

Chetan Nandakumar

Chetan is a wannabe hippie living in Berkeley, California. He loves figuring out what makes people tick. When he's not conducting

Katie Naymon

T Nelson

Scott Neumyer

Scott Neumyer is a freelance journalist who has written for sites like Wired.com, Details.com, Slate.com, MTV.com, PopularMechanics.com, and many more.

Latitude News

Are you curious about how the rest of the world affects your everyday life? Then you’ve come to the right place.

Latitude News

Latitude News redefines international news by listening first to what’s happening on the ground here in the U.S. Curious about how the world affects you?

Sara Newton

Oliver Noble

Oliver Noble writes, edits and occasionally directs things. You can check
out his website, olivernoble.com, but the only thing you'll find there is a

Cormac O'Brien

Patricia T. O'Conner

Patricia T. O'Conner is the author of Woe Is I: The Grammarphobe's Guide to Better English in Plain English.

Rudie Obias

Tournament of Genius

This spring, we'll be having a little March Madness of our own here at mentalfloss.com.

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(2) Thomas Edison vs. (15) Richard James

(2) Thomas Edison The sheer scope of Edison's inventiveness is staggering. The Wizard of Menlo Park held a record 1,093 patents when he died in 1931. Everyone knows him for the light bulb, but Edison also had a hand in the invention of the radio, the phonograph, and an improved stock ticker. His achievements weren't all nerdy science, either; Edison's electric engraving pen needed just a few modifications to become the world's first tattooing machine. (15) Richard James... READ ON

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(3) Michelangelo vs. (14) Adolphus Busch

(3) Michelangelo When he was alive, people thought Michelangelo was the best artist in the world. Since his death in 1564, that esteem hasn't faded much. After all, if someone wanted to see his credentials, he could just point to the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel and say, "Yeah, I did that"¦but I really think of myself as a sculptor. Those world-shattering paintings are just sort of a side project I took up. Oh, and I'm also an architect of some renown. No big deal."... READ ON

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(6) John Maynard Keynes vs. (11) Adam Smith

(6) John Maynard Keynes When laissez-faire economists fell flat on their face in the late 1920s, there was an opening for a brilliant mind to prompt a sea change in economic thinking. Keynes stepped in and filled it. Eschewing previously favored hands-off policies, Keynes developed a new set of economic theories that postulated that governments could help keep the economy afloat by tailoring monetary and fiscal policies to stimulate employment. His treatise The General Theory of Employment, Interest,... READ ON

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(7) Hypatia vs. (10) Marilyn vos Savant

(7) Hypatia Think sexism kept women out of math until fairly recently? Think again. Hypatia, who lived in fourth- and fifth-century Alexandria, was one of the most notable mathematicians of her day. Hypatia wrote commentaries on some of math's most important texts and also made advanced astronomical studies. Furthermore, she lectured to a large number of followers on both math and Neoplatonist philosophy, another discipline in which she excelled. Unfortunately, brains were not so popular in... READ ON

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(2) Benjamin Franklin vs. (15) Pat and Harry Olivieri

(2) Benjamin Franklin Possibly the first great American genius, Franklin was many things. Statesman. Diplomat. Almanac writer. Bifocal inventor. Ill-timed flyer of kites. Glass harmonica maker. Signer of the Declaration of Independence. Lover of turkeys. In all of them, though, he showed an undeniable genius. (15) Pat and Harry Olivieri Some geniuses remain relatively anonymous even as their creations thrive. The Oliviers are among them. In 1930, the brothers were just normal hot dog... READ ON

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(1) Thomas Jefferson vs. (16) Bill James

(1) Thomas Jefferson The scouting report on our third president is awe-inspiring. Declarer of Independence. Purchaser of Louisiana. Designer of buildings. Founder of universities. Rewriter of the Bible. Lover of wine. Conceiver of illegitimate children. A true Renaissance man, Jefferson had all of his bases covered. He's got to be a favorite to make it to the finals. (16) Bill James For years, baseball scouts and executives went by what their eyes told them. It took a former night... READ ON

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(8) John Stuart Mill vs. (9) Humphrey Bogart

