David K. Israel
8 People With “Real” Superpowers
by David K. Israel - July 19, 2010 - 9:27 AM

We all dream of having some superpower to help navigate life. For instance, I’ve always wanted to be able to read peoples’ minds. To me, that would be the most awesome of any power one could posses. (Okay, maybe I’m suspicious and neurotic, but hey, everyone also has his kryptonite, right?)

Here are eight people who posses some major superpowers. Please note: we’re having some fun here in this post. We don’t claim that any of these abilities are actually “superpowers” as we’ve grown used to defining them. When you’re done reading, drop a line in the comment and tell us what superpower you wish you had.

1. Super Baby

In 1999, a baby was born in Germany that wowed nurses and doctors. Instead of the usual mushy baby fat, Uberboy, as he’s come to be called, sported ripped muscles. The tot’s amazing physique was caused by a genetic disorder that eliminates the myostatin gene, which limits muscle development. The boy’s identity has been closely guarded, however there are reports that at five years old, he could hold 7 lbs in each hand with his arms outstretched—a feat reportedly difficult for the average adult. Other members of his family also are known to exhibit excessive strength, including his grandfather who is said to be able to lift 330 lbs paving stones single handedly.

Uberboy’s prognosis is unknown and his condition continues to be monitored. It is unclear if this genetic alteration will cause his muscle development to be completely depleted at a young age or not. Scientists are hoping that by studying Uberboy’s muscle development and the genes that cause it, they will find therapies to help patients with muscular dystrophy—a super commendable mission.

2. The Iceman

Running shirtless and shoeless may not seem like a super human power, until you consider that Wim Hof ran a half marathon 200 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle where the temperature is nearly -20 degrees and the run took 5 hours and 25 minutes! At one point, the attending physician on the run warned Hof not to continue because she couldn’t guarantee that his toes would survive. (They did.) The Iceman practices Tummo, a way of controlling the body’s temperature that is usually only mastered by Tibetan Yogi Monks. To add to his records and feats, Hof has climbed Kilamanjaro in 2 days wearing nothing but his signature black shorts. He also broke his own record of the longest ice bath by staying submerged in ice for 1 hour 13 minutes and 48 seconds. Talk about, er, cool! In 2007, he attempted to climb Mount Everest wearing only the shorts, but failed. Not because he was too cold, however, rather because he injured his foot.

3. The Real Aquaman


New Zealander Dave Mullins is capable of swimming underwater for not only record amount of time, but also record distance. In September 2007, Mullins shattered his own record when he swam underwater for 4 minutes 2 seconds, swimming a total distance of 244 meters with a single breath. Mullins, whose specialty is free diving, set a New Zealand record in April 2008 when he dove 108 meters with no oxygen tank or specialized equipment. He’s only the fifth man in New Zealand to reach a depth of 100 meters. Mullins trains his muscles to work while deprived of oxygen. This allows him to swim further and longer, but also leads to a build-up of lactic acid in his leg muscles. After a record breaking swim, Mullins requires a few days of recovery, but he’s
still pretty super.

4. Super Audiation Boy

Blinded by cancer as a toddler, Ben Underwood developed the ability to “see” using echolocation. By clicking his tongue, Underwood read the sound waves that bounce off of objects around him. He not only could use these reading to navigate around the objects, but could also identify what he was “seeing.” This ability allowed him to function like any other teenager. In fact, the only difference between him and his classmates during his freshman year, was that he took his notes in Braille. Underwood taught himself to roller blade, skateboard, and participate in martial arts, all using echolocation. Sadly, the cancer that claimed his eyesight, took his life in January 2009 at the age of 16. Perhaps his greatest super power was taking lemons and making some really rocking lemonade.

5. Incrediboy Wonder

At 6 ft, 280 lbs, Chris Morgan is a formidable teenager who was chosen as Britain’s Strongest Schoolboy in 2009. He is able to lift a Ford Fiesta, weighing in at almost a ton. Morgan consumes 5,000 calories a day and works out at least 5 times a week. Weighing only 5 lbs 5 oz at birth, he grew up watching the World’s Strongest Man competition each Christmas and aspired to win it himself. Morgan helps out around the house by lifting furniture as his mother vacuums. He credits his amazing strength to his strict regimen of exercise.

