Jake Rossen

Jake Rossen

Joined: May 6, 2013

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

Arm sleeves are everywhere in the NBA.

Why Do Basketball Players Wear Arm Sleeves?

Who doesn’t love a rousing round of Crambo?

5 Old-Timey Word Games You Can Play Today

Car names often have a hidden meaning.

How Do Cars Get Their Names?

‘Garfield Minus Garfield’ was one of the internet’s better ideas.

When ‘Garfield Minus Garfield’ Subtracted the Strip’s Title Character

The Simpsons Stream | Disney+

‘The Simpsons’ Is Now Streaming 24/7 on Disney+

The long-running animated comedy can stream for two weeks without repeating an episode.

Looks scientifically accurate.

What Happens If You Shoot a Gun in Space?

Space shootouts are possible. The Soviets proved it.

Steven Seagal, comedy sensation.

How Steven Seagal Claimed His Place as the Worst Host In 'Saturday Night Live' History

For more than 30 years, 'SNL' cast members have regularly cited Steven Seagal as the worst host the show has ever had—an ignoble distinction for a program that's been on the air for half a century.

John Denver really wanted to go to space.

When John Denver Almost Went into Space

The country music icon spent years trying to get higher than any musician had ever been.

Cereal prizes are few and far between.

Why Did Toys Disappear From Cereal Boxes?

The days of police badges and lightsaber spoons lurking in boxes are over. Kids now get QR codes. What happened?

The typo in question concerned property rights.

Error in Judgment: The 100-Year-Old Supreme Court Typo That May Have Altered Judicial Decisions

The typo in a 1928 opinion may have inadvertently influenced an unknown number of decisions to follow.

The Scandalous History of Oscar Wilde’s Memorial Tomb

The author’s tomb was erected in 1912—and its anatomical correctness was a problem.

Room temperature is a frame of reference.

What Exactly Is ‘Room Temperature’?

Misunderstanding room temperature can have some surprisingly serious consequences.

A player dances on the DDR or Dance Dance Revolution video game.

Footloose: The ‘Dance Dance Revolution’ Craze of the 2000s

In 1998, Konami unveiled ‘Dance Dance Revolution,’ and embarrassing yourself in public became one of the coolest trends around.

Costco only takes Visa. It's for your own good.

The Reason Costco Only Accepts Visa Credit Cards

The warehouse giant won’t take Mastercard, Discover, or American Express. Here’s why.

Perhaps a recall is in order.

Why Do Cars Catch Fire?

A car accident in a movie usually ends in a huge fireball. But what really causes vehicle fires?

Sometimes, the credited director isn't the only director.

5 Movies That Had ‘Ghost Directors’

On some movies, there might be more than one person yelling “action” and “cut.”