(8) John Stuart Mill Although he sometimes gets lost in the shuffle in discussions of history's great thinkers, Mill's genius bona fides are hard to question. He started early; at the age of three he was already speaking Greek. As a philosopher, he influentially espoused Utilitarianism, the notion that an action should be judged by how it affects the overall contribution it makes to society's happiness. As an economist, his book Principles of Political Economy was the key text in... READ ON

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(4) Aristotle vs. (13) Evel Knievel

(4) Aristotle Aristotle's academic lineage alone is enough to get him into the tournament. He was Plato's brightest pupil and tutored a young Alexander the Great. It wasn't just who Aristotle knew, though, it was what he knew. With a seemingly boundless enthusiasm for any number of subjects, Aristotle made major breakthroughs in philosophy, physics, biology, chemistry, and ethics. On top of that, he pioneered both formal logic and zoology. If you were in Greece in the fourth... READ ON

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(5) Marie Curie vs. (12) Linus Pauling

(5) Marie Curie Science's undisputed first lady has a C.V. that may never come along again. Along with her husband Pierre, she discovered the chemical elements polonium and radium. The tag team also discovered radioactivity, which netted her the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics. Even after Pierre's death in 1906, Marie kept working and eventually isolated pure radium, which won her the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1911. Her name is still synonymous with radioactivity, a word she coined.... READ ON

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(1) Albert Einstein vs. (16) Edward McSweegan

(1) Albert Einstein Does the man even need an introduction? Nobel Prize winner. Relativity theorizer. Brownian motion explainer. Legitimizer of crazy-haired thinkers everywhere. Frequent mental_floss cover boy. It's tough to think of a 20th century physics breakthrough that doesn't have Einstein's fingerprints on it. He's earned his #1 seed in this tournament. (16) Edward McSweegan McSweegan, who defeated Paris Hilton in our play-in game, is not as famous as some... READ ON

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Arika Okrent

Linguist, author of In the Land of Invented Languages, lives in Philadelphia, talks with a Chicago accent.

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Bella, Cha Cha Man, Boogles, Fido, Mopsulus: Dog Naming Trends Through the Ages

Looking for a name for a new pup? From Nosewise to Bella, here's what people have called their dogs through history.... READ ON

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Latina vivit: 7 Ways to Be Ready Next Time News Breaks in Latin

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Iko iko wan dey: What Do the Words of the Mardi Gras Song Mean?

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11 Cynical Proverbs About Love From Around the World

Sure, love is wonderful, but sometimes it can be…complicated. Cultures all over the world have captured the hard lessons of love in the tiny, polished nuggets of wisdom we call proverbs. These 11 cynical proverbs about love won't make you feel warm and fuzzy, but they show that everyone, everywhere, has had it bad at some point.... READ ON

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9 Little Translation Mistakes That Caused Big Problems

Knowing how to speak two languages is not the same thing as knowing how to translate.... READ ON

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18 Complicated Scientific Ideas Explained Simply

Geologists Anne Jefferson and Chris Rowan created the Tumblr "Ten Hundred Words of Science" to collect examples of scientific text rendered into up-goer five speak.... READ ON

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Singing the ABCs in 8 Different Languages

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The Art of Reviling: 10 Tips for Criticizing People More Effectively

Here are the keys to becoming a master reviler, courtesy of a Chinese scholar in the early 20th century.... READ ON

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7 Common Words With Little-Known Relatives

When some words hit the big time, they left clunky related words behind.... READ ON

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How Many Words Do Eskimos Really Have for Snow?

There are three answers to this question: a heck of a lot, not that many, and a whole heck of a lot. Or, if you want specifics: 5, 2, and 99. Confused?... READ ON

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The Late Movies: John O'Hurley Before (and After) J. Peterman

It's been 14 years since Seinfeld went off the air (really!), but every time I see actor John O'Hurley, I think of him as J. Peterman, Elaine's boss and the fictionalized version of the catalog-company entrepreneur. Before that, though, he took on roles in commercials (like Diet 7-Up) and soap operas (like General Hospital). And since his over-the-top Seinfeld role, he's gone on to do everything from starring on Broadway to Dancing With the Stars to hosting the National Dog Show. Today, he turns 58. Who... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Oscar Monologues