6. Zamora


Tim Cridland, better known as Zamora, has been a sideshow phenomenon for decades, able to perform such tortuous tasks as skewering his lower jaw with a sharp rod by sticking it in his mouth and out below his chin. He’s also able to cut into his torso to retrieve recently swallowed items. He insists that he’s able to perform these tasks through a Zen-like approach that allows him to transcend pain. However, many in the medical community believe that Cridland was born with a genetic alteration that causes him to experience no pain. What’s more unbelievable is that he performs these gruesome tricks regularly on tours, day after day, month after month. Talk about super-human stamina.

7. X-ray Vision Girl

Natasha Demkina developed an interesting hobby when she was 10 years old. She found that she could scan her mother’s body and describe in intimate detail the location and condition of all of her mom’s organs. News soon spread and her neighbors in her hometown of Saransk, in Western Russia, began showing up at her doorstep for body scans and diagnoses. The local children’s hospital decided to test her abilities and the girl was able to draw a diagram of one doctor’s stomach with a dark area in the exact spot of his ulcer. She also contested the cancer diagnosis of one patient; later tests supported Demkina’s diagnosis of a benign cyst. In England, “x-ray” scans of another doctor led Demkina to describe multiple injuries that one of the doctors had received in a severe car crash without any knowledge of the accident, and the doctor was fully clothed! Obviously Natasha’s abilities have been questioned. We put this on the list because it’s fun, like all the others. To read some of the debunking, check out this post here on LiveScience.

8. Super Healer

In Abadiânia, Brazil, there lives and works a man who appears to have the power to perform invisible surgeries with his hands. My brother has actually made the trip to Brazil to meet this man, known as John of God (born João de Teixeira de Faria in 1942). At 16, while wandering from village to village looking for work, Joao had a vision to go to a local church. It is said that he performed healing miracles there. Although he says he has no memory of this, it established him as a world-class healer. Today, thousands of people visit John of God daily for healing. He performs visible surgeries without any anesthesia (my brother says people have witnessed him sticking his hand in a man’s stomach and pulling out a tumor) and also invisible surgeries by laying on hands and also from afar. According to supporters of John, visible sutures have been seen on body scans of those who have undergone invisible surgeries. Again, this one made the list because of all the attention John of God has received (including his own 20/20 segment). My brother was not cured of his ailment, and came home saying he was highly skeptical, as are many people, and that John was nothing but a magician. But he also said that for those who’ve been healed, John of God’s superpowers should not be underestimated. Here’s a good post debunking John of God.

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Comments (78)

  1. Number 3 is nothing but a carnival act charlatan. http://skepdic.com/johnofgod.html
    I thought this was at least a non-psuedoscience website.

    posted by Mike on 7-19-2010 at 10:11 am

  2. Including Natasha Demkina and John of God on this list has me seriously considering burning my Mental Floss t-shirts in effigy. Their only superpower is the ability to attract gullible followers.

    posted by TheElkMechanic on 7-19-2010 at 10:29 am

  3. Invisibility. Hands DOWN!

    posted by Aisha on 7-19-2010 at 10:31 am

  4. X-ray vision girl? Super healer? Really, MentalFloss? I hold you to a higher standard than advertising these scammers.

    posted by Yams on 7-19-2010 at 10:48 am

  5. I cry foul on the “healer.” So-called “psychic surgery” is an easy parlour trick. I’ve been involved in one of these done for a magic/Halloween show. It just involves what is used in all good tricks-slight of hand and distraction.

    posted by nihil on 7-19-2010 at 10:51 am

  6. I am disappointed that your title led us to believe that all of these “super” abilities are real. I have seen a television show debunking the con-artist João de Teixeira de Faria. Using slight of hand he is able to make it appear he can removed “bad parts”. The title should be 8 People with “Real” superpowers, and disclosure. I like to quote this site for interesting facts. If I want “Real” stories I read the tabloids. I hold Mental Floss in high regard and ask that they continue to write articles of the high caliber I have come to expect.

    posted by mykelharper on 7-19-2010 at 10:59 am

  7. Teleportation. Just think of how much time that would save.

    posted by Paige on 7-19-2010 at 11:00 am

  8. *shrug. I enjoyed the article. If you didn’t, the internet is vast, my friends.

    posted by Kim on 7-19-2010 at 11:10 am

  9. Teleportation is scary–my luck I’d teleport in front of a moving truck!

    Invisibility would be cool, but I read long ago that if you were invisible you would be blind…the reason why might be an interesting article (hint, hint ;p)

    I think time travel would be the coolest superpower–the DeLorean alone would make it great.

    posted by Wayne on 7-19-2010 at 11:22 am

  10. Kim, do you think we are not true Scotsmen, I mean Flossers?

    The first is far fetched, but at least a mechanism is imaginable. If the girl somehow had x-ray receptors in addition to visible light receptors, it could work. However, extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof.

