Jake Rossen

Joined: May 6, 2013

Jake Rossen is a senior staff writer for Mental Floss.

Some films have more than one director calling the (literal) shots.

7 Movies With Famous Second-Unit Directors

10 Things You Might Not Have Known About Alcatraz

‘Hollywood Squares’ has been on (and off) TV since 1966.

How ‘Hollywood Squares’ Popularized the Comedy Game Show

Bees are being exposed to microplastics, and that's not good for anyone.

Bad Buzz: Microplastics Are Affecting Bee Cognition

Why Is It Called a “Duffel Bag”?

The duffel is perfect for weekend trips or cocaine smuggling. But why is it called a duffel?

A supermarket poultry case containing packages of raw chicken.

How Can I Tell If I Have Food Poisoning?

Salmonella, norovirus, and other germs are often found in raw poultry and fresh produce—and can find their way into your digestive system. Here’s what to know about the symptoms and treatments for food poisoning.

Plastic pollution can have devastating consequences for national parks.

This App Lets National Park Visitors Report Trash and Plastic Pollution

Plastic waste sullies national parks. This app can help clean it up.

What’s the Story Behind Cinco de Mayo?

Cinco de Mayo, or May 5, is recognized around the country as a time to celebrate Mexico’s cultural heritage. Like a lot of days earmarked to commemorate a specific idea or event, its origins can be a little murky. Who started it, and why?

Harvey Washington Wiley (back row, second from left) and the young volunteers of the Poison Squad.

The Men Who Volunteered to Be Poisoned by the Government

In 1902, 12 men agreed to take low doses of poison in order to test their efficacy as food preservatives. No one died. Basically.

A Brief History of ‘The Sims’

Discover the evolution of ‘The Sims’ video game, including how it shot to popularity in the early 2000s and become one of the most successful PC game franchises of all time.

L-8: The ‘Ghost Blimp’ Whose Crew Disappeared During World War II

A submarine patrol blimp departed with a two-man crew in the morning. It landed with no one on board.

A Shattered Flower Pot With a Secret Nets $60,000 at Auction

The ceramic pot was left in a garden for years. It was a genuine work of art hiding in plain sight.

‘Why, yes, I am from Long Island! How did you know?’

Do Animals Have Regional Accents?

Can a Boston dog bahk?

Author Alexandra Ripley (R) poses with 'Scarlett,' her sequel to 'Gone With the Wind.'

‘Gone’ Girl: When ‘Scarlett’ Dared to Continue the Story of ‘Gone With the Wind’

The belated sequel drew scorn from 'Wind' purists, who bellowed that 'Tomorrow is here, and it's just plain awful."

A Rare, Unaltered Print of ‘Star Wars’ From 1977 Is Coming to the Big Screen

The BFI is showing the 1977 space opera—which has undergone countless post-release changes—‘exactly as experienced’ on opening day.

The best way to move books: Get someone else to do it.

Human Conveyor Belt Helps Michigan Bookstore Move Its Entire Inventory Down the Block

A ‘book brigade’ helped a small business relocate millions of words.