

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.


Why Is ‘Jack’ a Nickname for ‘John’?

The Reason You Shouldn’t Kill the Spiders in Your House, According to an Entomologist

Definition Detective Quiz #42
Why Are Fruity Drinks Called “Ades”?
Lemonade kickstarted the trend. But there’s more to the story than that.
8 Amazing Bookstores and Libraries You Can Spend the Night In
Paris’s Shakespeare and Company has hosted some 30,000 “Tumbleweeds” passing through town. Want to be the next one?
Definition Detective Quiz #41
We give you an obscure word with four definitions—one correct, three made up. Can you identify the correct one?
There Are 21 Classic Romance Movies Depicted in This Image—Can You Name Them All In Less Than 5 Minutes?
No romantic movie subgenre is off-limits—the image includes romantic comedies, timeless classics, musicals, and more.
Can You Spot the Dog That Stole the Sausage in This Brainteaser?
If you were a dog that came across an unattended string of sausages, you’d probably swipe them, too.
Can You Find the Hidden Helmet Among the Motorcycles?
Being able to find your actual motorcycle helmet in your own messy garage is a key part of motorcycle safety.
Can You Spot the Engagement Ring Among the Watches?
Finding the engagement ring in this hidden image puzzle might be easier than finding the perfect time to propose.
Spot the Daisy at the Picnic in This Hidden Object Puzzle
This picnic scene has everything: Sandwiches, tea, fruit, cheese, and one rogue daisy.
Can You Spot the Patch of Floor Hidden Among All the Moving Boxes?
Supposedly only 5 percent of participants can do it in under a minute.
Can You Spot the Spooky Jack-o’-Lanterns Hiding in the Haunted House?
Spotting jack-o’-lanterns lurking in a 2D haunted house is a lot less messy than carving pumpkins yourself.
Can You Spot All 12 Old-Timey Terms in Our Thanksgiving Word Search?
‘Jipper’ is hidden somewhere in this letter grid—and you’ll probably find some at Thanksgiving dinner, too.
Can You Spot All 10 Differences Between These Two Festive Offices?
These Christmas-themed offices are harboring 10 differences and one adorable elf. Can you find them all?