    The psychic healer though, treads on well debunked ground with no logical mechanism for his “power” to work.

    posted by anomdebus on 7-19-2010 at 11:27 am

  11. people have mentioned the bunk of “psychic healers” – that and the “super audiation boy” are both not super. I have heard of other blind people who use echolocation and sell their services to train other blind people to use echolocation themselves. It’s unusual he learned it on his own, but it is not unusual at all.

    I think the rest are pretty nifty though.

    posted by ramalama on 7-19-2010 at 11:46 am

  12. I’d reconsider the mindreading ability. Once people catch on they’ll avoid you like the plague.

    I was at a luncheon where the entertainment was a mindreader, and two of my tablemates were asked to come up. One of them said when she returned that she was so afraid that he would reveal how hot she thought he was, but he didn’t.

    I heard later that on the way out a co-worker approached the mindreader and expressed his skepticism. The mindreader was very impatient and short with him, told him to think of an image, then he drew some figure, a circle within a triangle or something like that on a napkin, gave it to the guy, and walked away. He was right.

    posted by tressel on 7-19-2010 at 11:54 am

  13. I’m with the commenters who expressed disappointment that MF is promoting quackery in this article. I, too, expected better. Real quacks do real harm to real people. Quackery isn’t harmless; people actually forego life-saving medical care in favor of quacks, sometimes with fatal consequences. I love MF, but I will not support a site that gives legitimacy to these scam artists.

    posted by Michigan Mom on 7-19-2010 at 12:02 pm

  14. Ok, I read a little more into x-ray girl and the results are mixed at best..

    I don’t know why they didn’t do a simple test not involving people, such as covered shadow boxes with metal symbols in the middle. The test could even be done in the dark.

    If the girl refused to do such a test, that would suggest that she is in fact doing cold reading.

    posted by anomdebus on 7-19-2010 at 12:13 pm

  15. Thanks @mykelharper. I’ve made the tweaks you suggested. Here on mental_floss, we also like to have fun, too. Clearly none of these people have real superpowers, and, of course, many have been questioned. But you’re right, my bad for not using the quotes around “real.”

    posted by David K. Israel on 7-19-2010 at 12:19 pm

  16. I would love to be able to stop and start time like Evie did on the show Out of This World. I mainly want this power to sleep in everyday that I have to go to work.

    posted by Addie on 7-19-2010 at 12:21 pm

  17. Addie,
    Maybe the POTUS has this power. Have you ever noticed that it looks like they are aging several years for every year in office? That would be the unfortunate side effect of that power.

    posted by anomdebus on 7-19-2010 at 12:28 pm

  18. I have been a subscriber of mental floss for the past 4 or 5 years or so. I’m considering cancelling after seeing this article. The “super healer” or “psychic surgeon” is a well documented fraud. Psychic surgery is, as nihil above me said, a well documented fraud.
    I’m disgusted that Mental Floss would allow something on their website that is not only blatantly untrue, but downright dangerous for somebody who may have a serious illness and avoid getting real treatment in order to go to this money-grubbing huckster.

    I’m disgusted at this article and it makes me question the validity of every Mental Floss article I have ever read.

    posted by Christian on 7-19-2010 at 12:36 pm

  19. I’d like to be able to fly. It would certainly make getting to and from work much easier.

    posted by Tinkerschnitzel on 7-19-2010 at 12:36 pm

  20. appending to my above comment: after re-reading I see that the author put that they’re just having some fun, but there is nothing “fun” about promoting human parasites that lure in desperate dying people, suck away their money and convince them they are healed. These people then go back home, believing they are healed and never seek treatment for their condition.
    Mental Floss is better than this.

    posted by Christian on 7-19-2010 at 12:41 pm

  21. I am very sad to hear of the death of Ben Underwood. A few years back there was a TV special on him. It was amazing. I wouldn’t have beleived it if I didn’t see it. In one scene, his family moves to a new home. Ben sticks his head out the back door, clicks his tongue and says, “Damn, we’ve got a big backyard.” It was a really great show. It must have been on Dateline or one of those shows that I never watch. But his story was just plain awesome. I’m very sad to learn that he died.

    posted by Eric on 7-19-2010 at 12:46 pm

  22. Wow, relax people.

    I wouldn’t mind the ability to time travel, but I think I would only use it for bad purposes – to buy certain stocks, to gamble on certain ballgames, etc.

