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.

Has this rat attacked any infants lately?

The 20 Rattiest Cities in the U.S.

Paddington at the Los Angeles premiere of 'Paddington' (2014).

Paddington Just Got His Passport

Definition Detective Quiz #11

The College Majors Graduates Regret the Most (and Least)

An artist’s rendering of what Lucy may have looked like in life.

On the Origin of Lucy: How One Extraordinary Fossil Helped Alter Our View of Human Evolution

Lucy walked on her own two feet. Scientists weren’t expecting that.

What 8 Horror Movies Looked Like Behind The Scenes | Movies Insider

Watch Behind-the-Scenes Footage From 8 Modern Horror Movies

This horror film footage covers everything from invisible men to undead pets.

A dish of homemade cranberry deliciousness.

Why Do We Eat Cranberry Sauce on Thanksgiving?

Your Thanksgiving cranberry sauce—be it homemade or Ocean Spray’s canned classic—is all part of America’s history.

Why Are Some Liquors Called “Spirits”?

One theory suggests that we call liquor “spirits” because of alcohol’s association with one spirit in particular: the Holy Spirit. But there are other possible origins.

Definition Detective Quiz #10

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

The 20 Most Popular Dog Breeds Among Celebrities

When it comes to popular dog breeds, celebrities are just like us.

11 Old-Timey Terms for Scarecrows

Would a scarecrow by any other name scare as many crows?

New 3D Scans Show the ‘Endurance’ Shipwreck in Stunning Detail

The footage is from a new ‘Endurance’ documentary hitting Disney+ later this year.

Found: Remains of Andrew “Sandy” Irvine, Who Vanished Summiting Mount Everest in 1924

What happened during George Mallory and Sandy Irvine's fatal Everest summit attempt? We're much closer to answering that question.

Definition Detective Quiz #9

We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?

6 Weird Ways the English Language Is Redundant

From phrasal verbs to loanwords, here's how English speakers repeat themselves without realizing it.

A farrier holding a horse’s newly shod hoof.

Why Do Some Horses Need Shoes, But Cows Don't?

There are many reasons why horses might need shoes. There’s pretty much only one reason why cows don’t.