Yesterday, it was announced that Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane will host this year's Academy Awards. The Oscars have a storied history of hosts, ranging from the iconic Johnny Carson to Bob Hope to David Letterman. The opening monologue is a critical moment in each host's stint -- the first glimpse into whether the evening will be wildly successful or an epic flop. Here, six Oscar openings from years gone by. Seth MacFarlane MacFarlane released this video, featuring his dad. Billy Crystal... READ ON

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The Late Movies: National Anthems at Fenway Park

On this day in 1911, ground was broken for Fenway Park. Though there have since been attempts to update and move the park, fans feel strongly about the storied baseball stadium. Here, six famous national anthem singers at Fenway Park. Smokey Robinson Smokey sang his arrangement for Game 5 of the 1986 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the New York Mets. Eli "Paperboy" Reed Forgive the video from behind. Reed performed on October 3,... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Songs About Spies

On this date in 1947, the National Security Council and the Central Intelligence Agency were established in the United States under the National Security Act. In honor of sneaky, stealthy, secretive men and women everywhere, here are six songs about spies. Spies Like Us Released in 1985 in conjunction with a Chevy Chase movie of the same name, this tune is Paul McCartney's final solo top-10 hit in the U.S. to date. Private Eyes This Hall and Oates song was one of the duo's first songs to get heavy... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Songs Inspired by 9/11

Eleven years ago today, America was attacked by terrorists. Artists around the world channeled their feelings about the tragedy into songs. Here are seven pieces of music inspired by the 9/11 attacks. There are many more. If we missed one you're fond of, please tell us in the comments. Where Were You (When the World Stopped Turning) Written by Alan Jackson, this song was first performed at the Country Music Association's annual awards show two months after the attacks. The Rising The title track off... READ ON

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The Late Movies: 7 Drastically Different Covers of "Single Ladies"

Superstar Beyonce Knowles turns 31 today. And while we don't think she needs us to send her any gifts — Jay-Z likely has that covered, especially after the great success of this weekend's first-ever Made in America festival — it seemed like a good opportunity to round up some of the best covers of her popular song "Single Ladies," which has been certified quadruple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Olympian Matthew Mitcham The Olympic diver "put a ring on it" with his... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Remembering Muppeteer Jerry Nelson

Early last week, the Muppets lost a member of their family: puppeteer Jerry Nelson died. Nelson began working with Jim Henson and Frank Oz in 1965, but his career truly began in the second season of Sesame Street when he officially joined the show's cast. Best known for his performance of Count von Count, Nelson also performed several minor characters. As a belated tribute, some of his greatest hits are below. Herbert Birdsfoot From 1970 through 1973, educator Herbert Birdsfoot was performed by... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Usain Bolt Is the Fastest Man Ever

Today, the fastest man ever turns 26 years old. Olympic hero Usain Bolt was born in Jamaica on this day in 1986. He is the first man to hold both the 100 meter and 200 meter world records since fully automatic time measurements became mandatory in 1977. Basically, he should serve as everyone's inspiration to get off the couch and run around the block. But, first, watch six videos about his awesome success. IAAF World Championship Track and Field, 2009 In 2009, Bolt beat Tyson Gay to set a new word... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Happy Birthday, Steve Martin!

Steve Martin, a Texas native who worked his way from writing comedy for The Smothers Brothers to becoming an accomplished and award-winning actor, comedian, musician and writer, turns 67 today. Let's celebrate with some of his career highlights. The Dating Game While attending UCLA in 1968, Martin appeared on The Dating Game. King Tut Though Martin has hosted Saturday Night Live 15 times, he has never been a cast... READ ON

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The Late Movies: Happy 70th Birthday, Garrison Keillor

Beloved public radio personality Garrison Keillor turned 70 years old today. Best known as host of the Minnesota Public Radio show A Prairie Home Companion, Keillor is an accomplished author, storyteller and humorist. Here, six videos that encompass the spirit and career of Keillor. Happy Birthday! On the Moth: Lessons in Swimming The story begins with the sad tale of his drowned cousin, which prompted his mother to sign him up for swimming lessons. On Lake Wobegon Summer 1956 Keillor discusses his... READ ON

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Roma Panganiban

Roma Panganiban is a former competitive spelling bee participant who holds very strong views on punctuation. She currently attends college, but hopes to shake that habit one of these days.