    Teleportation would be outstanding – weekend in Paris? Bam. But I’d need the aforementioned time traveling profits to be able to afford all those excursions.

    posted by Kevin on 7-19-2010 at 12:46 pm

  23. Very, VERY disappointed to see Mental Floss including an article that presents John of God’s faith healing as a real phenomenon rather than the disgusting hoax that it is. This charlatan takes advantage of desperate, gullible sick people–just like all faith healers–and if he has a super power, it’s a total lack of conscience.

    Skeptical about this X Ray girl too. Will google her when I get home but at least she’s not bilking sick people out of money.

    posted by Nicole on 7-19-2010 at 12:55 pm

  24. … or if not money, real treatment*

    posted by Nicole on 7-19-2010 at 12:55 pm

  25. … mentalfloss, what the hell.

    X-Ray vision girl and a goddamned ~faith healer~. Really, Mentalfloss. Really.
    The magic mystical faith healer is a CON ACT. It is nothing more than prestidigitation – slight of freaking hand. The ‘healer’ cups a bit of animal gristle and some blood in his hand and ‘pulls it out’ of the victim’s stomach by REMOVING IT FROM HIS CUPPED HAND.
    It is a CON. Not a power. Not medicine. NOT EVEN REAL.
    http://www.brighthub.com/science/medical/articles/19351.aspx

    “X-Ray vision girl” is exactly the same. A con act. Not real. A capitalistic endeavor, cashing in on superstition and gullibility.

    This is pretty insulting, every legit entry on this list has been seen elsewhere, numerous times on the internet and you’ve mixed freaking con acts in with medical phenomenon as if there were no difference.

    I’ve come to expect ~at least~ research from this site.

    You should have listened to your brother and left off the freaking faith healer.

    posted by xv b on 7-19-2010 at 12:58 pm

  26. Mental power: truth detection
    Physical power: never needing to breathe

    Both would be “super” useful! But don’t ask me how they’d work. :-)

    posted by DB on 7-19-2010 at 12:59 pm

  27. Don’t listen to the naysayers Mental Floss! Keep on posting articles

    posted by GH on 7-19-2010 at 1:12 pm

  28. Who knew some Flossers were so uptight!

    Lighten up people!

    posted by Katie Rose on 7-19-2010 at 1:12 pm

  29. Left this open too long typing my comment and flipping around in other tabs… thank you for posting a debunk for Xray girl (my brain was screaming COLD READING while I read the article), but I wish you’d be more forthright in rejecting the psychic surgeon’s claims AND hers.

    Perpetuation of these myths–faith healers, mediums, whatever–are not, as noted above, harmless. They cost people money, mental health, and physical wellbeing. This hits very close to me because I have family members who, despite their tight budgets, are so compelled to believe these sorts of people they sacrifice savings so that a man named John Edward can give them some sort of vague message from the other side about dead relatives; I worry every day that one of them will next resort to faith healing.

    Superficially, things like faith healing may be quite entertaining. But if you’re looking to be entertained, seek out people upfront about their methods–James Randi (he does a psychic surgery on youtube to show what bunk it is), Criss Angel, Derren Brown, to name a few (although Mr. Brown likes to make some sly not-true comments about NLP, he’s quite honest mostly and isn’t a predator)–who aren’t preying on the gullible and weak willed. I know you’re getting attacked for this article and I’m sorry that’s the case, but it’s disturbing just what these people get away with when you really, REALLY think about it. They’re predators–nothing more or less–and need to be treated as such, not as novelties.

    We’ll lighten up when the matter is one that deserves lightness. :P

    posted by Nicole on 7-19-2010 at 1:20 pm

  30. David, your “tweaks” don’t go nearly far enough. Putting quotes around the word Real in the title and putting your disclaimer underneath don’t change the fact that the “John of God” entry bathes psychic healing in a positive light. You say that these aren’t actually “superpowers”, but you don’t call psychic healing a dangerous, deadly scam, either. Referring to medical quackery victims as “those who have been healed” negates any message that this article is just for fun. This article is just disgusting, and I’m glad that the majority of commenters are complaining. I love MF readers.

    To those who are complaining here in the comments, I ask you to write to Jason (see “contact us” at the bottom of this page for email info) and tell him how you feel. I did so with an article last year that promoted and linked to a medical quackery site, and the article was removed. Jason wrote to me and apologized; he does take these things very seriously. Please let him know about this.

    posted by Michigan Mom on 7-19-2010 at 1:21 pm

  31. James Randi wrote a long commentary in 2005 about “John of God” (linked by my name), about the taping of an episode of Primetime Live featuring JoG. It’s enlightening, and should probably be linked from your article. Randi has also had things to say about Natasha Demkina, although the people from CSICOP who examined her could probably say more.

