

Ellen Gutoskey
Joined: Jun 24, 2019
Ellen Gutoskey is a Mental Floss staff writer who especially loves covering pop culture, not-so-popular culture, literature, really tiny things, really giant things, and anything that was previously thought to be lost. She used to work in publishing, she's usually laughing, and you can follow her on Twitter @ellengutoskey.


Definition Detective Quiz #35

Why Baking Makes You Feel So Good, According to Psychologists

The Reason Why Members of the Royal Family Must Always Travel With One All-Black Outfit
Definition Detective Quiz #34
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
The Reason Why Lobsters Turn Bright Red When You Boil Them
Lobsters don’t come out of the sea looking bright red—that only happens after you boil them. Find out more about why it happens here.
Why Is Easter Called “Easter”?
The origin of the word ‘Easter’ is linked to the ancient pagan goddess Ostara. But is she actually ancient?
6 Common Terms That Mean Something Different in Courtrooms
‘Toll,’ ‘information,’ and other legal terms you use all the time—just not the way lawyers do.
Definition Detective Quiz #33
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
15 Memorable Slang Terms From the Vietnam War
Military slang grew by leaps and bounds during the Vietnam War. Here are some terms worth knowing.
Definition Detective Quiz #32
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
7 Fun Facts About Britney Spears’s ‘Oops! … I Did It Again’
Go behind the scenes of Britney Spears’s second album, ‘Oops! … I Did It Again.’
REAL IDs: Everything You Need to Know Before the Deadline
The REAL ID program is finally being enforced. Here's how it could affect you.
15 of the World’s Most Beautiful Moths
From the luna moth to the Madagascan sunset moth, these species rival the most stunning butterflies.
Definition Detective Quiz #31
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
5 Fascinating Animals Named After Disney Characters
Classic Disney characters have lent their names to spiders, dinos, and more.