    Suffice to say, they’re both scammers who don’t belong on the same page as the others here, who are examples of medically plausible (if unusual) mutations or, in the case of Ben Underwood, heroic in adapting to his own limitations.

    posted by Jon. on 7-19-2010 at 1:35 pm

  32. Is psychic healing any different than praying for a cure? Someone who claims to heal by laying of hands is a quack, but I don’t see you crying foul over Jesus, who supposedly brought Lazarus back to life after he was dead for four days.

    I don’t see what the big deal is. Flossers are intelligent enough to know that humans don’t truly have superpowers. There may be humans who are differently abled (such as being able to hold their breath longer than others) but Superman and Batman are stuff of comic book entertainment and little else.

    posted by Wondering on 7-19-2010 at 1:36 pm

  33. Wow, chill people. The article was interesting and not once did I take it as real or that MF was promoting these charlatans. Informative and interesting; just like I enjoy!

    posted by Fran on 7-19-2010 at 1:39 pm

  34. I found this really interesting, despite all the criticism. I’ve heard about some of these people actually! I gotta ask my mom if we can subscribe to the magazine :)

    posted by Cassy on 7-19-2010 at 1:46 pm

  35. It seems like #7 and #8 are the ones that people are having issues with. To me, the article does state why they were included in the list as well as why and how they are questioned about their “abilities”.

    I also feel that this is a type of exposure of these people and there “abilities” is a way to educate others of the these types of fraudulent scams. Isn’t that what reporting is supposed to be about?

    I thought the article was amusing.

    posted by Addie on 7-19-2010 at 1:47 pm

  36. That there should be a their. My bad.

    posted by Addie on 7-19-2010 at 1:49 pm

  37. Cool article :)

    I want the power to transform into anything/anyone at any time. Kind of all-encompassing, but it would easily be the best super power ever.

    posted by blackglasses on 7-19-2010 at 1:53 pm

  38. Wow…cancelling a subscription over a small part of one of thousands of articles. Way to keep things in perspective. I think the best solution would be to just stop posting comments but then again I’m not in the habit of gettin my panties in a bunch over missing quotation marks.

    I really love MF. Or is it “really”? Oh well.

    posted by Mandi_O on 7-19-2010 at 1:54 pm

  39. I can fold my ears into my ear hole and make them stick, I can also flip my eye lids inside out.

    My Superpower, scaring children and doctors…

    posted by graham on 7-19-2010 at 1:58 pm

  40. What about the German Octopus? Now there’s a superpower!!!

    posted by Addie on 7-19-2010 at 2:01 pm

  41. Why is everyone getting so upset about this? There is nothing in here that says to go see the “healer” or that the girl with “x-ray vision” can ACTUALLY see this… the article clearly says that this is for fun. I would hope that the mental_floss readers are smart enough to not say “oh it was in a blog online, so its must be completely true!” Lets just all take a deep breath and read this for what it is.

    @Michigan Mom, this article clearly does not give legitimacy to the last 2 listed on here. David mentions the skepticism of the people who have actually been sucked in by this and people viewing it. If you don’t believe him, don’t go to him! I think _flossers are a generally smart bunch and know to thoroughly research a “surgery” before they have it. I have feeling that based on your passion and distaste for this particular subject that something has happened to you or someone you love that involved a quack healer. I’m sorry if I’m right, but don’t get too worked up about this article, it’s all in good fun!

    To answer the superpower question… I’d want to teleport for sure… then I could sleep in until 7:59 and just pop into work! And I could actually go to China for my Chinese food fridays!

    posted by Shawn on 7-19-2010 at 2:01 pm

  42. I’d like to be able to infuse people with positivity and a sense of humor. :)

    posted by Corinne on 7-19-2010 at 2:06 pm

  43. @graham I may have to change my superpower now… yours is pretty kick ass… why aren’t you on this list?!

    And I got all riled up with the comments thing, but I’m really sad to hear about Ben Underwood. I remember watching a segment about him and a few other kids on 20/20 or something. It was really inspiring.

    posted by Shawn on 7-19-2010 at 2:08 pm

  44. The bits about skepticism were added AFTER criticism. It is to the author’s credit that they were added at all, but I will say yet again that treating these people like innocent novelties is dangerous and irresponsible. The last sentence in John of God’s section currently reads: “But for those who’ve been healed, John of God’s superpowers should not be underestimated.”

    This is a half an inch short of being an outright endorsement of this fraud. It is NOT OKAY–let me say that again–NOT OKAY to treat these people like fun diversions when they have blood on their hands. This lighthearted treatment is symptomatic of a larger trend in the media of patting faith healers, mediums, etc. on the head or even subversively advocating their methods. I get it. People want miracles. Most people reading MF are smart enough to know this guy is a load of crock, but that doesn’t mean they get a free pass on presenting him as innocent entertainment. He isn’t. He’s a manipulative schemer and I’d go so far as to say he’s one of a pack of murderers.

    If Mental Floss had done an article called “fascinating coaches!” and happened to include Michael Vick because of how well his dogs fought, with a lukewarm “of course they also electrocuted animals and stuff BUT WOW WHAT A GOOD SHOW”, there’d be understandable outrage. This is no different. What these people do is cruelty.

    posted by Nicole on 7-19-2010 at 2:09 pm

  45. Like so many others, very disappointed to see John of God on this list.

    posted by Stephen Anstey on 7-19-2010 at 2:20 pm

  46. about the Brazilian “psychic healer” guy…Criss Angel showed on an episode of Mindfreak how it’s done…so yeah Interesting read no the less, even if it’s filled with carny folk! ^_^

    posted by Gouki on 7-19-2010 at 2:32 pm

  47. This is a free article posted on the Internet for entertainment purposes.

    This was not labeled as an article outlining the scientific validity of various people’s abilities.

    This was not labeled as an article endorsing, condemning, or passing any other form of judgement on a person’s actions.

    Free article. Internet. Entertainment.

    If someone provides free ice cream and you’re lactose intolerant of don’t like the flavor, do you complain? No. You keep your mouth shut, acknowledge it wasn’t for you, and move on.

    posted by James on 7-19-2010 at 2:36 pm

  48. David – add Jesus to the list and see if you get the same outrage.

    posted by Kevin on 7-19-2010 at 2:37 pm

  49. Shawn, I have not had anyone I know personally affected by quacks, that I know of at least. I don’t need to have a personal involvement with someone to feel sympathy for them when they are convinced by dangerous con artists to shun evidence-based medical treatment in favor of sometimes-fatal quakery.

    Wondering, I can’t speak for any of the other commenters who have complained about this article (the “John of God” entry especially), but as for myself, the reason I haven’t “cried foul” here about Jesus is that this article doesn’t mentioned Jesus at all. It would be seriously off-topic for me to complain in this comment section about the story of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.

    posted by Michigan Mom on 7-19-2010 at 2:37 pm

  50. David, as Nicole pointed out, even AFTER your corrections, the John of God entry still claims people have been healed by him. The entry still reads: “…for those who’ve been healed, John of God’s superpowers should not be underestimated.”

    I have been willing to give MF the benefit of the doubt, but the fact that you have made your corrections and have chosen to leave standing that statement about some of John of God’s “patients” actually being healed, contrary to all of the evidence that you have at your hands that he is a cruel scam artist, tells me that you don’t actually want to come out and strongly and clearly state that he is a dangerous altmed practioner.

    As I said in an earlier comment, I have written to Jason before regarding an article promoting medical quackery, and he did a wonderful job of fixing that glaring error on the part of MF. I am still hopeful that Jason will rectify this situation as he did the other one, but in light of your unsatisfactory corrections, I am cancelling my subscription.

    There are commenters that are calling this an overreaction, or think that I (and the others who have complained about this article) should just keep our mouths shut, but I take deadly scams seriously, and I don’t support outlets that promote them in any way, shape or form. I call that “having a conscience”. Others can call it what they want.

    posted by Michigan Mom on 7-19-2010 at 3:05 pm

  51. Geez, I just thought it was a fun article meant for entertainment.

    posted by Hanna on 7-19-2010 at 3:40 pm

  52. people need to stop getting their panties in a bunch…it’s an article for entertainment purposes

    posted by andy on 7-19-2010 at 3:47 pm

  53. David I want to follow-up by saying I appreciate your changes to the site. I appreciate how difficult it can be to make changes to something that you have worked hard at writing only to have people tell you it is wrong. You have displayed great honor and professionalism by making changes. I have enjoyed your past articles and look forward to reading more from you in the future.

    posted by mykelharper on 7-19-2010 at 4:22 pm

  54. Yeah you people seriously need to calm down. I’m violently opposed to medical frauds myself but I’m a little bit perplexed by the insinuation that Mental Floss is somehow endorsing either the x-ray girl or this john of God character here. This article had a very light-hearted tone from start to finish.

    What you’re not grasping “Michigan Mom” is that this wasn’t intended to be taken seriously. Mentioning charlatans doesn’t equal endorsing charlatans. And I’d argue that the fact that these claims are being made is still useful and interesting information, of the style I’m used to getting from Mental Floss.

    posted by Ryan on 7-19-2010 at 4:45 pm

  55. Also my super power would definitely be time manipulation (pausing, slowing down, perhaps speeding up) as long as I still aged according to everyone else’s normal timeline. It would give you most of the benefits of all other super powers.

    posted by Ryan on 7-19-2010 at 4:49 pm

  56. david,
    i demand you take down the picture of the flying super baby. i am very dissapointed to see that mf would promote the idea that babies can fly. this could encourage parents to throw their children off of buildings or out of airplanes. why would you support such a wild idea? it is dangerous and irresponsible of you to suggest.
    thank you ;)

    posted by tiffany on 7-19-2010 at 4:51 pm

  57. Damn David (K. Israel), you really stirred up the hornets nest on this one!

    LOL. Geez!! People are talking about burning their magazines and t shirts and cancelling subscriptions.

    LOL.

    It’s ok buddy, it was an interesting article. Someone get this guy a Tylenol!

    Seriously though, people it’s ok.

    posted by xanderjones on 7-19-2010 at 4:53 pm

  58. oh, and i would like invisibility… assuming that it wouldn’t make you blind as someone suggested it might. question – if you are invisible, do you have to be naked all the time to really go undetected?

    posted by tiffany on 7-19-2010 at 4:56 pm

  59. @Wondering,

    Batman didn’t have any super powers. He just kicked major @$$!!!!

    posted by xanderjones on 7-19-2010 at 5:09 pm

  60. I didn’t have the joy to read this article before it was re-edited. I don’t see any problem with it as it stands now.

    I do want to point out that there are many other faith healers similar to John of God – and there are many other examples of people searching to be healed through faith all over this world. Herbal supplements, the power of prayer healing, avoiding medical intervention to allow to be healed by God. People who choose to believe in such measures are not likely to be swayed by debunking, and likewise – those of us who are more doubtful are not likely to be convinced that we can be healed of our cancers by a man shoving his hand into our bodies.

    Also, I just watched Kick Ass this weekend (about a regular teenage boy who decides he needs to become a superhero). He doesn’t HAVE a superpower, but is still, well – Kick Ass.

    posted by Sara on 7-19-2010 at 5:20 pm

  61. I demand that you take down the picture of that Wim Hof character. How dare you encourage the ignorant masses that visit your site to run in the arctic with only shorts. You’ll be responsible for many people freezing to death! And not to mention the scandalous nature of a photograph with a man only in some black shorts. How indecent!
    I will be writing a letter to my congressman about this!
    Good day sir!

    posted by GH on 7-19-2010 at 5:25 pm

  62. Ryan, this article doesn’t just mention charlatans, it specifically says, regarding John of God, “for those who’ve been healed, John of God’s superpowers should not be underestimated.” It would be an entirely different matter if, for one thing, that sentence read, “for those WHO FEEL THEY’VE been healed, John of God’s superpowers should not be underestimated.” There is a vast difference between those two sentences.

    It’s a shame that people who are defending this article are belittling those of us who are upset with the article. I haven’t belittled anyone here, just stated that I, in good conscience, cannot support this site as long as I feel that it is supporting dangerous quackery.

    posted by Michigan Mom on 7-19-2010 at 5:31 pm

  63. Michigan Mom, he’s actually quoting his brother, “But he also said that for those who’ve been healed…”

    posted by Sara on 7-19-2010 at 5:39 pm

  64. I can’t believe such the rude comments. You are the reason people think science geeks don’t have a sense of humor. Lighten up some. News flash, not everything is just black or white. Enjoy life and laugh once and awhile.

    posted by Stacey on 7-19-2010 at 5:50 pm

  65. It would be so cool to fly.

    But every time I have a dream about flying I can’t control it and can’t figure out how to come back down.

    So maybe not.

    posted by Anna on 7-19-2010 at 6:22 pm

  66. 6 out of 8 of these examples are apparently real. It is the juxtaposition between the real and the disproven that I don’t like.

    If this were a list of 8 people who claim to have powers that have not been verified or were likely fiction, I would not had an issue with it originally as there would be no plausibility rubbing off onto the ones in doubt.

    I consider it a misfire, but one that will change my involement with MF. The changes that were made subsequent reduce the possibility that they will be taken seriously. Late commenters need to understand that many are reacting to a version that you may not have seen.

    posted by anomdebus on 7-19-2010 at 6:27 pm

  67. The first 5 Super Uber Peeps impressed me! I wish I could not have to fear frostbite in the cold and hold my breath that long and swim that far. I think it would be wonderful if I could lift heavy objects by myself, then I wouldn’t need help when it is time to rearrange furniture or move to a new home. The remaining others didn’t impress me.

    posted by LorXena on 7-19-2010 at 7:03 pm

  68. Mr. Israel,

    I enjoyed the article. I look forward to your next article. I enjoy all the work you and your Mental Floss colleagues do. I don’t expect perfection, nor should anyone else. This is my favorite website. I hope this has not dampened your day in any major way.

    I’d like to think that for every person who is close-minded enough to cancel their subscription because of this article, two more people will sign up for new subscriptions. On the bright side, the people who are upset are only upset because they hold you and this site in such esteem.

    You can’t please everyone. I read somewhere that if an individual gave a million dollars to every single person in any given town, there was sure to be a few people to complain about being forced into a higher tax bracket, dealing with extra paperwork, etc.

    Thanks.

    posted by Kedar on 7-19-2010 at 7:08 pm

  69. As for superpowers, I think super memory would be cool. I would have said flying so I would never have to deal with traffic or transportation costs again, but I have a fear of heights.

    posted by Kedar on 7-19-2010 at 7:23 pm

  70. Since when does Mental Floss Editorialize anything? I’ve never seen it. It’s not their job. They are presenting people who some believe to have extrordinary abililities whether they do or not.

    Everybody *coughmichiganmomcough* just needs to calm down. Way down.

    I think mindreading/teleportation would be awesome. I would be in London every chance I got.

    posted by Brit on 7-19-2010 at 7:23 pm

  71. I cannot believe all of the disgust everyone has for MF for posting this article. I think that most everyone who reads this website would be intuitive not to pass up a doctor for some magician healer.

    The article is “Real” superpowers, and that means things that people have seen or been witness to. He posted links debunking their legitimacy, it’s just all in good fun, because this blog can actually mix humor with tasty bites of knowledge.

    Relax.

    posted by Roof on 7-19-2010 at 11:15 pm

  72. I was really surprised to see all the passion in the comments. I was thinking people would contribute conversation about other “special” people (phony or not). It’s not like this is the New York Times Health Section. And to say this article endorses any particular behavior — does that mean the articles about serial killers or ghosts or whatever do the same?

    I’m thinking the author probably has stopped reading the comments (I know I would), but if he does see this, count another person in your corner.

    To those commenters who know of/feel passionately about people who have been scammed, I admire that. Not sure the comments section of a trivia blog is the best medium, though.

    posted by geb on 7-20-2010 at 6:22 am

  73. Does the line,

    “With great power comes great responsibility” come to mind?

    posted by zach on 7-20-2010 at 9:06 am

  74. But seriously, all, faith-healer related deaths are a real problem in this country. Oh wait, what? They aren’t? Welp!

    posted by ovaryacting on 7-20-2010 at 9:39 am

  75. I enjoy the fact that although I was not the over-reacting person threatening to cancel my subscription (my intense desire for a subscription has not changed), I’m still one of the people being ruthlessly mocked, but I’m (we’re) apparently the uptight one(s) full of bile and vitriol.

    posted by Nicole on 7-20-2010 at 9:44 am

  76. Reasonable people on both sides get ignored.

    posted by anomdebus on 7-20-2010 at 11:57 am

  77. Shazbot! Not that it matters, but my comment at 6:27 pm on 7-19-2010 was supposed to say:
    I consider it a misfire, but one that will not change my involvement with MF.

    posted by anomdebus on 7-20-2010 at 12:01 pm

  78. James Randi can do the same stuff as John of God. It’s Illusion 101, quite honestly — producing a concealed object, in this case a bit of animal tissue.

    This article was fascinating and thrilling up until it got to the frauds. You may not claim that the powers are actually superpowers, but you do seem to be claiming that they are real. In the case of John of God, they are definitely not real at all. It cheapens the accomplishments of people like Ben Underwood (“Super Audiation Boy”), who in his life managed to develop a very real talent.

    posted by Calli Arcale on 7-20-2010 at 4:04 pm

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